Over the past five years, our parishes and faith communities have joined Catholics worldwide in responding to Pope Francis’ call to become a synodal Church. Pope Leo XIV continues that invitation: to be a Church that listens, discerns, and journeys together. Through parish gatherings, consultations, everyday conversations, and prayerful listening, people have shared their hopes, experiences, and insights about the Church’s life and mission.

Synodality in Everyday Life

Synodality means journeying together. It is a way of being Church in which we listen deeply to one another, remain open to the Holy Spirit, discern together, and share responsibility for the life and mission of our communities. It reaches beyond formal gatherings and consultations.  You may not think of everyday experiences in your parish as “synodality”. Yet a warmer welcome, deeper listening, a greater sense of community, and renewed efforts to reach the marginalized may indeed be signs of a more synodal Church emerging.  

As this journey continues to unfold, we invite parishes and communities throughout the Archdiocese to reflect on the fruits of a synodal Church emerging in their local communities, 

and share their stories with the wider Church.

 For Your Reflection 

What fruits or signs of growth have you seen since the synodal journey began? How are people finding new ways to listen, welcome others, work together,
share responsibility, and become a missionary synodal Church?

What We Are Looking For

You do not need to describe a large project or major change. Often, the most significant fruits of synodality are simple but meaningful shifts in how people listen, welcome, collaborate, reach out, and accompany one another. Tell us your real experiences – what is working well and where more work is needed. Consider the following areas:

Listening: How are people listening more deeply to one another and to previously unheard voices? Welcome: How are we becoming a more welcoming community? 

Communion: What new ways are people finding to walk together and strengthen relationships?

Mission: What new forms of mission are helping us to respond to the needs of those around us?

Participation: What opportunities are emerging for fuller participation in parish life, leadership, planning, or decision-making? 

Communal discernment: What new ways of praying, discerning, communicating, and working together are we discovering? 

Shared responsibility: How are clergy and lay people collaborating in ministry?



Sharing Your Story

Please include:

  • A brief description of the experience or initiative and the difference it is making.
  • Noticeable signs of new life and future growth despite the challenges.
  • Your learnings from the experience.

Written submissions of up to 200 words are welcome.  Submit your story online by Monday, 7 December 2026 here: Stories of Synodality. 

If you would rather share your story some other way, please email Lucienne at l.hensel@cadw.nz or phone 04 496 1715 before Monday, 7 December.

The Bigger Picture 


Every story, big or small, helps us recognise the fruits of the Holy Spirit’s work among us, and adds to our shared understanding of what it means to be a missionary synodal Church in Aotearoa New Zealand. Your contributions will help give shape to a diocesan report, which in turn will provide reflection material for diocesan and national Evaluation Assemblies in 2027.   We thank you for taking part in this important reflection.