In the first phase of the Synod on Synodality, “those who took part in the synodal meetings at the different levels during the listening and consultation phase… have had a concrete experience of a Church that is plural and able to live with differences as a richness in communion. This experience constitutes a prophetic word addressed to a world that finds it hard to believe that peace and concord are possible. We are called and sent by the Risen One to proclaim the Gospel to the world today. Growing as a synodal Church is a concrete way to respond to this call and this mission.” (Towards October 2024)

We have entered into the Interim Stage where we will continue to grow as a synodal Church in a concrete way. At the request of the Vatican, dioceses are asked to take steps along two levels.

The first level is “Deepening the Synod” by consulting the people of God a second time to address the guiding question “HOW can we be a synodal Church in mission?” For the deepening phase, our archdiocese is hosting five 2024 Regional Listening Sessions during Lent. The sessions will address different questions than the 2022 sessions, and will follow the recommended Conversation in the Spirit model. Please REGISTER and attend one of those sessions! We are asked to submit our synthesis to the USCCB by April 8.

The second level is “Broadening the Synod” to keep the synodal dynamism alive. For the broadening phase, dioceses are asked to implement proposals from A Synodal Church in Mission Synthesis Report. The Archdiocese is starting with sharing additional opportunities for formation in the adoption of a synodal style. Please STUDY synodality in a deeper way.

As an ongoing response to both levels of the Interim stage, Archbishop Hartmayer encourages parishes, schools and groups to continue to explore a synodal way of operating. There are many RESOURCES below that can be adapted to use in hosting your own ongoing prayer-centered listening sessions.

In this light, the objective of this diocesan phase is to consult the People of God so that the Synodal Process is carried out through listening to all the baptized … Together, all the baptised are the subject of the sensus fidelium, the living voice of the People of God.

We have scheduled five Regional Listening Sessions during Lent for the Interim Stage of the Synod on Synodality. A bishop will be in attendance at each session. The Archbishop ask priests to promote, attend one session and invite others to attend with you.

When Where Register
Domingo, 25 de febrero, a las 5 p. m. (español) San Miguel, Gainesville Inscríbase
Tuesday, February 27, at 7 p.m. Saint Philip Benizi Register
Wednesday, March 6, at 7 p.m. Chancery Register
Thursday, March 7, at 7 p.m Saint Thomas More (Focus on college students & young adults) Register
Monday, March 18, at 7 p.m Virtual Register

We ask participants to spend 20 minutes in prayer preparing for their session, preferably in front of the Blessed Sacrament. During that private prayer, read Romans 12: 1-8 and answer the two main discussion questions:

  1. Where have I seen or experienced successes—and distresses—within the Church’s structure(s)/organization/leadership/life that encourage or hinder the mission?
  2. How can the structures and organization of the Church help all the baptized to respond to the call to proclaim the Gospel and to live as a community of love and mercy in Christ?

If you have any questions, please contact either of our Archdiocesan Synod Co-Coordinators: Jenny Miles (jmiles@archatl.com or 404-920-7852) and Ashley Morris (amorris@archatl.com or 404-920-7586).

Prayer-Centered Listening Sessions – Resources for Parishes, Schools and Groups

The Archdiocese of Atlanta is happy to offer these resources for parishes, schools and groups to use for the Synod. You may download and use any of these during your in-person or virtual listening sessions or post them to parish, school or group websites or social media accounts. More resources will be added as they are developed.

Facilitators/Parishes

The Archdiocese of Atlanta Synod Team has prepared a number of downloadable resources for parishes and facilitators to use in their own listening sessions. All leaders should start with the Synod Parish/Group Toolkit (see below), which is complemented by the Facilitator’s Guide and Participant’s Guide. These resources provide all the information needed to run a prayer-centered listening session. Additional resources are also included below for ease of printing/sharing. Feel free to download and share these before, during and after your local sessions. If you have any questions or would like to suggest more resources, use the form on the synod faq page to get in touch and someone from the team will respond.

Guides Downloadable by Language

The Synod team has prepared all the tools you may need for your listening session in a variety of languages. Select your language to access toolkits and the documents you may wish to print for your session. If you need resources in a language not offered here, contact Ashley Morris in the Office of Intercultural Ministry at amorris@archatl.com.

English

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
Synod Parish Toolkit Download
Facilitator Guide Download
Participant Guide Download
Session Questions Download
Participant Ground Rules Download
Synod Survey in English Download
Spanish

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
Recursos parroquiales Download
Guía para facilitadores Download
Guía para participantes Download
Reglas básicas para participantes y proceso para grupos pequeños Download
Mejores prácticas para el manejo de grupos pequeños Download
Synod Survey en Español Download
Creole

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
Kit Referans pou Pawas Download
Gid pou Moderatè Download
Gid pou Patisipan Download
Prensip Kle pou Kominike ak Koute Yon Fason ki Efikas Download
Kesyon pou Sesyon Ekout yo Download
Sinòd Survey Download
Korean

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
사목구용 툴키트 Download
진행자 안내서 Download
참가자용 안내서 Download
참가자규칙과소그룹토론과정 Download
경청회용질문지 Download
Synod Survey in Korean Download
Portuguese

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
Ferramentas para Paróquias Download
Guia de Facilitador Download
Guia de Participante Download
Regras para participantes & Processo em pequenos grupos Download
Questionamentos para Sessões de Escuta Download
Synod Survey in Portuguese Download
Vietnamese

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
Bộ Công Cụ cho Giáo Xứ Download
Hướng Dẫn Điều Phối Viên Download
Hướng Dẫn Người Tham Dự Download
Quy Tắ c Cơ Bả n cho Người Tham Dự & Quy Trình Nhóm Nhỏ Download
Câu Hỏ i cho các Buổ i Lắ ng Nghe Download
Synod Survey in Vietnamese Download

Additional resources are also available in many languages on the Vatican’s Synod website.

Other Resources

Below are some videos you could share on your social media pages, during a session or in a parish email to help people prepare.

PowerPoints

We have prepared some ready-made Power Point slides you can use during your local listening sessions and have included presentations from the Vatican and the Archdiocese of Atlanta Synod team.

Participants

  • Prepare yourself with prayer and adoration. The Adsumus Prayer is a good place to start.
  • You may also be inspired by Archbishop Hartmayer’s homily from the Mass to open the Synod in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
  • Before you attend a listening session, it might be helpful to read this Participant Guide. Find them in multiple languages below.
  • In order to hear all the voices present, we ask that everyone follow these Participant Ground Rules. Find them in multiple languages below.
  • Parishes are invited to host ongoing local listening sessions. Contact your parish or school for a schedule.

Guides Downloadable by Language

English

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
Participant Guide Download
Participant Ground Rules Download
Spanish

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
Guía para participantes Download
Reglas básicas para participantes y proceso para grupos pequeños Download
Portuguese

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
Guia de Participante Download
Regras para participantes & Processo em pequenos grupos Download
Vietnamese

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
Hướng Dẫn Người Tham Dự Download
Quy Tắ c Cơ Bả n cho Người Tham Dự & Quy Trình Nhóm Nhỏ Download
Korean

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
참가자용 안내서 Download
참가자규칙과소그룹토론과정 Download
Creole

Download all the files by clicking on the group name or download the file you need through the file list.

File Action
Gid pou Patisipan Download
Prensip Kle pou Kominike ak Koute Yon Fason ki Efikas Download

The Synod team has prepared all the tools you may need for your listening session in a variety of languages. Select your language to access toolkits and the documents you may wish to print for your session. If you need resources in a language not offered here, contact Ashley Morris in the Office of Intercultural Ministry at amorris@archatl.com.

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