Forty people attended this Q and A on 4 May 2025 with Archbishop Pat O’Regan DD, one of five Australian bishops who attended the Synod on Synodality in Rome. His topic was ‘My Synodal Experience in Rome and Adelaide. It proved to be an interesting and engaging talk, followed by valuable discussion.

 Synodality is not an idea but a way to live, he stated. It means we are on our way travelling together and we need courage to ‘wrestle with the angels’. Synodality has three important Aitches – Horizon of life, looking upwards and outwards; Heart, stemming from the spirit of Vatican II; and Hope, walking together. A strong theme at the Synod came from Isaiah 54:2 ‘Enlarge the space of your tent’. Synod participants always gathered at round tables, making it more inclusive and enabling each person to be heard. He relayed the story of one young woman who said at his table that young people were looking for ushers into the church not bouncers. He found that statement moving and insightful.

 Archbishop Pat’s talk was recorded and can be found here