Bishop Hebda will be using the Synod process to help him in shepherding the local Church. This process includes prayer and listening events that will be held throughout the Archdiocese. These events are open to all and will assist Bishop Hebda 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 "Links" section has many great resources from the Archdiocese that provide an explanation of the Synod and videos from Archbishop Bernard Hebda.
Phase 1 - 2019-2020 Listening Sessions Held to Identify Specific Discussion Topics (completed)
Phase 2 - 2021 Home Parishes Hold Group Sessions to Discuss the Defined Topics
Phase 3 - 2022 (Delayed Due to Pandemic) Parish Feedback Provided to the Archbishop to Create a 5-10 Year Plan
The Synod process was designed to gather and consolidate member feedback for 2 years, ensuring everyone had a chance to provide their input. Thirty-two pre-synod listening sessions were held with Archbishop Hebda and this phase is now complete. The written comments from these sessions along with the thousands of responses from the Disciple Makers Index survey will be processed. Main topics will then emerge and be determined for each parish to conduct internal pre-synod listening sessions beginning this Fall. Watch for your invite to these sessions later this year.
In November 2019, an enhancement was made to the Synod process: Archbishop Hebda has requested that all parishes engage their parishioners in the Catholic Leadership Institute's Disciple Maker Index survey (DMI) in February 2020. The results will be supplementary information for the Archbishop as he discerns what focus areas to select this spring. The DMI consists of 70 questions and asks parishioners to reflect on their own spiritual growth and identify the ways in which the parish effectively supports that growth. All responses are confidential and the parish will only receive information about the community as a whole. The information will be valuable for the parish as it seeks ways to best support everyone in their discipleship journey. St. Joseph parishioners completed 559 surveys to assist in this valuable information gathering process.
Come Holy Spirit
Make our ears to hear
Make our eyes to see
Make our mouths to speak
Make our hearts to seek
Make our hands to reach out
And touch the world with your love.
AMEN.
Mary, Mother of the Church
Pray for us.