SynodWatch: Deb Rose Reports on the Synod
FutureChurch Co-Director, Deborah Rose is keeping a close watch on the October 2023 Assembly of the Synod on Synodality. Follow along as she reports on the Synod from her unique perspective on matters and issues of most importance to FutureChurch members and friends.

November 13, 2023
What’s new with the Synod? Up to date readings and more.
Many Catholics are interested in what will be happening with the Synod on Synodality as we go forward this year and into the next meeting in Rome in October 2024. We will keep you informed with cu……

November 10, 2023
November 9 Presentation on Synod Synthesis
https://youtu.be/MP0eK59eEKU
The Synodal process is a new way of being church and the final synthesis document offered both newfound hope and some painful disappointments. Still, there is no do……

November 2, 2023
A Tribute to The Women of the Synod
https://youtu.be/cAfoJENIM-8?si=Mf4b1jzEyN86o0gD…

November 2, 2023
Synod Synthesis Offers Signs of Hope for New Inclusive Processes in the Church; An Urgent Call for Women’s Inclusion in Governance and Ministry; Delivers a Blow to LGBTQ+ Catholics and Allies
Photo by Sheila Pires
With the stated goal of restructuring the way discernment and decision making is taken up in the Church, the Synod on Synodality advanced a new model. The Final Synthesis al……

October 28, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 28: Here Is the Final Report; Women Deacons Forward; A Crushing Blow on LGBTQ Justice
Today the synod members had the opportunity to read the final document, heard it read in the assembly, and vote on it paragraph by paragraph.
The document is forty pages long and while a consen……

October 27, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 27: How The Voting Will Go; Revolutionary, Extremely Innovative; Better for Bishops
I remember going on a mission trip in my forties when the children were still pretty small. I travelled with a group to Honduras visiting everyone from bishops to the people who lived in cardboard……

October 26, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 26: Some Would Rather Talk Than Listen; Next Synod: Same Members; No Fancy Lace Please
Some Would Rather Talk Than Listen
Christopher White of National Catholic Reporter gave us some insights into the inner workings of the synod today. All is not harmonious. This listening project……

October 25, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 25: The Draft Synthesis is Distributed; A Synodal Church Must be Willing to Sit at the Feet of Women; Tears of Joy for Marianne
This has been a big day filled with lots of news. Much of it is exciting and joyful, and some of it will stick in your throat. Yet, it is such a gift to be a part of history in the making in ……

October 24, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 24: Can We Get Real? A Vote that Blurs the Voice of Women; A Take on Women’s Equality at the Synod
There has been no posting of a press briefing today. Tomorrow we expect to receive the “Letter to the People of God” that was drafted and approved a few days ago.
[caption id=”attachment_9725″ ……

October 23, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for October 23: God is waiting for your reply; Saturday is the Big Day; The Sins of Our Fathers
Today begins the final week of the synod. A draft of the “Letter to the People of God” was read and applauded by the participants. They can make additional comments until 6pm today, and then the……

October 21, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 21: One More Week; A Champion for Women in the Synod Hall; Are You Still Catholic?; We are Looking at Leadership that is Inclusive of All Women
One More Week
The participants have finished their discussions of module B3 on participation, mission and authority and have handed their reports in. Monday begins the final week and the module 5……

October 20, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for October 20: Our Church is Very Tired; We Need To Listen More To the Emerging Churches; Are We Ready to Decide on Women Deacons?
There are 365
Some of the journalists try to cast doubt on the synod by asking the same questions over and over. Maybe if we put some of the answers into a song it would stick:).
But today aga……

October 19, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUp from October 19: All About Women; They have gone through things we can hardly imagine; the Church contributes to creating LGBTQ refugees; The Conspiracy Theorists
We are beginning to see the first fruits of all the long labors of Catholic women throughout the decades including people like Sr. Mary Luke Tobin SL and Rosemary Goldie, who were auditors at the S……

