Synod 2021-2023: Communion, participation, mission.

For a Synodal Church: communion, participation and mission. We have prepared for you a Lenten itinerary based on the proposal of the Synod of Bishops convoked by Pope Francis.

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For a Church of communion, participation, and mission

The whole Church is called by Pope Francis to walk the path towards the Synod (October 2023): "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission". Thus, he "invites the whole Church to question itself on a theme which is decisive for her life and mission: "The way of synodality is precisely the way God expects of the Church of the third millennium".


The Church of Jesus Christ, throughout its history, has taken many steps and learned many lessons. It was notably during the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) that it was clearly understood that the best way to be and to walk, in order to fulfill its mission, is the "synodal way". This is not an easy task; it requires much preparation and a profound conversion of all to God's plan.

Synodality is the collective effort and the continuous search to learn to "walk together" as brothers and sisters.

The purpose of this retreat

The main objective of this Synod is to reflect on the missionary nature of the Church. What Pope Francis desires is a synodal Church, that is, a Church of communion and missionary Church that must be built in unity. A synodal Church is a missionary Church.


All who are baptised are called to make their contribution to this reflection.


During this retreat we will understand, together with participants from around the world, what this synodal path means and how we can experience, in practice, the communion, participation and mission suggested by Pope Francis.

The programme

Day 1 - Communion: a sign of the human family's intimate union with God - with the Mercy Alliance Community, Brazil.

Day 2 - Cohesion and interior fullness, in grace, in truth, in collaboration - with the Augustinian Province of Brazil

Day 3 - Going beyond formalism

Day 4 - For a Church of the fragility, poverty and wounds of our time - with the Franciscans of Colombia

Day 5 - The Church, a matter for all the people of God- with the Community of the Children of Mary

Day 6 - Appeal to the responsibility of the baptised - with the Community of St. Martin, France

Day 7 - Going beyond intellectualism - with the Dominican students of the United Kingdom

Day 8 - Become a Listening Church - with the Augustinian Recollects

Day 9 - Apostolic Commitment in the contemporary world - with Brother Samuel Mary, CSJ.

Day 10 - Overcoming immobility - with the Fraternity of Mary Mother of Apostles, France

Day 11 - Becoming a church of proximity

Day 12 - Towards a Synodal Church - with the Comunidade Recado, Brazil.

Day 13 - You too are the Synodal Church!

Be communion, participation and mission with us! Click on "Join"!


Here is the official Vatican site of the Synod if you wish to read up.

Prayer from the retreat

Prayer for the Synod on Synodality

We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name. With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen