Explore Synodality in the 21st Century Church with CTU

Chicago, IL – September 3, 2024 – Catholic Theological Union (CTU) is pleased to announce a special multi-day event, the “Weekend of Synodality,”on Friday, September 13, and Saturday, September 14. This event is open to the public and offers a unique opportunity to engage with the concept of synodality, which Pope Francis has identified as a critical expectation for the Church in the 21st century. The event will kick off on Friday evening with an insightful lecture by Professor Amanda Osheim of Loras College, who will discuss the evolution of dialogue and synodality in the Church, from Pope Paul VI to Pope Francis. The evening will begin with light refreshments at 6:00 PM, followed by evening prayer and the lecture at 7:00 PM. On Saturday, participants will have the chance to delve deeper into the practice and theology of synodality through a series of breakout workshops. These sessions, which begin at 12:00 PM, will cover various topics, including the Biblical foundations of synodality, the role of women’s leadership in the Church, climate justice, inclusion of LGBTQ people, and more. The workshops aim to foster meaningful conversations and reflections on how synodality can be a path toward unity and deeper relationships within the Church. The weekend will conclude with a Mass at 4:00 PM, serving as the Vigil for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Event Details: Friday, September 13 6:00 PM – Doors open with light refreshments 7:00 PM – Evening Prayer followed by the lecture “Ecclesiam Suam at 60: Dialogue and Synodality from Paul VI to Francis” by Professor Amanda Osheim (Loras College) Saturday, September 14 11:00 AM – Lunch 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Breakout Workshops on various topics related to synodality 4:00 PM – Mass (Vigil for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time) Location: Catholic Theological Union, 5416 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago, IL 60615 | Online This event is free and open to all who are interested in exploring the transformative potential of synodality within the Church. For more information or to RSVP, please visit https://ctu.edu/events/