October 17, 2021 - "Archdiocesan Synod"

Last weekend Pope Francis invoked the Holy Spirit on us as the People of God so that we will able to move forward together, to listen to each other, and discern our times in solidarity with the struggles and aspirations of all humanity.  The Holy Father celebrated a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Square in Rome last Sunday, October 10.  Dioceses around the world will begin the synodal journey today.  The Archdiocese of Washington has developed a pastoral plan to implement the Synod Pope Francis is convoking.  The Archdiocese has provided priests with some briefing materials.  They will be my source for the rest of this column.
 
Cardinal Gregory hopes that the Synod process will provide parishes an opportunity to be together as we slowly emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Many parish communities (St. Francis of Assisi Parish included) have been affected by COVID-19 through illness, deaths, and postponed or missed celebrations like First Communions, funerals, weddings, Confirmations.  COVID-19 has also affected parishes through the incredible generosity of community members giving their time, talent, and treasure to create food pantries in some parishes (or, in our case, greatly expand our support of the St. Martin Food Pantry), the sacrifice of priests Anointing the Sick in COVID-19 wards, and the steadfast dedication of our Catholic school teachers, who ensured our children in the various Catholic schools of the Archdiocese were able to continue their education throughout the pandemic.
 
This Synod is a unique gift for our local Church.  It is a gift of time—a chance to take a step back and reconnect with our parish communities.  It is an opportunity to invite people not only back to Sunday Mass but also to parish life.  This invitation to parish life starts with listening.  Listening to each other’s joys, hopes, sorrows, and anxieties.  Listening to each other is the basis of dialogue, friendship, and community life.  This Synod is not about changing doctrine or church structures, but rather encouraging each other as brothers and sisters in Christ in a post-pandemic world (which we hope will arrive sooner rather than later).
 
Archdiocesan Synod Overview
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has developed a pastoral approach to implementing this Synod.  The Archdiocesan Synod will open on October 17, 2021 (tonight) with an Opening Mass celebrated by Cardinal Gregory at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle with representatives from parishes, clergy, and religious communities from around the archdiocese.  From October 17 until late December 2021, parishes will host listening sessions where the clergy, parishioners, religious communities who live near the parish and any other community members will be invited to participate.  Parishes will be asked to submit a summary of their parish’s listening session to the Pastoral Center via an online portal.  Pastors will be asked to name two parish Synod delegates to attend archdiocesan listening sessions. 

Pastors are encouraged to consult with their Parish and Finance Councils, ministry leaders, and school principals in choosing their parish Synod delegates.
 
Starting in January 2022 and continuing into February 2022, there will be a series of archdiocesan listening sessions held around the archdiocese based on the results of the parish listening sessions.  These archdiocesan listening sessions will be attended by the parish Synod delegates, clergy delegates, and delegates from men and women’s religious communities.  These archdiocesan listening sessions will ensure communities are able to pray together and share with each other not only the joys of their parish life but also the challenges they are facing so that parishes may accompany and journey with one another.
 
After the archdiocesan listening sessions are complete, a ten-page report will be created by Cardinal Gregory with the archdiocesan Synod team.  Every diocesan report submitted to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will be summarized to create a national report.  This national report will be used during the continental phase of the Synod where episcopal conferences gather to pray, listen, and dialogue together.  Continental reports will be submitted to the Synod of Bishops in Rome, which will use the continental reports to create the working report for the 2023 Universal Synod of Bishops.
 
Stay tuned for further developments!
 
Until next week,
Fr. John