Synodality at Farm Street Church

Introduction

Welcome to the Farm Street Church Synod page. The Synod is a consultation and reflective process currently taking place across the Catholic Church. ‘The aim of this synodal process is not to provide a temporary or one-time experience of synodality, but rather to provide an opportunity for the entire People of God to discern together how to move forward on the path towards being a more synodal Church in the long-term.’ This process is being divided into various stages, stretching from 2021 until its completion in 2024. As you may be aware, the initial phase of the Synod, including the continental stage has come to a close, and the next Vatican event is the assembly in Rome in October 2023. Unlike previous Synods in the history of the Church, which were comprised entirely of bishops, the assembly in Rome has been opened to men, women, and laity. Even for those—the vast majority—who cannot be physically present in Rome for this event, the Pope is encouraging as many as possible to continue to participate in this process, whether this be praying on your own, as part of a prayer group, or continuing to have conversations with people in your lives, particularly those at the edge or outside the Church.

The Synod at Farm Street Church

Farm Street Church has been involved in the synodal process right from the commencement of it by Pope Francis. The Pope has been very clear from the start that the Synod is primarily an opportunity for listening; both listening to each other, and to the prompts of the Holy Spirit. A number of listening days and a consultive process have taken place at Farm Street Church.

Farm Street Church has a Synod Prayer Group which began in September 2022 after a recruitment initiative at the parish picnic. It has met each month on the third Wednesday in the upper chapel at Mount Street for reflective prayer using scripture. While it has been a closed group since its initial meeting, it will be open to new participants from July 2023.

Getting Involved

Adsumus Sancte Spiritus

Prayer for the Synod

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.

Farm Street Church is keen for as many people as possible to participate in the synod process. You can do this in a variety of ways:

Pray! And reflect on the invitation by Pope Francis to participate in this process through prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you discern this invitation.
Get involved in the Farm Street Synodal Prayer Group. Participation could include coming to a one-off taster session or considering committing to coming regularly to the prayer group. Or, indeed, consider starting your own prayer group. This should be organised in consultation with the parish priest via the parish secretary.
Keep abreast on what is happening with the Synod. Our useful links and the recent development section on this page will direct you to places where more information can be found.
Come along to Synod events, whether at Farm Street Church or elsewhere. Our upcoming events section on this page should keep you informed of these.
Contact us. The Farm Street Synod lead is Janet Obeney-Williams. She can be contacted via the parish secretary by clicking here and sending an e-mail with the subject ‘Synod - For the Attention of Janet Obeney-Williams’.