We are shaped by space. Decades of reflection have revealed the limits of the traditional church layout. The long, narrow design of ancient basilicas survives today, shaping behaviour and focus. Instead of gathering around a shared table, congregations sit like audiences at a concert.

Vatican II calls the Eucharist the “source and summit” of Christian life. That conviction invites priests and people to recover the art of celebrating: words we can hear, gestures that include, and a table we gather around. Renewal in worship nourishes renewal in faith and mission.

What makes a space sacred? Reverence, beauty, light, and silence. Could these same qualities transform our home offices into places that nurture both productivity and human dignity?

The time for waiting is over. If we say we are listening, we must act. Synodality won’t flourish through delay or indecision. Local parishes need to embrace what can be changed and stop waiting for permission to live out this new ecclesial vision.

With a single sentence on the Vatican balcony, Pope Leo XIV ended speculation about his support for synodality. Declaring a global commitment to a synodal Church, he placed himself firmly in continuity with Pope Francis’ vision of shared discernment and collaborative leadership.