By Tracey Primrose
In his new book, Spirituality of Communion: A Synodal Encounter with Jesus, Fr. Allan Deck, SJ, invites readers into one of the most important conversations shaping the Catholic Church today: how we listen to one another, walk together in faith, and grow in communion with Christ.
Published by Paulist Press, the slim, 105-page volume is Fr. Deck’s 10th book and one he describes as especially close to his heart. “I wanted to portray synodality as a spirituality,” he explains, “not just as a theory about the Church.” For him, synodality is not simply a new structure or process. It is a way of living the Gospel together.
Inspired by Pope Francis
Fr. Deck’s interest in synodality grew out of his long engagement with the papacy of Pope Francis, whom he studied closely in an earlier book. “His signature legacy,” Fr. Deck says, “is the turn toward the synodal way of proceeding.”
At its heart, synodality emphasizes shared responsibility, mutual listening and participation. It does not eliminate hierarchy, Fr. Deck notes, but places greater emphasis on the Church as a community of believers journeying together.
While synods have deep roots in early Christianity, Fr. Deck explains that they were less emphasized in the Western Church for many centuries. Pope Francis, drawing on global and especially Latin American Catholic experience, revived this tradition as a response to the challenges of modern life.
“Synodality is old,” Fr. Deck says, “but it offers enormous possibilities today.”
A Spiritual Vision of Communion
Rather than approaching synodality as an abstract concept, Fr. Deck frames it as an invitation to deeper communion. Asked to summarize his book in a few words, he describes it as a vision of “people who are very different, and yet experience unity by remaining who they are, while being connected to others.”
This, he believes, reflects the very nature of God and of the Christian community.
Throughout the book, Fr. Deck connects synodality with Ignatian spirituality, especially communal discernment, the practice of listening together for the movements of the Spirit. He sees strong parallels between Jesuit traditions and the Church’s current direction.
The book includes a foreword by Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington, who has worked closely with Fr. Deck over the years. Their collaboration reflects the deep pastoral and theological roots of the project.
Shaped by Two Cultures
Fr. Deck’s perspective has also been shaped by his own life experience. Born into a bilingual, bicultural family—his mother was born in Mexico—he grew up navigating two cultures.
“I’m fundamentally a bilingual and bicultural person,” he says. “You learn not to see difference as a threat.”
That openness to diversity has informed his lifelong work in Latino theology, pastoral leadership and intercultural ministry. His 1988 book The Second Wave explored the growing impact of Latino Catholics in the United States.
It also helps explain why Fr. Deck resonates so deeply with Pope Francis’ vision, which was shaped in part, by his Latin American roots. “Synodality,” Fr. Deck says, “is the gift that the Church from Latin America is giving to the whole world.”
A Book Written with Gratitude
Now 80, Fr. Deck acknowledges that Spirituality of Communion may be his final book. That awareness gives the work a special depth.
“I’m very happy I was able to get it out,” he reflects. “I hope it’s useful. I hope that people pick it up and find something that helps them.”
Reviewers have praised the book for its clarity and accessibility, and Fr. Deck intentionally wrote it for ordinary Catholics, not just scholars. As one reviewer described it, the book is “a little gem”—small in size, but rich in insight.
Hope for the Future
Despite polarization in both the Church and society, Fr. Deck remains hopeful. He sees signs of “convergence” and a growing desire for communion and collaboration across differences.
With plans underway for a more inclusive Ecclesial Assembly in Rome in 2028, including voting participation by laypeople, he believes synodality is here to stay.
“This is the way forward,” he says simply.
For Fr. Deck, that path leads not only to new structures, but to renewed faith, rooted in listening, discernment and a shared encounter with Jesus.
