Theology and Ministerial Practice of Synodality
Theology and Ministerial Practice of Synodality
Project Summary
The Synod on Synodality has been inaugurated in October 2021 by Pope Francis and will culminate with the celebration of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2024. This event represents a new stage in ecclesial life that invites us to generate processes of conversion and reform in order to build a Synodal Church for this third millennium. Responding to this call, the Department of "Formación Continua" at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, organizes and coordinates a series of intercontinental and intercultural initiatives offered in 6 languages —English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian and German—focusing in research, publications, formation and international conferences on theology and ministerial practice of synodality. The Project, coordinated by Professors Félix Palazzi and Rafael Luciani, intends to reach out over 100.000 people from all Continents and have an impact in pastoral and formation structures in the Church. The Project will develop a series of initiatives from 2021 through 2025.
Partners and Co-sponsors
All the initiatives involving this Project are funded by Porticus in Belgium and co-sponsored by the Latin American Members of the Theological Commission of the General Secretariat of the Synod, STM`s Ibero-American Theology Group, the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), the Latin American Confederation of Religious men and women (CLAR), the Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum Europae (CCEE), the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC), the International Union of women Superiors General (UISG) and the Union of men Superiors General (USG), along with other peer’ ecclesial organizations such as the U.S. Bishop`s Conference and the African Initiative on Synodality lead by the Jesuits.
Project Initiatives
The project involves a series of initiatives in the areas of research, publication, formation and international conferences.
In the area of research are: (a) an intercontinental research team to study the renewal of parish and diocesan pastoral councils; (b) a research group for the study and renewal of the processes of selection and appointment of bishops.
In the area of publications, we can highlight: (a) a series of publications that bring together more than 80 specialists in ecclesiology and pastoral theology in order to discern and offer concrete proposals to the synodal process 2021-2024, and then to its reception during 2025; (b) a publication dedicated to the renewal of the presbyteral ministry in the light of synodal practices.
In the area of formation, we can mention: (a) a series of massive intercontinental and intercultural courses on Synodality that accompany the different phases of the Synod on Synodality. These massive courses (MOOC) reach out to more than 100.000 people and are offered in 6 languages through a multilingual platform built by "Formación Continua"; (b) a new Certificate in "ministerial leadership in a synodal key" for the formation of pastoral agents, pastors and professors in Latin America and in the Hispanic communities of the Church in the United States and Canada; (c) permanent multilingual online meetings with Church representatives from around the world to deepen the themes that emerge throughout the synodal process in each Continent; (d) a massive course and a Global Conference in 2025 to accompany the process of reception and implementation of the Synod on Synodality. Finally, another series of initiatives are focused on the realization of Conferences in Rome and other places to bring together theologians, bishops and other church voices throughout the synodal process to reflect on the proposals that emerge from all these projects and can contribute to the ecclesial renewal in light of Synodality.