We pray for the Melbourne Synod

That our preparations will be marked by wisdom in decision-making, courage in leadership, and humility in listening to one another.

May the Spirit guide our every conversation and action. Amen. 

A synod is a gathering of God’s people – bishops, priests and representatives – who come and discern together about matters regarding faith, governance, and pastoral care. This process involves prayer, dialogue, and consultation, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the Church’s mission in the contemporary world.

A synodal gathering is focused on pastoral renewal and can result in decrees or pastoral plans that guide the diocese in its planning. In a letter to the faithful of Melbourne, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli invites the community to join the journey and has identified three key themes for the Synod:

• Young Discipleship
• Missionary Leadership
• Formation and Participation

‘They have emerged consistently and clearly through all the listening, discernment, and consultation undertaken in recent years across the Archdiocese,’ the Archbishop said, ‘including the Plenary Council process, the global Synod, and our local pastoral initiatives. Together, they will now form the foundational focus of our Archdiocesan Synod.’

Melbourne synod 2026 – Theme Paper Release

 The Synod theme papers are an important step in our journey of listening and discernment as we prepare for the Melbourne Synod. The papers aim to foster a spirit of hope and imagination—trusting that, as we walk together, God is calling us into a future marked by faithfulness, renewal, and deeper communion. The suggested reflection process is a ‘Conversation in the Spirit’ or a Spiritual Conversation. This method is based in prayer and allows people to come together to both speak and to listen. Different from a discussion, it is an attentive listening process that aims to discern where the Holy Spirit is leading us.  At the conclusion of each theme paper, there are prompt questions for reflection. Responses to these prompt questions can be provided via the QR code which is at the end of each paper.

These papers can be accessed at: https://melbournecatholic.org/synod2026