Archbishop Fisher has called a special Synod for Sydney for Easter next year. But what is a synod, why do we need one in Sydney, and how can people in parishes and schools get involved? With Bishop Danny Meagher
Rite of Election 2025 © Giovanni Portelli Photography
Sydney Synod 2026
His Grace, Archbishop Anthony Fisher, has convoked a diocesan Synod for Sydney between the 30 April to 3 May 2026 to address the Holy Spirit-inspired longings communicated by the People of God in Sydney after many years of consultation, Archbishop’s convocation letter.
The Archbishop sought positive, practical, and faithful ideas on how we can make our Church in Sydney more vibrant by responding to three, repeated longings for more prayerful liturgies, more Christ-centred communities and to be a more mission-oriented Church.
Three regional consultations to garner ideas to meet these longings were attended by 650 people and 500 submissions were made to the Synod. All submissions were prayerfully discerned into a refined list of ideas for the Archbishop’s consideration. His Grace then formalised the ideas to be discussed at the Synod.
The Synod of Sydney will gather 180 Sydney Catholics from different parishes, communities and university chaplaincies alongside those from health, welfare, and education sectors. At the Synod, the ideas will be discussed and prayerfully discerned before synod members will vote for their preferences as to which of these ideas they would like to see implemented. The results will be communicated to the Archbishop and will inform his pastoral strategies following the Synod.
We thank all those who attended our consultations, contributed their submissions and have prayed for our Sydney Synod. We ask you to kindly keep the Synod and its preparations in your prayers, that it may be a genuine occasion of prayer, discernment, and action with the Holy Spirit that bears abundant fruit in the life of our Archdiocese.
Three longings arose from Sydney Catholics after many years of consultation, and these will be discussed at the Synod:
- That our liturgies be more prayerful; occasions of real encounter with God and opportunities for faith development; sacramental programs be improved to initiate into prayerful sacramental celebrations.
- That our parish and other Church communities be more Christ-centered; where people are called to ongoing conversion; where people are called to live their baptismal dignity, growing in holiness and service; welcoming communities, especially as regards families and the young.
- That we be mission-oriented; we carry Christ’s presence beyond Church boundaries; we see ourselves as servants of all with a special place for the marginalized.
We believe these longings express our desire for God. Here on Earth, we suffer the age-old separation from God due to sin. But we are created in God’s image. We hunger for God. The Holy Spirit inspires us to reach out for God. These longings, we believe, are expressions of our Holy Spirit-inspired desire to reach out for life in God.
Following Archbishop Fisher’s convocation of the Synod on the 22nd of February 2025, the plans for the Synod were presented by the Archbishop and Auxiliary Bishop Danny Meagher, the chair and deputy chair of the Synod Working Party respectively, at a clergy conference on the 20th of March 2025.
In his address, Archbishop Fisher outlined his hopes for the upcoming Synod:
- That it be positive – building on the strengths of the Archdiocese while being realistic about the challenges we face.
- That it be faithful – to Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
- That it be practical – realistic expectations, energising proposals and tangible outcomes.
Bishop Meagher’s Synod proposal emphasised the Holy Spirit-inspired nature of the longings and a hope that the process generates readily implementable ideas that lead to real gain in the lives of Sydney Catholics. Furthermore, the deputy chair hopes for a well-run Synod that allows the Holy Spirit to speak through genuine listening and disciplined dialogue.
Pray for the Synod:
Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we thank and praise You for Your many blessings on our local Church in Sydney. We entrust our Archdiocesan Synod to Your loving care. Guide us as we prepare for, celebrate, and implement the directives of the Synod. Deepen our faith in the truths and promises You have revealed to us. Strengthen us in hope that we may desire Your kingdom and eternal life as our greatest joy. Like the disciples walking to Emmaus with Jesus, enkindle in us hearts burning with Your Love.
Give us zeal to share Your Gospel with all people within our parishes and beyond. Help us to be Christ-centred communities that celebrate our liturgies more prayerfully and grow in holiness, service, and daily conversion of heart.
Renew in us the grace and gifts of the Holy Spirit received in Baptism and Confirmation. Grant us wisdom, kindness, and prudence in our deliberations so that we might have a supernatural perspective, be docile to Your promptings, and in all things, be witnesses of Your love, now and forever.
Amen.
Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us.
Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.
Formal online submissions are now closed
Thank you to everyone who attended our three regional consultations and who made formal submissions of ideas to the Synod.
We now ask that you kindly pray for our Synod next year, that it may be a genuine occasion of prayer, discernment, and action with the Holy Spirit that bears abundant fruit in the life of our Archdiocese.
Follow us via our webpage and social media channels.
For general inquiries, please email us at synod@sydneycatholic.org.
Alternatively, you can send us mail addressed as follows:
Varun Perera – Synod Project Officer
Locked Bag 5040,
Alexandria, NSW 2015.
Resources
RE Search Episode 92: The Sydney Synod.
