Journeying Together: Synodality and the Path Toward Social Salvation

The unfolding process of the Sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, or the Synod on Synodality (2021Synodality ( -2024)), offers an unprecedented opportunity for theologians to rethink their engagement in the church and society.Aware that several CTSA members participated in the Roman meetings of the Synod in 2023, this special invited session convened two of the synod participants (Maria Cimperman and Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator) to share insights with peers in the Society.Our session also benefited from the presence of Catherine Clifford (St.Paul University, Ottawa) who briefly shared her experiences at the synod and invited society members to her paper later in the conference, presented in the Synodality Interest Group.C. Vanesa White graciously read a brief paper from Cimperman, who was in Rome for the drafting of the synod's Instrumentum Laboris.Her paper illuminated some lessons from the first session of the synod and focused on participation and coresponsibility as the most important fruits of the synod so far.Orobator's presentation addressed some of the pitfalls and opportunities of this "experiment in ecclesiology.""How," he asked, "do we actually journey together as a reconciled community?"Following the two presentations, the participants split into six small groups.Dr. Ahern introduced the conversations in the spirit method and facilitated three rounds of listening on the following questions: