Archdiocesan Synod

ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD

BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 – OCTOBER 24, 2021

As part of the ongoing three year Archdiocesan Synod process which began in 2019 with the Prayer and Listening events many of you attended, we are now approaching the third year. In Year 3, “The Church Engages” and small groups plan to meet in every parish to learn, pray and discuss the three focus areas outlined by Archbishop Hebda. We invite all parishioners to join us on six different Sundays September 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17 and 24  from 11am to 1pm in the Church Hall to learn, pray and discuss in small groups. Each week we discuss two different topics for a total of 12 topics, four under each of the three focus areas.

These three areas consist of:

  • Forming parishes that are at the service of evangelization
  • Forming missionary disciples who know Jesus’ love and respond to his call
  • Forming youth and young adults in and for a Church that is always young

Parish feedback will then be used to help inform the Deanery consultation in early 2022. The process will culminate in the Archdiocesan Synod Assembly held Pentecost weekend, June 3-5, 2022. No preregistration required. For further information on the Archdiocese Synod please visit archspm.org/synod.

What Will We Talk About

Three Focus Areas: Small groups will discuss the three focus areas that arose from feedback given in the Prayer and Listening events. Over six weeks, with one session per week, small groups will discuss 12 topics – four under each focus area.

  • Focus area #1: Forming missionary disciples who know Jesus’ love and respond to his call.
    • Session 1 – September 19, 2021
      • Topic A: The Good News of Jesus Christ – the “Kerygma”
      • Topic B: Personally encountering Jesus
    • Session 2 – September 26, 2021
      • Topic A: Life-long formation
      • Topic B: Universal call to holiness
  • Focus area #2: Forming parishes that are in the service of evangelization.
    • Session 3 – October 3, 2021
      • Topic A: Welcoming parishes
      • Topic B: Collaboration in parish ministry
    • Session 4 – October 10, 2021
      • Topic A: Liturgy and the Sunday experience
      • Topic B: Sharing the Gospel in word and deed
  • Focus area #3: Forming youth and young adults in and for a Church that is always young.
    • Session 5 – October 17, 2021
      • Topic A: Parents as primary educators (birth – adult)
      • Topic B: Helping the young encounter Jesus (birth – grade 6)
    • Session 6 – October 24, 2021
      • Topic A: Youth ministry (grades 6-12)
      • Topic B: Young adult ministry (ages 18-35)