It is synod season once again for much of the Diocese in Europe. 

The synod of the Archdeaconry of Italy and Malta met from 26 to 29 September in Rome. Fittingly there was a strong focus on St Francis and St Clare and Franciscan spirituality, given that we were in the midst of the season of creation, and St Francis of Assisi is the patron of the environment. Bible Studies were led by Fr Chris Williams (Florence) and Fr Tony Dickinson (Genoa), and presentations on St Francis and St Clare by Fr James Hadley (Palermo) and Mthr Jules Cave (Naples and Area Dean). 

At one of the synod masses, I had the joy of collating Fr Rob Warren to the canonry of St Catherine of Siena. Canon Warren is the Chaplain of All Saints Rome. St Catherine, a 14 century mystical theologian, is celebrated as a patron of Europe and a Doctor of the Church. Her body (minus her head!) lies in the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome.