19 Prayer and Listening Events · 11 focus events · 8,173 participants. 35,026 comments
Last year, Archbishop Bernard Hebda called for the archdiocese to embrace becoming a ‘listening Church’ in preparation for an archdiocesan Synod. From September 2019 to March 2020, thousands of Catholics shared what was on their hearts and minds when it comes to their parishes and the Church, and listened to what others had to say. Archbishop Hebda listened, too, and also tasked a team to code and analyze the information received. After prayerful discernment and consultation, the archbishop has determined which topics deserve a deeper dive as the local Church looks to its future.
This present moment (focus areas)
How we got here
What’s next
Synod at a glance: A brief overview
Synods are gatherings of Church leaders to address particular topics in the Church. The best-known form of this is the Synod of Bishops, a meeting of bishops from around the world to discern a topic, such as the recent synods in Rome on the family in 2014 and 2015, and on young people in 2018. On the diocesan level, a Synod is a coming together of the local Church, and they’re intended to be held on a regular basis.
Even though diocesan synods have a long history in the Church, the archdiocese of St. Paul has not held a synod since the late 1930s. Last year, Archbishop Bernard Hebda called for an archdiocesan Synod to help him discern and address the most pressing needs of the local Church. He stressed his desire for the archdiocese to be a “listening Church” — to hear and respond to the needs of the faithful — and the responsibility of the faithful to share their needs with their bishops. He appointed a Synod Executive Team, which developed a multi-year pre-Synod process leading up to the Synod Assembly, planned for Pentecost weekend, June 3-5, 2022.
Then Archbishop Hebda will prepare a pastoral plan for the archdiocese, which he expects to release Nov. 20, 2022, the feast of Christ the King. While the Synod Assembly will include about 500 representatives, the pre-synod process seeks to engage the entire local Church. Already, more than 8,000 Catholics participated in the Prayer and Listening Events held September 2019 to March 2020, and more opportunities lie ahead for Catholics to continue their involvement or get involved in the pre-Synod process, especially the parish consultation process, which will take place through small groups in the fall of 2021.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE SERIES · SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020
This five-part virtual series on praying with Scripture will offer practical tools for growing in holiness, drawing upon the rich tradition of the Catholic Church. Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens will teach the fundamentals of praying with Scripture and explain how to use a Prayer Companion resource to enrich your prayer experience. This series begins Sept. 13. Participants can watch at their convenience with family, friends or on their own.
HEALING AND HOPE SERIES · OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2020
This five-part virtual retreat will ground each person in his or her fundamental identity as a beloved child of God. Yet, each person has experienced wounds that bind. This retreat will explore how to unbind these knots through the intercession of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, and open these wounds to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The aim is for participants to better understand how encountering Jesus’ love and mercy brings healing and hope. This series begins Oct. 18.
FAITH AND CULTURE SERIES · JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021 Inspired by the thousands of participants at the Prayer & Listening Events, this series will connect their stories to the story of the Church. It will explore:
- The sources of Catholic teaching (Scripture, tradition and magisterium)
- The Church’s teaching on sexual morality and the family
- The Church’s understanding on the dignity of women
- The priesthood (both the baptized and ordained)
These sessions are scheduled for January and February 2021.
Volunteer-driven process
Behind the scenes of the past and upcoming pre-Synod events are dedicated staff and hundreds of volunteers who have generously given their time to ensure each phase of the process runs smoothly and achieves its goal.
SYNOD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Nineteen people serve on the Synod Executive Committee. Bishop Andrew Cozzens serves as the committee’s chair. Visit archspm.org/synod to see the full Executive Committee membership.
SYNOD PRAYER TEAM Twenty-six people are members of the Synod Prayer Team, which has committed significant time in prayer praying for the Holy Spirit to guide participants, the Executive Committee and Archbishop Hebda, as well as for the local Church.
PARISH AMBASSADORS Catholics who represent each parish and are trained to understand the Synod process so they can assist their pastor and fellow parishioners through each phase. Last year, members of the Synod executive team held 10 live trainings, attended by approximately 1,800 ambassadors.
PRAYER & LISTENING EVENT VOLUNTEERS Numerous individuals and groups who assisted in the work of the first year Prayer and Listening events. At each of the 19 open Prayer and Listening events, a team of about 20 volunteers from various groups across the archdiocese (such as the Council of Catholic Women and Knights of Columbus) staffed the events; various individuals translated feedback into English; and a group of volunteer typists spent months at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center entering the feedback into an Excel spreadsheet so it could be analyzed by the Data Analysis team. The Synod team is also grateful for the pastors and parish staff who so graciously opened their parishes and prepared for these events.
DMI PARISH POINT PEOPLE One pastor-appointed parishioner served as the information and communications hub regarding the Disciple Maker Index, a 70-question survey that was administered in each parish in February 2020. The Point People are now collaborating with their respective pastors and business administrators to understand their individual parish’s results and communicate those results to parishioners.
PARISH DEANERY REPRESENTATIVES Up to 10 pastor-appointed parishioners who will represent their parish at the Deanery Consultation early 2021.
PARISH SMALL GROUP PROCESS MANAGERS Two people (parish staff and/or lay volunteers) who, in collaboration with their pastor, will manage the small group process at their parish fall 2021.
SYNOD ASSEMBLY MEMBERS Two pastor-appointed parishioners who will represent their parish at the Synod Assembly June 2022.
FACILITATORS AND SCRIBES Parishioners who are trained to facilitate and provide feedback at parishes during the Parish Consultation with Small Group process. Another large team of trained facilitators and scribes will assist with table discussion at the Deanery Consultation and Synod Assembly.
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