Catholic Outlook Magazine | September Edition | Season of Creation | 2023 Issue

Synodality begins
in forgiveness
and reconciliation
ad intra
STORY QWAYNE GUEVARA
When preparations began for our first-ever
Diocesan Synod early in the year, Bishop Vincent
asked that I be the Lead Facilitator.
As a lawyer, one of the first things I did was
investigate the canonical documents on Synods from
the Vatican. The title of this article is a line from the
Vatican document on the Synod on Synodality. It
glared at me from the page – “synodality begins in
forgiveness and reconciliation ad intra.”
Before then, I had viewed the concept of synodality
as a mechanism for reform of the operations and
structures of the Church. I would later appreciate
that any reform in operation or structure would only
be a consequence of the personal and institutional
vulnerability that we are being invited to pursue.
In prayer and reflection on this line and writings on
synodality, it became increasingly clear to me that
synodality is not about the opinions of any individual.
It is first and foremost a call to humility before
God within the other that leads to reconciliation
and forgiveness. Therefore, inviting us into deeper
listening and deeper communion as the Body of
Christ, truly reflecting the image of God who is Love.
The preparations and process towards our Diocesan
Synod have revealed the deep need for this
forgiveness and reconciliation amongst us. At a
global, diocesan, and personal level, there have been
many factors that have impacted the way we live our
lives. These obvious, and often hidden, realities have
affected the way we gather, participate in the life of the
Church, and the zeal we have for mission and service.
In early March, we began with casting a vision
to reach out and invite at least 32,000 people in
Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains (10%
of Catholics in our Diocese) in the listening stage
towards the Synod. Between May and July,
thousands participated in local listening sessions,
had conversations with family and friends, or made
submissions directly through the Synod website.
14