Synod in Motion: CCBI Charts the Roadmap for a Listening Church

Image Source: Catholic Connect

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) has officially unveiled the document titled Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod, marking a pivotal moment in the Church’s ongoing journey toward deeper communion, participation, and mission. Released on August 1 during the 20th Plenary Assembly of SECAM in Kigali, Rwanda, the document serves as a pastoral guide for dioceses, clergy, religious communities, and lay faithful across India and beyond.

Ceremonial release and global context

1. The first copy of Pathways was presented by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, president of both CCBI and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), to Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of SECAM
2. The release took place in the presence of prominent Church leaders including Cardinal Antoine Kambanda of Kigali, Cardinal Protase Rugambwa of Tabora, and Dr Stephen Alathara, deputy secretary general of CCBI
3. The timing aligns with the global Church’s transition into the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality, following the Second Session of the Synodal Assembly in October 2024

Core themes and pastoral vision

1. The document outlines practical steps to embody the three pillars of synodality: communion, participation, and mission
2. It calls on all members of the Church—clergy, religious, and laity—to actively engage in listening, shared responsibility, and Gospel-rooted collaboration
3. Pathways emphasizes the importance of local discernment, encouraging dioceses to adapt the recommendations to their unique cultural and pastoral contexts
4. The goal is to build a participatory Church that reflects the lived experiences of its members while remaining anchored in spiritual tradition

Implementation framework and timeline

1. The implementation phase is designed to span three years, culminating in an Ecclesial Assembly in Rome in October 2028
2. Local Churches are invited to share their initiatives and experiences, contributing to a broader ecclesial discernment
3. The framework encourages creativity and courage in facing practical and theological challenges, with an emphasis on transparency and dialogue
4. The document also supports the exchange of gifts among Churches, fostering mutual enrichment and solidarity

Synodality as a living process

1. Pathways reiterates that synodality is not a one-time event but a continuous way of being Church
2. It reflects Pope Francis’s vision of a missionary Church that builds bridges, welcomes diversity, and promotes dialogue
3. The document urges communities to move beyond consultation and into co-responsibility, where every baptized person plays a role in shaping the Church’s future
4. It also acknowledges resistance and fatigue, encouraging perseverance and openness to the Spirit

Looking ahead

The release of Pathways signals a shift from reflection to action. As dioceses begin to implement the Synod’s fruits, the Church in India is poised to become a model of inclusive and responsive pastoral care. The journey ahead will require humility, collaboration, and a renewed commitment to walking together. With this roadmap in hand, the Church steps into a new era—one defined not by hierarchy alone, but by shared mission and mutual listening.

Sources: Daijiworld, Vatican News, Synod.va, CCBI Secretariat