Feldkirch: Autumn symposium promotes community and synodality!

Feldkirch: Autumn symposium promotes community and synodality!

On September 4, 2025, the St. Arbogast educational center in Götzis was the venue for the fall symposium of the Catholic Church of Vorarlberg, which had the telling title “Belonging and community as a challenge and promise”. This event marked the start of the pastoral work year 2025/26 and offered a platform for in-depth discussions about the church's future challenges and opportunities.

Memorable speakers such as the future pastoral director of the Diocese of Feldkirch, Petra Steinmair-Pösel, and the Bregenz community leader, Thomas Berger-Holzknecht, shared their insights. Bishop Benno Elbs celebrated the final service and sent the pastoral staff into service, which was a touching moment for many participants. Hans Rapp, head of the Human Resources and Development team, spoke of an “identity dynamic” that is considered a defining megatrend for the church.

Community as a key theme

“Identity without community does not exist,” Rapp stated, reminding those present that community must always be found anew. These ideas reflect the need for church coexistence to be strengthened not only in times of crisis, but also in everyday life. Steinmair-Pösel described synodality as the “heart of a new church style” that is open, inclusive and focused on the mission of Jesus. She pointed out that synodality does not mean freedom from conflict, but rather embodies the common struggle for the will of God.

Based on current social developments, Berger-Holzknecht discussed the growing tendency towards isolation in social bubbles. “Diversity is increasing, but many are withdrawing,” he aptly noted. This underlines how important it is to actively live the community and not just present it as an empty phrase.

Practical exercises and spiritual conversations

Another highlight of the autumn symposium were the practical exercises in small groups in which the method of spiritual conversation was practiced. This form of dialogue is intended to help all participants recognize the signs of the times and interpret them in a context of solidarity. Steinmair-Pösel summarized the essence: “Synodality is a spiritual attitude that teaches the recognition of God’s Word in others.”

The issue of synodality goes beyond the boundaries of the Feldkirch diocese and is part of a larger process initiated by Pope Francis. The focus is on the invitation to the Synod of Bishops on October 9th and 10th, 2021 in Rome. Here we reflect on the path of synodality in order to consider community, participation and mission as central elements of the church in the third millennium. This project is intended to actively involve all members of God's people and strengthen existing opportunities for participation, as was also reported by kath.net.

Synodality is seen as a constitutive dimension of the Church, which has its origins in the context of the Second Vatican Council. In a comprehensive process of listening and consultation, the results should be documented and understood in order to shape the church as a prophetic sign for humanity.

The autumn symposium in Vorarlberg not only provided local impulses, but is also part of a global change within the Catholic Church. The challenges to community and the church's identity are clear: walking together and the active participation of all are essential to being a strong and welcoming church in an increasingly complex world.