October 19, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 18: Too Much Sugar; We Wept; Two Men of Interest
The synod continues under the cloud of violence Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, and more. Participants pray daily for justice and peace and hearts break as more and more innocent lives are taken.
On……

October 17, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for October 17: Pope Francis gets to meet Sr. Jeannine; Women Deacons, I’d Welcome That: Women Priests as Niche; My Favorite Prophet
National Catholic Reporter is doing a bang up job at the synod. They are pumping out reports and podcasts that really help us understand what is happening within the synod. Coleen Dulle and Ameri……

October 17, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 16: Another First Woman; Women Use Time and Space Well; Acknowledging the Hurt
For the past few days, the director of the Holy See Press Office has joined the panel. Matteo Bruni was appointed to the role in 2019 and offers a straight forward view of all things synodal in co……

October 17, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 12: The Power of Prayer; Healing for Isolation; We are Supported Here
Today’s press briefing was shortened because the synod participants will be participating in a pilrimage to St. Domitilla and other holy places. According to Paolo Ruffini, the small groups have f……

October 17, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 14: A whoopsie; Sr. Maria’s grace; Antioch again?
A whoopsie
Whoopsie! It appears that the confidential small group discussion documents were infiltrated by a conservative journalist who found an open link with no password requirements. He repo……

October 16, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 13: The first woman presides; Bishops are not pioneers; Let’s talk about women
Today is the beginning of a new module, B2 which is about co-responsibility and mission. There are 344 participants present, and each small group will take up questions around, “How can we better ……

October 16, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 11; No human is clandestine; Catholic with a tiny, tiny “c”; Listen to Grace
At today’s press briefing Paolo Ruffini and Sheila Pires were joined by Canadian Cardinal Lacroix, Grace Wrackia from Papua New Guinea, and Luca Casarini, an Italian migration activist.
Today ge……

October 16, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct 10: A Sister’s Love Note; The Overseers; Joe Tobin Rocks
Photo collage by FutureChurch
At the press briefing today, Paolo Ruffini and Sheila Pires were joined by Sr. Liliana Franco Echeverri, a member of the Company of Mary and president of the Latin Am……

October 16, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUp for Oct 9: Scary Changes; A Humble Cardinal: Falling In Love
The second module, B.1, “A Communion that Radiates” was set into motion today. As such, the session was videotaped.
Cardinal Grech announced that some people are not attending because they hav……

October 16, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 7: Sister Hope; Non-Bishops with Authority?; Stoking Fear
Sister Hope
Today, Pope Francis appointed Sister Simona Brambilla, M.C., an Italian-born Consolata Missionary, as the Secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of……

October 16, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 6: Forming men; Women marching; and What to do with Mueller
The above photo is my favorite of all! I love the determination on the faces of these women! The future is bright friends!
During the press briefing, Sheila Pires explained that each language ……

October 16, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 5: Sheroes; Small Groups; and an Accuser
During the press briefing, the head of Vatican media, Dr. Paolo Ruffini explained that the participants introduced themselves today, and voted for the person in their group who would report to the ……

October 16, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP for Oct. 4: Laity First; Introductions; and Don’t Talk
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Release of Laudate Deum
As the synod opened, Pope Francis released his most pointed climate challenge to the world, but especially to the United States. The hope is t……

October 16, 2023
SynodWatch RoundUP before the Synod Begins: Good News and Catching Up
It is Sunday, October 15, 2023. Last week’s open-heart surgery on my beloved family member was successful. God is good. After the surgery, we rode the inevitable ups and downs of post-surgery comp……

October 5, 2023
Synod Watch: Coming and Going
October 5, 2023
Yesterday, the 2023 Synod on Synodality began in Rome. This historic gathering of 54 women and 365 bishops and other lay, religious, and ordained is the first of two large meetin……

September 29, 2023
Synod Watch: Packing the Pink
For the past several weeks I have spent a lot of time in a hospital room helping a beloved family member recover from a very serious illness. He is home now and on a steady path to regaining his h……