On 30 August, in a packed auditorium at Holy Family Church in Menai, the future of the church in Sydney was prayerfully and thoughtfully discussed as more than 200 faithful gathered on a cold, but thankfully dry, winter’s morning for the first regional synod consultation.
In an historic moment for the church in Sydney, the third and final of the regional Synod consultations saw hundreds of Sydney faithful gather to offer their ideas for the future of the church at All Saints Parish in Liverpool on 16 October.
In late 2024, a Synod Working Party, commissioned by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and led by Bishop Daniel Meagher, recommended a diocesan Synod be held in response to three significant and repeated longings: that our liturgies be more prayerful, that our parishes and other church communities be Christ-centred and that our church be mission-oriented.
Synod Ideas
Archbishop has selected the following 18 ideas to be prayerfully discerned and discussed at the Synod.
The ideas for more prayerful liturgies are…
- Structured and regular training in sacred music to be offered to parishes and communities.
- Digital liturgical resources to be established and actively used in parishes and communities.
- Ongoing formation on the meaning and sacredness of the liturgy.
- A spirit of silence be encouraged before, during and after Mass.
- Instruction be offered yearly at clergy conferences to improve the content and delivery of homilies.
- In preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress 2028 to be held in Sydney, formation on the Eucharist be made widely available.
The ideas for more Christ-centred communities are…
- Parishes in each deanery collaborate to offer more options for Sacraments and prayer; keep Churches open for longer.
- Inspiring catechesis emphasising our vocation as members of the Body of Christ.
- Develop new family-oriented and knowledge-rich children’s sacramental programs that nurture ongoing Christian discipleship.
- Establish teams of parishioners to accompany the newly baptised for 12 months.
- Create parish-based prayer groups that bring people into personal relationship with Jesus.
- Parishes and communities have welcoming and hospitality ministries so that all are invited and welcomed.
The ideas for a more mission-oriented Church are…
- Strengthen the formation and discipleship of those who lead, teach, and serve in Catholic education.
- Establish service and outreach groups in each parish.
- Strengthen digital evangelisation.
Encourage and train clergy and parish/ community teams in different ways of evangelisation. - Establish additional religious communities in the Archdiocese over the next ten years.
- Ensure wider availability of Alpha and similar programs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is a diocesan Synod?
A diocesan Synod is a gathering of clergy, religious and laity to discuss important matters relevant to the specific needs of the diocese under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Sydney Synod of 2026 is a diocesan Synod convoked to seek positive, faithful and practical ideas that contribute to the reinvigoration of the Church in Sydney.
2. Who convoked the diocesan Synod in Sydney?
A diocesan Synod is convoked by the diocesan bishop, who after consultation with the Council of Priests, judges that circumstances suggest the need for a Synod [1]. Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP convoked the Sydney Synod of 2026 on the 22nd of February 2025 in response to recurrent longings the Sydney faithful, inspired by the Holy Spirit, have expressed in previous consultations [2].
3. What is the purpose and focus of the Sydney Synod?
The purpose of a Synod is to discuss the needs of the local Church and offer practical recommendations that lead to its reinvigoration. The Sydney Synod of 2026 provides the opportunity for the faithful in Sydney to shape the future of their local Church. This Synod has a specific focus on generating positive, practical and faithful ideas in response to three longings expressed by Sydney Catholics for more prayerful liturgies, more Christ-centred communities and to be more mission-oriented.
4. How is the Sydney Synod different to the Plenary Council?
The key difference between a diocesan Synod and the Plenary Council is their scope. A diocesan Synod operates at a local level such that it only considers pastoral and administrative issues affecting the diocese, in this case, the local Church in Sydney. In contrast, the recent Plenary Council operated at a national level and addressed pastoral and missionary topics facing all Australian dioceses.
5. How will the Sydney Synod work?
Once a diocesan Synod is convoked by the Bishop, it requires a period of preparation before the actual Synod takes place. This preparation includes formation on the nature, purpose and scope of the Synod followed by a consultation phase. In the case of the Sydney Synod, the Sydney faithful will be consulted as to what ideas they have that meet the longings for more prayerful liturgies, more Christ-centred communities and to be more mission-oriented. Archbishop Fisher, assisted by the Synod Working Party and relevant experts in the three longings, will then discern which of these ideas will be discussed further at the Synod. At the Synod itself, the recommendations that best address the three longings will be entrusted to the Holy Spirit in prayer, discussed and voted upon. Having reviewed the findings, Archbishop Fisher may choose to implement decrees and sign off on declarations following the conclusion of the Synod.
6. What will happen during preparation for the Sydney Synod?
Following the convocation of a Synod, there are three preparatory phases:
- Spiritual, catechetical and formational preparation.
“[T]he secret of the success of the Synod…is in fact prayer” [3]. Convinced of this, Archbishop Fisher has implored all the faithful – clergy, religious and laity- to pray for the Synod that it may make us a more prayerful, Christ-like and missionary people [2]. The lead up to the Synod also offers a “privileged opportunity for the formation of the faithful” [3]. Through well-articulated catechesis, the faithful will be given opportunities to be formed in the fruitfulness of synodality which invites us into greater communion, participation and mission within the Church [4]. This catechesis draws on the Church’s Magisterium, particularly the teachings expressed by the Second Vatican Council and more recently, the Synod on Synodality.
