Members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops are not gathered in Rome to implement a "plan of reformation" but to walk together as a church that discerns God's will for the present moment, Pope Francis said at the assembly's opening Mass.

Leading into the Synod of Bishops on Synodality’s first week, hopes were high that the almost four weeks of discussions will set the Church on a secure path for the future, despite today’s multiple competing perspectives and priorities.

Knowing they would be wrangling with different opinions and that Catholics around the world had different hopes and fears for their work, the 364 full members of the assembly of the Synod of Bishops gathered for a retreat.

The approaching world Synod of Bishops on Synodality aims to be a lesson on the "exchange of gifts," said Sister Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the Vatican's Synod of Bishops office and one of the highest ranking women in the Vatican.

When Pope Francis was introduced to the world from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, he spoke to the crowd about taking up a journey, "bishop and people," a "journey of fraternity, of love, of trust among us."

The eyes of the Catholic world turn to Rome Oct. 4, as the worldwide Synod of Bishops convenes on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi to focus on "synodality" and understanding what it means in terms of "communion, participation and mission" in the church. Here's what it is, how we got here and what to expect.

Four years ago, Aaron Semple was in a sober-living facility in Ontario, recovering from a decades-old addiction to drugs, and searching for the tools he needed to construct a new, sober life. His decision to sign up for a retreat inspired by the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises led Semple to a faith community, friendship and a move to Montreal to help bring that retreat-experience to others.

Adding 180 new long-term care beds and a whole new building to Unity Health’s Providence Healthcare site is just the beginning of the Catholic hospital’s plans for seniors in Toronto’s east end.

Forty days in the desert — that’s our usual starting point for Lent. But we would prefer to choose our desert, and most years we do. We decide what we will give up for Lent. We choose spiritual reading, take on volunteering and charitable acts, memorize a new prayer, set aside time for meditation. Diligent Catholics like to plan our desert experience.

COVID has not cancelled Lent, nor Ash Wednesday, though a few things will feel a little different.