Institute for Pastoral Initiatives News

By Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH

On May 21-22, 2024, a Symposium for diocesan pastoral planners titled “The Journey to a Synodal Church: Synodal Spirituality, Processes and Structures for Diocesan Pastoral Planning” was organized at Curran Place on the campus of the University of Dayton.

The Symposium was sponsored by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Jeremy Helmes and Leisa Anslinger), the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives/IPI (Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH), and the Catholic Leadership Institute (Daniel Cellucci and Rosemarie Banich). As part of the global Synod on Synodality, diocesan pastoral planning personnel from throughout the United States gathered to discuss the place of Synodality in diocesan planning efforts, leading toward a truly Synodal Church.

Some of the questions the Symposium attempted to address were:  

• What are the essential elements of spirituality and ecclesiology that supports the journey to a Synodal Church? 
• What are the important characteristics of effective Synodal processes and structures for addressing critical issues facing the local Church? 
• How can Synodality be incorporated into pastoral planning, e.g. parish and Catholic school reconfiguration?
• What formation is required of the people of God (bishops, priests, and laity) to undertake the journey to a Synodal Church?

Dr. Timothy Gabrielli (UD) explored the topic “Synodality & Theologies of the Church” and Bro. Raymond L. Fitz, SM (UD) explored “Facilitating Difficult Pastoral Planning Conversations.” Both offered significant presentations, seeding the conversations with insightful guidance. Dr. Dennis Doyle (UD) and Dr. Martin Madar (XU) were a part of a panel responding to both of the presentations. “Conversations in the Spirit” animated the table discourse. Participants shared the challenges and opportunities occurring in their diocese in light of the rapidly evolving changes required for inspiring new diocesan and parish structures.

Throughout the two days of the symposium, thoughtful dialogue and engaging questions emerged from the participants in the form of back-and-forth conversations and small group discussions. The value of the symposium was listening to each of the participant’s diocesan experiences, finding understanding within and among the group, and gaining fresh ideas that support moving forward. 

While this was a one-time event, the symposium organizers are exploring ways to continue sharing experiences and processes between participants and interested diocesan planners via social media in the coming year. Additionally, an introductory e-seminar is being designed on the IPI’s premier online-learning initiative, the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) for early 2025 that will discuss the meaning and implementation of the Synodal process, “Conversations in the Spirit.” With Rome’s final Synod on Synodality approaching in October, this Symposium ignited the spirit of the IPI in that direction. We hope to keep exercising our hearts and minds in this way, ultimately taking the lead in the effort towards a truly Synodal Church!

For more information about what the IPI is doing, contact azukowski1@udayton.edu or visit the VLCFF at https://vlcff.udayton.edu/!

Visit the other sponsors of the Symposium here:
Archdiocese of Cincinnati: https://catholicaoc.org/
The Catholic Leadership Institute : https://www.catholicleaders.org/