We're sharing the summary documents from the five synod deanery meetings that were held earlier this year (below).
This feedback will help inform the official synthesis (report) that the Archdiocese will submit to the Bishops' Conference of Scotland next month.
The below summaries were compiled by lay people (thanks Agatha, Shelley, Derek, Sarah and Martin!) and we share them to give you a sense of the themes and topics discussed during spiritual conversations among participants.
Deanery meeting summaries
- Falkirk and Stirling
Meeting held at St Francis Xavier's, Falkirk, 11 January 2022
Read the summary document here.
- Edinburgh City
Meeting held at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, 26 January 2022
Read the summary document here.
- West Lothian
Meeting held at St Mary's, Bathgate, 8 February 2022
Read the summary document here.
- Borders, Midlothian and East Lothian
Meeting held at St David's, Dalkeith, 23 February 2022
Read the summary document here.
- Fife
Meeting held at St Margaret's, Dunfermline, 8 March 2022
Read the summary document here.
The Synod 2021-2023 was launched by Pope Francis in October 2021.
Its themes are communion, participation and mission. It is seen as "an opportunity for the entire people of God to discern together how to move forward on the path towards being a more synodal church" (watch our five min synod basics vid below or here).
It began with a diocesan phase. In our Archdiocese meetings were led by Sr Anna Marie McGuan RSM, the Diocesan Synod Delegate, assisted by Fr John Deighan of St Machan's in Lennoxtown.
To help attendees at deanery meetings prepare for the prayerful nature of the meetings a holy hour took place.
Info vids were also posted on the Archdiocesan YouTube page (see our Synod playlist here).
The diocesan phase of the Synod 2021-2023 allowed the diocese and parishes "to live out the synodal journey together".
To do that effectively, parishes were encouraged to host meetings so that spiritual conversations could take place. The Archdiocese compiled a parish meeting guide to help them do that.
View the official Synod 2021-2023 website at www.synod.va