Melbourne Archbishop convokes a Synod

On the third Sunday of Lent (8 March 2026), Archbishop Peter A Comensoli will formally convoke a Synod for the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The synod calls the Melbourne Church to journey together in communion, participation and mission, echoing Pope Francis’ vision of a ‘listening Church’ (Evangelii Gaudium, §31). Informed by Vatican II’s teaching, the Church is ‘a people made one with the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit’ (Lumen Gentium, §4).

There are three themes about which the church of Melbourne is being invited to discern:

• young discipleship
• missionary leadership
• formation and participation.

The synod assembly will be held across the weekend of 4–6 December 2026. Over these next months, a range of opportunities will be available for Melbourne Catholics to be part of the consultation process toward the synod. In the meantime, further information can be accessed at Melbourne Synod 2026.

In the synodal Church ‘the whole community, in the free and rich diversity of its members, is called together to pray, listen, analyse, dialogue, discern and offer advice on taking pastoral decisions (ITC 68) for mission’ (Final Document, §87).

Prayer for the Synod

Adsumus, Sancte Spiritus

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.

Attributed to St Isidore of Seville (c. 560 – 4 April 636), this prayer been used at councils, synods and other Church gatherings for hundreds of years. Every session of the Second Vatican Council began with the Adsumus Sancte Spiritus prayer.