Come, take your place in our Archdiocesan journey.
August 2026
Welcome
The Archdiocesan Assembly gathers the Church on our journey of synodal evangelisation. It is an opportunity to listen to the Holy Spirit and discern how we are called to walk together in life and mission.
Inspired by the words of Jesus — “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (John 5:8) — this Assembly invites us to respond to Christ’s call to create ‘sanctuaries for the thirsty’ where all are invited to encounter Christ, be formed as disciples, and sent on mission. Building on the discernment of parish assemblies, come join as we seek to animate our Church to become more fully a ‘community of communities’ and a ‘centre of constant missionary outreach.
All are invited to join us on our pilgrim journey of discernment.
Expression of Interest
Archdiocesan Assembly
Archdiocesan Assembly Core Information
All are invited to continue prayerfully discern how our Church can become a 'Sanctuary for the Thirsty?'
When?
The Archdiocesan Assembly will be held on Saturday 22 August (9:00am – 4:00pm) 2026.
A series of experiences in the ‘Assembly Festival’ will be hosted in the lead into the Assembly. This includes an Ecumenical Prayer Experience (Friday 21 August).
Where?
The Archdiocesan Assembly will be offered in ‘Hubs’ across the Archdiocese, including: Canberra, Goulburn, Temora, Tumut, Batehaven, Bega and Cooma. There will also be a ‘digital’ experience offered to all in the Archdiocese.
Who?
The Assembly is a gathering of leaders and members of our parishes, schools, ministries, movements, communities and agencies.
It is anticipated that over 600 people will gather in-person in the Hubs and many more online.
Download the Archdiocesan Assembly Flyer for further information
What happens at the Assembly?
The Archdiocesan Assembly is a chance for all to gather, discuss and discern the Holy Spirit at work in our midst.
Prayer, Worship and Sacraments
Prayer, worship and the sacraments are at the heart of the Archdiocesan Assembly. Through liturgies, Eucharistic celebrations, times of prayer and reflection, participants are invited to encounter Christ and remain attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout the Assembly journey.
Conversations in the Spirit
The Assembly will include opportunities for “Conversations in the Spirit,” a synodal process of listening, sharing and communal discernment. These conversations create space for participants to prayerfully listen to one another and discern where God may be leading the Church in this moment.
Inputs and Testimonies
Keynote inputs, reflections and personal testimonies will help inspire and guide the Assembly’s discernment. Voices from across the Archdiocese will share stories of synodal evangelisation that highlight the movement of the Holy Spirit in our communities.
Contributions and Reporting
Participants will have opportunities to contribute insights, reflections and practical recommendations throughout the Assembly. These contributions will help shape reports, future priorities and ongoing pathways for synodal evangelisation across the Archdiocese.
How can I engage with the Assembly?
The Archdiocesan Assembly will be a gathering of leaders from our Parishes, schools, communities, ministries, organisations and movements.There are three approaches for members of the Archdiocese to be involved.
1. Invitation
To ensure representation from communities across the Archdiocese, invitations will be made through the leaders of each Parish, school, community or organisation
2. Nomination
Additional members of the Archdiocese may be nominated or nominate themselves. These nominations will be reviewed by the Archdiocesan Assembly Planning Group
3. Online Participation
All in the Archdiocese will be able to participate through the online live stream of the Assembly. This will also feature an online portal for contributions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more Assembly questions?Find the answers here.
We completely understand that you might have more questions! Check out the Frequently Asked Questions below. If you have more, then contact the Archdiocese today.
The Archdiocesan Assembly 2026 is a gathering of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn focused on prayer, discernment and synodal evangelisation. Inspired by Jesus’ words, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (John 5:8), the Assembly invites the Church to become “sanctuaries for the thirsty” where people encounter Christ, grow as disciples and are sent on mission.
The Assembly will be held from Friday 21 August to Sunday 23 August 2026. It will take place across multiple regional “Hub” locations including Canberra, Goulburn, Temora, Tumut, Moruya, Bega and Cooma, with a digital participation option also available.
All are welcome to participate in the Assembly journey, including members and leaders from parishes, schools, ministries, movements, communities and agencies across the Archdiocese. Participation will occur through invitations, nominations and online engagement opportunities.
The Assembly will include prayer, worship and sacraments, Conversations in the Spirit, keynote inputs and testimonies, opportunities for discussion and reporting, and practical next steps for mission and evangelisation across the Archdiocese. It will also be supported by an “Assembly Festival” featuring pilgrimages, parish gatherings, youth events and formation opportunities in the lead-up to the Assembly. This will include an ecumenical prayer night on the Friday (21 August) before and a celebration in Sunday Masses across the Archdiocese following (23 August).
The Archdiocesan Assembly Festival is a series of prayer, formation, outreach and community events held in the lead-up to the Archdiocesan Assembly 2026. It is designed to help prepare the Church by gathering people across the Archdiocese to pray, listen, celebrate and discern together.
The Festival includes parish and school events, an Ordination to the Diaconate, prayer opportunities, youth and young adult gatherings (including Guinness & God), ecumenical prayer moments and a pilgrimage all focused towards the Archdiocesan Assembly and beyond.
It aims to animate the Assembly theme, “Sanctuaries for the Thirsty”, and invite the whole Church into a shared journey of synodal evangelisation.
Expression of Interest
Archdiocesan Assembly
A Conversation in the Spirit
The Conversation in the Spirit process is a dynamic approach to discernment in the context of community. This will be a key component of the Assembly, with all attending the Assembly encouraged to have engaged with Conversation in the Spirit in the lead in.