- Diocesan consultation.
In the consultation phase for the Sydney Synod, Archbishop Fisher invites positive, practical and faithful ideas about how the three longings for more prayerful liturgies, more Christ-centred communities and becoming more mission-oriented can be met. The main form of consultation for the Sydney Synod will be the in-person regional gatherings hosted in the latter half of 2025 to which all the faithful in Sydney are welcome to register and attend. This includes members of parish or ecclesial communities, members of consecrated life and members of other significant Catholic institutions such as seminaries, universities, schools, hospitals, and social services. Online and paper consultation opportunities will be available after the first regional consultation on August 30.
- Determining the topics for the Synod.
At the end of the consultation phase, Archbishop Fisher, assisted by the Synod Working Party and relevant experts in the three longings, will choose which of these ideas will be discussed at the Synod. Ideas which can be effectively implemented and lead to genuine progress throughout the Archdiocese will be prioritised.
7. Who attends a diocesan Synod?
The diocesan Bishop is required to preside over the diocesan Synod and the following are compulsory attendees [1]:
- Coadjutor and Auxiliary Bishops.
- Vicars General, Vicars Episcopal, Vicars Judicial,
- Canons of the Cathedral Chapter,
- Members of the Council of Priests,
- Rectors of Major Seminaries,
- Deans and a Presbyter from each Deanery.
Lay members of the Christian faithful and members of institutes of consecrated life will also be invited to the Synod by the diocesan Bishop or a council he appoints. To ensure the fruitfulness of the synodal discussions, it is important the selected lay persons and religious be distinguished by their “firm faith, good morals and prudence” [3]. Additionally, it is encouraged that a contingent of the Synod be selected from ecclesial communities that are not sufficiently represented amongst elected members as to “give adequate expression to the true make up of the diocese” [3].
8. How will the Sydney faithful participate in the Synod?
All of the faithful in Sydney are invited and encouraged to participate in the Synod through their prayerful support, submission of ideas, and living of the decisions of the Synod.
During the Synod itself, Archbishop Fisher will preside over all the synodal sessions. Following the Synod, His Grace has the authority to sign synodal declarations and decrees in addition to ordering for their publication [3]. In other words, the Archbishop, having heard from the faithful, decides which recommendations of the Synod are implemented in the local Church in Sydney.
Those invited to attend the Synod itself possess a “consultative” faculty by which they assist the diocesan Bishop by providing practical recommendations on the topics discussed at the Synod. It is incorrect to dismiss the input of these members as insignificant simply because they do not possess the executive powers reserved for the Bishop. As described by Archbishop Fisher, through their participation in the Synod, members assume their “co-responsibility for the mission [of the Church]” having been baptised and confirmed in the anointing of the Holy Spirit [5]. By bringing their unique knowledge, experience and competence to the Synod alongside a sincere desire to revitalise the faith in Sydney, the Synodal members play an invaluable role in ensuring the fruitfulness of the Synod.
9. What will happen at the Sydney Synod?
The Synod itself will take place between the 30 April and 3 May 2026. The most positive, practical and faithful ideas generated in the consultation phase will be reviewed and discerned by Archbishop Fisher assisted by the Synod Working Party and experts in the areas of liturgy, Christ-centred community and mission. These ideas will be examined at the Synod which will involve further discussion, prayer and consultative voting in respect to the ideas. Archbishop Fisher will be present and preside over all the Synodal sessions. The Synod will open and close with the celebration of Mass, which will be open to all the faithful to attend.
10. What will happen after the Sydney Synod?
The results of the voting will be submitted to Archbishop Fisher, who will consider priorities for implementation and may issue decrees and declarations. It is hoped that if implemented well, these ideas will lead to real gain in the life of faithful in Sydney.
References
- The Code of Canon Law, https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib2-cann460-572_en.html
- Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Toward a More Prayerful, Christlike and Missionary Church, 22 February 2025. https://www.sydneycatholic.org/addresses-and-statements/2025/toward-a-more-prayerful-christlike-and-missionary-church-pastoral-letter-to-the-archdiocese-of-sydney-regarding-the-synod-of-sydney-2026/
- Instruction on Diocesan Synods, https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cbishops/documents/rc_con_cbishops_doc_20041118_diocesan-synods-1997_en.html
- Pope Francis, For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission Final Document, 24 November 2024 https://www.synod.va/content/dam/synod/news/2024-10-26_final-document/ENG—Documento-finale.pdf
- Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Walking Together in Communion, Participation and Mission Reflections on the Synod of Synodality, 20 November 2023. https://www.sydneycatholic.org/addresses-and-statements/2023/walking-together-in-communion-participation-and-mission-reflections-on-the-synod-on-synodality/