With the conclusion of the Sydney Synod, there is a real risk that Catholics might see it as just another successful event which was well organised, well attended, and now finished. Others might think of it as a kind of church process, an important round of consultation.
But that would be to miss the point. The Synod is not an event but rather part of a much longer journey of faith in the Archdiocese of Sydney that began years ago in the lead up to different Synods including the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia and will continue long after this week.
To understand this, it helps to begin with the Catholic Church itself.
The Second Vatican Council gave us a number of ways of understanding who we are. One is the church as the temple of the Holy Spirit. That is not just a poetic image. It means that the very life of God dwells within us. The same Spirit poured out at Pentecost lives in the hearts of the baptised, guiding the church and uniting us in communion.
Another image is the church as the People of God on a journey. Just as Israel journeyed through the desert towards the Promised Land, so too we journey through history towards our true home in God. We are not standing still, and we are not walking alone. We walk together, guided by the Holy Spirit.
At the same time, the church is hierarchical. Christ did not leave behind a shapeless community. He entrusted His mission to the apostles and their successors. The church is ordered, and bishops are called to teach, guide, and ultimately make decisions for the good of the faithful.
When you hold those three together – Spirit, people, and structure – synodality begins to make sense.
A synod is not a parliament. It is not a forum for competing agendas, nor is it consultation for its own sake. It is a spiritual process: the church walking together, listening together, discerning together while attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. It is, quite simply, “journeying together”, always oriented towards mission.
That matters especially in Sydney today. Ours is a changing city. It is more secular in many ways, more diverse, and with younger generations experiencing faith very differently.
In that context, it is essential that the church listens carefully: to families, to clergy, to young people, to those who feel on the margins. Not because every opinion determines the outcome, but because the Holy Spirit speaks through the whole People of God.
What has stood out in this process is that certain longings have come up again and again.
A longing for liturgies that are truly prayerful encounters with Christ.
A longing for parishes that are genuinely Christ-centred, where people grow in faith rather than simply maintain routines.
A longing to be more open in welcoming the young, the searching, and those on the margins, and to draw them closer to God.
These are not abstract ideas. They are the repeated desires of faithful people. And I think we can say with some confidence that they are inspired by the Spirit.
The work of the Synod has been to listen to those longings, gather practical ideas, and prayerfully discern which should be pursued. But even here, we need to be clear: the Synod itself is only a small part of the process.
Its role is to help identify what seems most fruitful. The responsibility for decision ultimately rests with Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, in keeping with the church’s structure. And the most important stage still lies ahead: the implementation of those ideas, over time, so that they bear real fruit.
The whole goal of this journey is mission. Everything we have done – listening, discussing, discerning – is directed towards one thing: drawing people closer to God.
If we lose sight of that, the Synod risks becoming what some people fear: a lot of talk with little result. But if we remain attentive to the Spirit, faithful to the church, and committed to action, it can lead to real renewal.
On a personal note, as I prepare to take up my new role as Bishop of the Diocese of Rockhampton, I do so with a sense of gratitude. It has been a privilege to be part of this Synod journey in Sydney. I have learned a great deal, and I leave encouraged.
Be assured of my prayers for the church in Sydney. The Synod is finished, but the journey continues.
