In short, this Synod will be mainly about the existential implications of the worldwide shortage of Catholic priests, particularly for sacramental ministry, while maintaining the traditional parameters of that ministry (such as "lifelong" clerical "celibacy").  The year 2018 is two years away -- how will the hierarchy prepare for this Event?  Unless their preparation includes frank (and even brutal) dialogue with young people, both Catholic and not-Catholic, the Synod will have little or nothing to offer the church of the present or future.