The Synod on Synodality is now entering an active stage called the “Implementation Phase.” This follows the listening and celebration phases and focuses on putting into practice the conclusions of the Synod’s work, especially the Final Document For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission. The aim is to involve the entire Church — from bishops to parishioners — in walking together in a synodal way.
Pope Francis, then Pope Leo, and the Synod’s leadership have emphasised that this phase is not about following instructions from Rome but about receiving the Synod’s worldwide insights and living them out locally. Parishes, dioceses, priests and bishops are encouraged to discern how synodality can take shape in ways that meet the needs and context of their communities.
A key reference for this phase is Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod, published by the General Secretariat of the Synod. It explains what the implementation phase involves, who participates, and how it should proceed. The Synod’s Final Document remains the primary guide, and local churches are invited to reread it to explore practical ways to bring its proposals into parish life.
In the Diocese of Hallam, Bishop Ralph leads the process, initiating, accompanying, and guiding implementation. He is supported by the Synod Formation and Mission team, participatory bodies, clergy, lay people, and parish groups. These groups need to help plan and facilitate activities that allow parishes to practice synodality in everyday life. Parish meetings, pastoral councils, deanery gatherings, and various ministry groups such as SVP, Caritas, and Communication Teams can all participate. The goal is to embed synodality in the life of the Church across Hallam. The Synod Formation and Mission Team overseeing this phase welcomes interested parishes and individuals to join the synod team and provides training, facilitation, and support to help introduce the synodal method in local contexts.
This phase will run until 2028, with periodic evaluations. Local implementation starts in 2026, with assemblies reviewing progress in 2027. The journey will culminate in October 2028 at an Ecclesial Assembly in Rome, where experiences will be shared, lessons assessed, and future directions considered.
The focus is experiential and missionary: to walk together, listen to one another, include diverse voices, and foster communion. The aim is for synodality to become a lived reality in parish life, pastoral planning, and mission.
Implementation Phase Summary
What Is the Implementation Phase?
- Final stage of the synodal journey (after listening and celebration)
- Focuses on turning the Synod’s Final Document into practical action
- Encourages local adaptation of synodal principles
Guiding Documents
- Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod is the primary guide
- Provides direction on what to do, who is involved, and how to proceed
- Synod’s Final Document For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission is the main reference
- Website School for Synodality provides helpful training videos.
Who Participates
- Bishop Ralph leads and accompanies the process in Hallam
- Synodal teams and participatory bodies support and facilitate planning and action
- Clergy, lay people, young people, are invited to contribute and also to find ways of including marginalised groups or individuals
How It Works Locally
- Parishes, groups, participatory bodies eg Council of Priests, Trustees, SVP, Caritas, Communications Deanery meetings, can explore ways to walk together, listen, and discern, deal with differences, make decisions and take action
- Activities can include a wide range of actions, with dialogue, shared mission projects, and parish-level initiatives. For example, a conference on Care for Creation has been initiated by a group at St Vincent’s Parish. d
- The emphasis is on practical, lived experience and listening carefully to each other rather than following a theory
Timeline
- 2026: Local implementation begins
- 2027: Evaluation at diocesan, national, and regional levels
- October 2028: Ecclesial Assembly in Rome concludes the phase and reviews progress
Synod Formation and Mission Team
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