A likeable idea for Catholic parishes and dioceses

Conductor of Just 1, Hugh Gibbons gives the background to the five suggestions set out in the Synodalitrees PDF file (left). It's an easy read on screen or paper.

#1 Acclaim your unofficial saints
#2 Celebrate your language family
#3 Cherish your people's yearly story
#4 Join in the worldwide Fairtrade reach-out
#5 Grow your own financial transparency policy

“Reciprocal listening, dialogue, community discernment, and creation of consensus”, according to the Synthesis Report approved by the delegates in Rome. Out in parishes, working together has long been a form of Applied Synodology.

Synodalitrees is a nod to the Synod not so much for its discernments and proposals but the spirit of consensus on display. If its 364 delegates can arrange to vote on something, why not a whole parish en masse? Getting a collective OK is good. After all, “Transparency and a culture of accountability are of crucial importance for us to move forward in building a synodal Church.” And all-parish approvals of action and change also help counterbalance Cliqueralism (“Unfortunately, clericalism is a disposition that can manifest itself not only among ministers but also among the laity...”).

So the suggestions here may tickle imaginations because they’re different, likeable, practical, fun with its sleeves rolled up. The “trees” might be planted and initially tended by an enthusiastic individual, group or committee. But as with the Synod, they’d be activities for asking the parish as a whole to approve, perhaps with a simple show of hands en masse at Mass (with altar servers as tellers).

Of course, many parishes may already have Synodalitrees in some form. For any parish – or diocese, for that matter - open to innovation, they’re worth thinking about, as they aim to:

- offer opportunities to join in – parishioners, newcomers, clergy, schools, families

- offer chances for people feel better about themselves, their parish and The Church

- be attractive to share with other faith communities, and local and social media

Synodalitrees has sprung in part from my OpenBooks Project which looked at the websites of 1600+ UK parishes and dioceses, mostly in the UK but ranging far and wide. And helped by some listening, dialogue, community discernment and creativity - as a plain-parishioner synod, you might say. Any feedback, suggestions or advice will be welcome.

	SOME 2024 PARISHWIDE ACTIVITIES TO CULTIVATE WITH CONSENSUS

	“The synodal process is organic and ecological rather than competitive. It is more like planting a tree than winning a battle.” At the Synod in Rome October 2023 Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP offers a spiritual reflection on 'The seed germinates.’ "How interesting! May your Synodalitrees grow tall and strong like Lebanon cedars! In e-mail January 2024 Fr Timothy offers encouragement to these suggestions for Applied Synodality

	Conductor of Just 1, Hugh Gibbons gives the background to the five suggestions set out in the Synodalitrees PDF file (left). It's an easy read on screen or paper. #1 Acclaim your unofficial saints #2 Celebrate your language family #3 Cherish your people's yearly story #4 Join in the worldwide Fairtrade reach-out #5 Grow your own financial transparency policy What does synodality involve? “Reciprocal listening, dialogue, community discernment, and creation of consensus”, according to the Synthesis Report approved by the delegates in Rome. Out in parishes, working together has long been a form of Applied Synodology. Synodalitrees is a nod to the Synod not so much for its discernments and proposals but the spirit of consensus on display. If its 364 delegates can arrange to vote on something, why not a whole parish en masse? Getting a collective OK is good. After all, “Transparency and a culture of accountability are of crucial importance for us to move forward in building a synodal Church.” And all-parish approvals of action and change also help counterbalance Cliqueralism (“Unfortunately, clericalism is a disposition that can manifest itself not only among ministers but also among the laity...”). So the suggestions here may tickle imaginations because they’re different, likeable, practical, fun with its sleeves rolled up. The “trees” might be planted and initially tended by an enthusiastic individual, group or committee. But as with the Synod, they’d be activities for asking the parish as a whole to approve, perhaps with a simple show of hands en masse at Mass (with altar servers as tellers). Of course, many parishes may already have Synodalitrees in some form. For any parish – or diocese, for that matter - open to innovation, they’re worth thinking about, as they aim to: - offer opportunities to join in – parishioners, newcomers, clergy, schools, families - provide practical, different and enjoyable activities - offer chances for people feel better about themselves, their parish and The Church - be attractive to share with other faith communities, and local and social media Synodalitrees has sprung in part from my OpenBooks Project which looked at the websites of 1600+ UK parishes and dioceses, mostly in the UK but ranging far and wide. And helped by some listening, dialogue, community discernment and creativity - as a plain-parishioner synod, you might say. Any feedback, suggestions or advice will be welcome. With all best wishes Hugh Gibbons, Conductor of Just1 www.just1.org.uk hughgibbons@just1.org.uk	E hughgibbons@just1org.uk www.just1.org.uk www.just1.org.uk/openbooksproject www.just1.org.uk/galleries

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