Synod Secretariat releases guidance to help dioceses prepare 2027 evaluation Assemblies, marking a key stage in the Synod process.
Newsroom (27/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) The General Secretariat of the Synod has released a new resource aimed at helping dioceses and eparchies prepare for evaluation Assemblies scheduled for the first half of 2027, a significant stage in the ongoing implementation process of the Synod.
The document, titled “Recollecting: Accompanying the preparation of the local Church’s evaluation Assembly,” was published on July 27 and made available in several languages. It is intended to support local Churches as they conclude the grassroots phase of the Synod’s implementation journey and prepare contributions for the wider ecclesial discernment process that will culminate in an Ecclesial Assembly at the Vatican in October 2028.
The guidance is directed primarily toward Bishops and Eparchs, who bear responsibility for overseeing the process, as well as the synodal teams entrusted with animating participation within their communities. Rather than prescribing a uniform methodology, the document provides questions, criteria and practical suggestions that can be adapted according to local circumstances and pastoral realities.
Evaluation Rooted in Spiritual Discernment
Presenting the vision behind the resource, Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, emphasized that the evaluation process is intended to be far more than an administrative assessment.
“Evaluation is not a technical exercise, but an experience of gratitude and truth,” Cardinal Grech said. “Recollecting means recognizing what the Lord has brought to maturity in the journey of our communities and allowing ourselves to be guided towards the next steps.”
The document places particular emphasis on the biblical understanding of recollection. According to the guidance, recollecting is not simply a matter of reviewing past events. Instead, it involves recognizing God’s action throughout history in order to discern present realities and remain open to future possibilities.
As a result, local Churches are encouraged to revisit their experience of implementing synodal reforms with honesty and gratitude. The process seeks to identify both the fruits that have emerged during the journey and the areas in which further development and conversion are still needed.
Synodality as a Spiritual Style
The approach outlined in the resource reflects Pope Leo XIV’s description of synodality as “a spiritual style” that “is born of encounter, grows through listening, and matures in discernment.”
This perspective shapes the document’s overall methodology, which focuses less on measuring outcomes through technical benchmarks and more on fostering communal discernment rooted in prayer, listening and reflection.
In keeping with that vision, the evaluation process is framed as an opportunity for local Churches to deepen their understanding of the transformations taking place within their communities and to identify how the experience of synodality is becoming embedded in ecclesial life.
From Recollection to Discernment
The resource is structured in two interconnected sections designed to guide local Churches through both reflection and communal evaluation.
The first section assists dioceses and eparchies in preparing a narrative report that gathers memories, testimonies and experiences from the implementation phase. Participants are encouraged to identify and listen to significant “signs” that have emerged during the process and to discern evidence of transformation.
Particular attention is given to the three forms of conversion highlighted in the Synod’s Final Document: conversion in relationships, conversion in ecclesial processes and conversion in bonds. Through reflection on these dimensions, local communities are invited to assess how synodal practices have influenced their life and mission.
The emphasis on narrative reporting underscores the document’s pastoral and spiritual character. Rather than focusing exclusively on data or procedural outcomes, local Churches are encouraged to tell the story of their journey, highlighting experiences, developments and ongoing challenges.
Preparing for the Evaluation Assembly
The second section addresses the preparation and celebration of the evaluation Assembly itself.
According to the resource, the Assembly is to be convened by the Bishop and understood as a profoundly spiritual event. Prayer, silence, shared reflection and conversation in the Spirit are identified as central elements of the gathering.
The Assembly’s work will culminate in two key documents.
The first is a definitive narrative report, which captures the local Church’s assessment of its synodal journey. The second is a Letter to the Other Churches, inspired by the litterae communionis or “letters of communion” exchanged among Christian communities in the early Church.
These letters are intended to communicate what a local Church has learned during the implementation process, the concrete steps it intends to pursue in the future and a message of hope that can encourage other communities undertaking similar journeys.
The emphasis on communication between Churches reflects the Synod’s broader goal of strengthening communion and mutual learning across different ecclesial contexts.
Key Deadline Set for June 2027
The guidance establishes a clear timetable for the next phase of the Synod process.
Once approved by the Bishop, both the narrative report and the Letter to the Other Churches must be submitted to the relevant national or regional synodal team. They are also to be shared with the General Secretariat of the Synod no later than June 30, 2027.
These submissions will form part of a larger global process of reflection and discernment that extends beyond the diocesan level.
Road to the 2028 Vatican Ecclesial Assembly
The diocesan and eparchial evaluation Assemblies represent only one stage in a broader sequence of gatherings planned over the next two years.
Following the completion of local evaluations in the first half of 2027, Assemblies of Bishops’ Conferences and the hierarchical structures of the Eastern Catholic Churches will take place during the second half of the year.
Continental Assemblies are then scheduled for early 2028, bringing together contributions from different regions of the world.
The process will ultimately culminate in an Ecclesial Assembly at the Vatican in October 2028, marking the conclusion of this phase of the Synod’s implementation journey.
With the publication of “Recollecting,” the General Secretariat of the Synod has provided local Churches with a framework intended to help them reflect on their experiences, discern the fruits of synodal life and contribute to a wider conversation about the future direction of the Church. The resource underscores a central theme of the Synod process: that evaluation is not merely a review of past activities, but a spiritual act of recognizing God’s work and discerning the path ahead.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
