About Us
What is Synod
The Greek root of the word we use for parish is "paroikia", which means sojourning. So parish is not meant to be a static concept but a moving reality. People on a journey, and when your on a journey you talk, you listen and you learn. You meet new people and new experiences enrich your vision. The Pope is calling us to be more conscious of being people on the move, he is encouraging us to listen to each other but to the still quiet voice of the Spirit who speaks beyond what we say.
What are we doing in Glasgow
Many parishes have already begun their own programme of listening. A one off listening meeting has been provided. Resources for Lenten Small Group meetings maybe downloaded from this site. A questionnaire has been prepared for use with groups loosely associated with our parishes or who meet in parish premises or indeed it could be completed on line. Each parish knows its own needs best - the important thing is that we listen to the committed and to the not so committed- everyone has something to contribute.
What is the Process in Glasgow
Parishlistening meetings/Questionaires should be completed before Easter. These should be collated by your deaney and a Deanery response on convergant themes or indeed on difficult areas should be synthesised by the Deanery for the Diocesan synthesis in June.
How do you participate in the Synod, within the Archdiocese?
Ideally within your parish community. Perhaps through an on line survey. As part of a group or association: UCM,PTA, Youth Club, Caritas Group, AA group or Cafe. Get a group of your friends, who may have different views on the life of the church and meet with them. Please join us, Pope Francis is refocusing on an element of the constant teaching of the church, that God speaks through the whole people of God.
NEWS
Simply Synod Bitesize video 5: Ten informing themes for Synodality
Priests in the synodal perspective
Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, and Archbishop Lazzaro You Heung sik, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, have written a beautiful and motivating letter to the priests of the whole world, which will be published tomorrow (19 March), the Solemnity of St. Joseph. In it they highlight the challenges of the synodal journey: "it will not be free of questions, difficulties and interruptions, but we can be confident that it will bring us back a hundredfold in fraternity and fruits of evangelical life".
Bishops Conference of Scotland Event
The Bishops Conference of Scotland (BCOS) hosted ‘Synodality in the Life & Mission of the Church’. The keynote speaker was Cardinal Mario Grech, General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops. This online event was streamed on youtube and the recording is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxyUuk9QGCU - see the links in the description for the associated papers.
Questionnaire for All published
Please see Parish Resources Section of the website - We have published the first questionnaire we would like as many individuals/groups and organisations to complete. If you wish to complete this and send straight to the Synod Team - Please send directly to synod@rcag.org.uk