- Written by: Martin Pendergast
- Written by: Alex Walker
We are at a mid point between the Synod on Synodality, ending in Octber 2024 and the start of the next phase in 2026-2027. It is an appropriate time to identify, to celebrate and to share examples of good practice from different parts of the universal Church. This is a process – it identifies some areas from which we might learn- and as such it has no natural end point. In three or six months we should be able to highlight other examples of where synodality has taken root and strengthened the local church.
ICRN is working with partner networks – CCRI, We Are Church Intl, and Spirit Unbounded – to identify some examples of where synodality has taken root and started to nourish the church envisioned by Pope Francis.
Read more: Celebrating and Sharing Good Practice in a Synodal Church
- Written by: Alex Walker
Part 1 Training on overcoming the obstacles to becoming a synodal parish . . . especially positional thinking
Wednesday October 15, 2025
One of the biggest challenges to creating a synodal parish is positional thinking, i.e. sides each holding on to their position so strongly that each one is unable to really listen and learn from the other side. This training session will help address this issue and offer guidance how to move past this obstacle to holding the belief that maybe, just maybe, each of us has something more to learn about all of this.
This program is sponsored by CCRI and is Part 1. Part 2 will follow on Saturday, October 18 where participants will move into breakout rooms and will have the opportunity to put this training into practice.
Sign on is https://zoom.us/j/
- Written by: David Jackson
REALISING THE SACRED The Ways of a Contemplative Synodal Church. Flyer attached – available from Franciscan Publications – details on the flyer.
It has taken me 87 years to come to the very unoriginal conviction shared by increasing number of gurus, that unless the synodal process hinges on the recovery of the Church’s mystical tradition and genius and on the practice of some form of silent contemplative prayer (the birthright of all the baptised – all potential ‘mystics’) leading to the gift of the contemplative gaze, mind and action – it will falter and risk death. The book teases this theme out from its origins in the life of Christ, and then applies it to the possible synodal shape of the Church’s worship, community life and mission. I am convinced that unless we marinate and reconstellate all our ‘thinking’ in the sea of some form of contemplative practice – the synodal method of ‘conversations in the spirit’ will remain just that – a method – insufficiently grounded to solve the present tensions, polarities and divisions in the Church – and act as the salve to heal all ecumenical, interreligious and even society’s divisions and hostilities. (eg Open Eucharistic tables tomorrow)
Flyer: Realising the Sacred
- Written by: Frank Callus
The Trustees met with some of the membership in July at our Annual General Meeting. We discussed where ACTA goes into the future.
A short paper is attached along with details of a meeting - via Zoom - on 7.00pm Sunday 19th October. Zoom Link Details below:
We are keen to hear the thoughts of all our membership and ask you to join us as we make that decision
God bless
The Board of Trustees
Discussion Paper
Fifteen months ago, I wrote a paper positing the idea that ACTA might have run its course. An organisation that came into existence just before the papacy of Francis to introduce a level of debate into the Catholic Church, was addressed by a call to synodality. Fifteen months on, we have witnessed the death of Pope Francis and the commitment of Pope Leo to the synodal process which seems to be addressing the concerns that gave rise to the organisation in the first place.
There are two possible avenues open to us and Trustees and others spoke to the issues in the AGM in July:
1] We recognise that the synodal process is ongoing and needs the active participation of people at diocesan level. There is a role for ACTA which is different from its initial purpose but equally relevant. We need to identify how we respond to the call to synodality, how we engage with other groups in the UK [ Root and Branch /Scottish Laity Network/ We Are Church etc]. The focus might be more clearly aligned with synodality in terms of good practice, in supporting formation / developing lay leadership.
2] We recognise that ACTA has played its part and that it is now time to close the organisation down and to make arrangements for the archiving of key documents and making arrangements for the allocation of the funds that are held by ACTA as a CIO.
One of the Trustees has identified the fact that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales [CBCEW] maintain links with Catholic Lay Associations. The Pontifical Council for the Laity identify the need to support lay Catholics in their contribution to a missional Church
"the phenomenon of lay people associating among themselves has taken on a character of particular variety and vitality [heralding in] a new era of group endeavours [in which] alongside the traditional forming of associations, and at times coming from their very roots, movements and new sodalities have sprouted, with a specific feature and purpose [...] so great is the capacity of initiative and the generosity of our lay people"
The questions we have to address are:
Is there a future for ACTA or do we wind down the organisation?
If there is a future for ACTA what should it look like?
If we continue but in a new way, what contribution am I prepared to make?
Joining details
A meeting for all interested members will be held via Zoom on
Sunday 19th October 2025
7.00pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4081
Meeting ID: 408 157 7308
Passcode: ACTA2025