Synod 2023:
A Synod on Synodality

Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia


Click here to skip to the participate section below.

For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission

"By walking together, and together reflecting on the journey made, the Church will be able to learn from what it will experience which processes can help it to live communion, to achieve participation, to open itself to mission."

  • #walkingtogether
  • #listeningchurch
  • #praytogether

The Synodal Journey

Opening of the Synod (October 2021)
The Holy Father in the Vatican will inaugurate this synodal path: 9 -10th October. Inauguration in each diocese will be on Sunday 17 October (On Friday 15 October in our Vicariate). The path comprises the following three phases:
Diocesan Phase (October 2021 – April 2022)
Continental Phase (September 2022 – March 2023)
Universal Church Phase (October 2023)

Synodal Opening Message

The 'Diocesan Phase" of Synod 2021-2023 has begun in our Vicariates (AVOSA & AVONA) with the inaugural mass celebrated by Bishop Paul Hinder at 7 pm on 15 October 2021 in St. Joseph's Cathedral Abu Dhabi.

The Bishop invites everyone to participate in the upcoming synodal journey.

Synodal Opening Mass

Bishop Paul Hinder inaugurated the diocesan phase of Synod 2021 - 2023 in AVOSA & AVONA with the Holy Mass at 7pm in St. Joseph's Cathedral on 15 October 2021.

Preparatory Document

Fr. Franco's Synod Awareness Letter

Click here to download / read the synod awareness letter.

AVONA Synod Theme Song: Let Us Dream

AVONA Synod Prayer Song

His Greatness

Click here to download the lyrics.

Participate

Pope Francis invites all of us to embark on a journey together.
Through listening and discernment rooted in the Holy Spirit, we all are called to participate in the synodal journey.

The Vicariate synodal team has released a questionnaire to guide our responses which contains the fundamental question of the synod and additional questions which cover the ten thematic nuclei.

STEP 1: Prepare Yourself to Listen and Respond

Click here to download / view "The Spiritula Conversion" leaflet.

STEP 2: Answer the Questionnaire

Fill the online questionnaire (recommended)
Select your parish from the list below to fill and submit the online form.

Bahrain

Sacred Heart Church
Our Lady of Visitation

Kuwait

Holy Family Co-Cathedral
Our Lady of Arabia
St. Therese of Child Jesus
St. Daniel Comboni

Qatar

Our Lady of the Rosary

KSA

St. Arethas
Our Lady of Arabia
Our Lady of Fatima
St. Joseph

Discerning the diocesan path

How is our “walking together” in synodality realized today in the Church?

What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our “walking together”?


Resources

Click on the links / images below to download and read.

Adsumus Sancte Spiritus

(As we are called to embrace this synodal journey, this prayer invites the Holy Spirit to work in us so that we can be a community and a people of grace.)

We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever. Amen
Download the Prayer Card. You may print and distribute these in your parish.
Prayer Card
Preparatory Document
Preparatory Document
Vademecum (Handbook)
Vademecum
Resources to help parish leaders spread awareness

Download and print the below for your parish

The Ten Questions

All the faithful are called to answer questions based on the ten themes of the Synod. All the baptized must answer these questions.

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The Synodal Journey

Pope Francis: Towards the Synod
Addressing the faithful of the Diocese of Rome, Pope Francis described the upcoming Synod with the theme, "For a synodal Church: communion, participation, mission" as a journey in which the whole Church is engaged.

Click here to read the address of the Holy Father Pope Francis to the faithful of the diocese of Rome on 18 September 2021.

Visit the Vatican Synod Website