Latest News Join us on the Synodal Pathway All are invited to discover why Pope Francis has asked for the Synodal Pathway and how to become involved. Three online information sessions have recently being held to enable people to find out more and take a first step on the Synod journey. On Monday 8 November over 200 people joined guest speaker Fr Jan Nowotnik. His talk was recorded on Zoom and is captured below. On Monday 15 November it was the turn of Dr Mary McCaughey. Her talk was also recorded on Zoom and is captured below. On Monday 22 November Canon Paul Fitzpatrick, the Chair of the diocesan Synodal Pathway Committee, was the guest speaker. Talk captured below (two parts). On Monday 29 November it was the turn of Vron Smith from the Jesuits. Talk (and handout) captured below. All sessions were introduced by Natalie Orefice, diocesan Advisor for Parish Evangelisation. Handout to accompany Vron Smith's session The Synod’s overall theme is ‘For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission’. The process is one of ‘journeying together’ and every member of the Church is invited to speak. Fr Jan studied for the priesthood at the English College, Valladolid and was ordained in November 1998 to the Archdiocese of Birmingham. He undertook several pastoral appointments in the diocese and has been both an assistant and parish priest. Alongside his parish work Fr Jan has also been a school and hospital chaplain and was the diocesan chaplain for World Youth Day. From his ordination until 2015 he was also a diocesan Master of Ceremonies. In 2015 he went to the English College, Rome where he gained a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (STL) in Ecumenical Theology at the Angelicum: Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, and is currently completing doctoral studies. Fr Jan was appointed to his current role as Director of Mission and National Ecumenical Officer at the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales in September 2020. Dr Mary McCaughey teaches dogmatic theology and is Director of Studies at St Mary’s College, Oscott. She also lectured in theology at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Ireland, for nine years where she obtained her doctorate in Ecclesiology/ Fundamental Theology on the topic ‘The Church as Hermeneutical Community’. If you have any questions please email [email protected] Join the Synod journey Manage Cookie Preferences