Synod

Quotes below are from Archbishop Hebda’s June 6, 2019 article in The Catholic Spirit. Find the full article at www.archspm.org/synod.

• “A Synod is a formal representative assembly designed to help a bishop in his shepherding of the local Church.’’
• The purpose is ‘’to discern and establish clear pastoral priorities in a way that will both promote greater unity and lead us to a more vigorous proclamation of Jesus’ good news.”

• The pre-Synod process has been designed to engage in a "sincere and respectful ‘mutual listening’ in which everyone has something to learn."
• “Moreover, it is not just listening to one another but to the Holy Spirit, the ‘Spirit of Truth’ (Jn 14:17), to know what the Spirit is ‘saying to the Churches’ (Rev. 2:7).”

• The pre-Synod process began fall 2019 engaging the People of God — laity, clergy, consecrated men and women and bishops — all walking together at the personal, parish, deanery, and Archdiocesan levels.
• The process culminates in the Archdiocesan Synod Assembly to be held Pentecost weekend, June 3-5, 2022, followed by a Pastoral Letter leading to a Pastoral Plan.

Fall 2021: Parish Consultation Process with Small Groups

• Small groups meet in every parish to learn, pray, and discuss the focus areas.
• Parish feedback on priorities within each focus area will help inform the Deanery consultation.

• Pastors and parish representatives gather one Saturday to learn, pray, and discuss the focus areas.
• Deanery feedback will help determine the Synod topics.

• Approximately 500 appointed delegates (including two from each parish) gather to learn, pray, and discuss the Synod topics and recommend pastoral priorities to Archbishop Hebda.
• After considering the Synod recommendations, Archbishop writes a Pastoral Letter (November - Feast of Christ the King) leading to a Pastoral Plan to move our Archdiocese into the future.