The Diocese of Broken Bay continues its commitment to the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality through the development of a new pastoral resource, How Do We Nurture a Culture of Being a Synodal Church: Accompaniment Guide. Prepared by Patti Beattie, Head of Pastoral Discernment and Accompaniment of the Diocese, the Guide is designed to assist parish communities, pastoral leaders, ministry teams, and parish groups to engage more deeply with the practical implications of synodality as articulated in the Final Document of the Synod on Synodality.
The Guide supports ongoing reflection and conversation around how we may continue to nurture a culture of being a synodal Church. Rather than prescribing a particular pathway, it offers a flexible framework for dialogue, discernment, and accompaniment that can be adapted to the unique context of each parish community. In doing so, it seeks to embed synodal practices into everyday parish life, fostering a culture where listening, dialogue, discernment, and shared responsibility become normal expressions of ecclesial life.
The Guide is structured around five themes. Each theme includes a brief overview, reflection statements, and a guided reflective question that opens opportunities for communal conversation, practical action, and discernment through Conversation in the Spirit. This format enables parish pastoral councils and ministry groups to engage with the fruits of the Final Document in manageable and meaningful ways. The Guide also includes a practical tool for developing SMART goals, ensuring that the fruits of prayerful discernment are translated into concrete and measurable missionary action. In doing so, it seeks to plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, foster hope, and strengthen the relationships that sustain a
vibrant synodal Church.
Drawing on the Final Document, the Guide serves as a bridge between the universal Church’s vision for synodality and the local realities of parish life. It invites communities to move beyond simply reading the Final Document towards actively discerning how its insights and recommendations can be lived within their own context, supporting the ongoing reception of the Synod’s fruits at both diocesan and parish levels.
The Accompaniment Guide is intended for flexible use across parish communities through prayer, listening, dialogue, and action. It encourages communities to reflect on how they are becoming more synodal, responding more fully to the Church's mission, and discerning practical pathways forward that are shaped by their unique local context.
The development of this Accompaniment Guide forms part of the Diocese of Broken Bay’s broader commitment to continuing to nurture a synodal culture across all levels of diocesan life. It reflects the conviction that the implementation of the Synod is not the responsibility of a few, but a shared journey entrusted to the whole People of God.
Download the document (PDF) in English.