Date of Award
4-2026
Document Type
Thesis - SCU Access Only
Publisher
Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2026
Degree Name
Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL)
Director
Rafael F. Luciani
Abstract
This thesis examines the relationship between communion, synodality, and collaborative leadership within contemporary Catholic parish life, using the experience of St. Phoebe Parish as a theological and pastoral locus. Situated within the ecclesiological vision of the Second Vatican Council, it argues that the Church’s identity as communion is not merely a theological principle but a lived reality that requires participatory structures capable of sustaining shared responsibility among the People of God.
Chapter One establishes communion as the relational and sacramental foundation of ecclesial life, integrating theological sources with empirical parish realities to demonstrate both the promise and fragility of belonging in contemporary contexts. Chapter Two develops synodality as the concrete practice of ecclesial communion, understood as a process of communal discernment grounded in listening, dialogue, and reception. It shows that synodality is not an optional pastoral strategy but an essential mode of being Church today.
Building upon these foundations, Chapter Three argues that collaborative leadership is an ecclesiological necessity that emerges from communion and is enacted through synodal practice. Drawing on qualitative analysis of parish experience alongside contemporary research, the study demonstrates that meaningful participation is both theologically grounded and pastorally urgent. It identifies the structural and cultural conditions required to sustain shared leadership in parish life, including the recognition of charisms, the development of participatory governance structures, and the cultivation of a culture of discernment.
The thesis proposes a theological-pastoral framework structured around communion, discernment, participation, and mission, offering a constructive pathway for parish renewal. It concludes that collaborative leadership provides a credible and necessary institutional expression of synodal ecclesiology, enabling parishes to embody more fully the Church's mission as a communion of disciples sent into the world.
Recommended Citation
Nayanah, Brendon G., "Communion, Synodality, and Collaborative Leadership: Toward a Framework for Parish Renewal" (2026). Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations. 173.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/jst_dissertations/173
