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Together at the Table

Breaking Bread Sharing Stories Making Friends: Becoming a Synodal Church

April 17th 2026 - Keynote Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe

Friendship provides the wellspring for nurturing community as we turn toward one another for common understanding, inspiration, and company. Friendship is one of the great gifts of life. Even so, we know that it requires effort and intentionality. This is no less so in the Church. Making meaningful friendships is essential to being a synodal Church that walks together in Christ, listening for the Spirit’s call. 

Our walking together will not advance far if we settle for making friends with those with whom we already agree. Rather, we are called by the Spirit to the creative endeavor of making friends across our various differences, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at the table in solidarity to break bread and share stories. In doing so, we trust that such friendships will, over time, reveal our shared friendship in Christ. 

We are reminded that Pope Leo XIV, in his first public address, affirmed our call when he said: “We want to be a synodal Church… a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer.”  In a world so given to division, polarization, and rancor, we will come together in friendship and as church to offer a hopeful and prophetic witness.  Please join us.

Event Description:

Celebrating its second year, the 2026 Together at the Table gathering examines the creative task of making friends as integral to the synodal path of the Church. We invite all to share in the journey  as we gather to explore the challenge of friendship by:

  • Breaking bread at table through meals and at Eucharistic liturgy.
  • Mutual sharing and listening to one another’s stories of faith during roundtable conversation.
  • Pondering the witness and wisdom of ecclesial leaders, including Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, OP.
  • Celebrating artistic expressions of friendship and synodality as shared through the artwork of JST-91¶ÌÊÓÆµ students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Together at the Table (TATT) is an international gathering that inspires synodal action in mission and explores the transformative power of synodal pathways in reimagining the Church of the 21st Century – a Church that invites better listening, better spiritual conversation, and better discernment of God in community. Organized by the Jesuit School of Theology of 91¶ÌÊÓÆµ and hosted at the 91¶ÌÊÓÆµ Mission Campus, TATT welcomes participants to listen and engage with invited speakers and esteemed ecclesial leaders, to lend their voice in meaningful dialogues and thoughtful roundtable discussions, and cultivate a community of prayerful reflection and fellowship to ensure that every voice is heard. Join us! Your seat at the table awaits you.

Schedule and Navigation (More Coming Soon!)

  • Additional Resources

Below are selected excerpts from The College of Cardinals Report.  

"Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, a former Master of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), is a well-known progressive theologian whose views on some of the Church’s moral teachings, particularly homosexuality, have caused considerable controversy." 

"In October 2023 and at the Pope’s invitation, Radcliffe offered spiritual reflections to members of the Synod on Synodality, beginning with a . At the synod’s second and final Rome meeting in October 2024, Radcliffe was given an expanded role, offering spiritual reflections throughout much of the month-long meeting as well as at a retreat before the assembly began. He spoke, among other topics, on the importance of listening and dialogue, being open to God’s Providence, and against fear-driven decision-making, whether fear of change or fear of staying the same."

"Cardinal Radcliffe is a firm believer in synodality. He has about 'fear of debate' in the Church and 'suspicion that if we really air our disagreements then the authority of the Church will be undermined.' He believes that courage and humility are needed to 'dare to put a foot wrong' because 'we cannot speak as those who have the truth wrapped up, unlike our ignorant and bigoted opponents!'"

"For Radcliffe, it is important to trust in the Holy Spirit that 'the truth will emerge' but admits that 'we might not turn out to be right.'"

8:00

Registration

Continental Breakfast

 

Locatelli Center

9:00

Formal Welcome

President Julie Sullivan

Locatelli Center

9:20

Opening Prayer

 

Locatelli Center

9:30

Conversation in the Spirit at Round Tables

 

Locatelli Center

10:00 

Morning Plenary


“I Call You Friends: Synodality and Friendship” 

Cardinal Timothy Radcliff 

Locatelli Center

11:00

Conversation in the Spirit  at Round Tables

 

Locatelli Center

11:45

Movement to Liturgy

   

12:05

Eucharistic Liturgy

 

Mission Church

13:00

Lunch/Break

 

Mission Room

Benson Center

14:00

Resume Conference 

Gathering Together for Conversation in the Spirit in Triads

 

Locatelli Center

15:00

Synodal Panel & Dialogue 

Elyse Raby, Moderator

Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe

Sr. Sujatha d’Souza

Lydia Tinajero-Deck

Sabina Ruiz

Locatelli Center

16:00

Closing Prayer

 

Locatelli Center

16:30

Reception

 

Locatelli Center