Dear Parishioners,
For the past three years you have been hearing about the Archdiocesan Synod and it has been a very rewarding experience for all who have been involved. 
I appreciate all who participated in this opportunity to let me and our Archbishop know about your concerns for the Church in this Archdiocese. 
Our analysis from your feedback will assist us on how we, as a Church, can better pass on our beautiful faith to those who are seekers.
 ~Fr Terry Rassmussen

 

The time is finally here, November 19, 2022, Archbishop Hebda released the Pastoral Synod Letter a guidance document "You Will Be My Witness" describing the direction for us and the Church. The letter can be found in the Documents section. Continue to pray with us for a fruitful process. Synod Evangelization Teams begin to meet January 2023.

A Synod is a formal representative assembly designed to help Archbishop Hebda in his shepherding of the local church. Shared ideas from parishioners in the diocese will assist 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.

In short, we unite with friends, family and neighbors,
talk and share your ideas to better support the Church in the future!
This GREAT opportunity allowed us to meet new people on a personal level
in a small group setting.


Synod 2022 - The Fruit of Your Service

Throughout the Archdiocese, more than 8100 people attended the Synod Prayer and Listening Events in 2019-20, and more than 68,000 feedback forms were submitted as part of the Parish Consultation with small groups in autumn 2021. 
The need for prayer is as great as ever as we continue this Synod process.
We are amazed at how the Holy Spirit has been providing for us at each step of the way.

The second Synod Assembly in the history of our local Church was held June 3-5 2022.
Over 500 sisters and brothers of the archdiocese will join Bishop Williams and Archbishop Hebda over Pentecost weekend to finalize the culmination of the two year preparation and gathering of ideas from prayer and small group listening and feedback events.
Archbishop Hebda will discern the results of the assembly and share his
strategic plan with us next November on the Feast of Christ the King.

Archbishop Hebda Invites Us to Continue Praying for the Synod:

• Pray the Synod 2022 Prayer (see Documents section for English and Spanish versions).
• Pray a Novena to the Holy Spirit 9 days before Pentecost (www.archspm.org/synod/pray).
• Stay abreast by reading The Catholic Spirit.
• Visit the www.archspm.org/synod for updates and to learn more about the Synod.
• Complete Pope Francis' Synodal Journey Survey! archspm.org/vaticansynod.

Thank You, in God We Pray!

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Archbishop Hebda Gives Thanks and Guides Us Through the Culmination of Our Two Year Journey


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Synod 2022 Prayer

We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.

Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth
and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever.  Amen.
Mary, Mother of the Church, Pray for us.

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HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Read the below history of the Synod 2022 process

Archbishop Hebda Explains the Parish Synod Leadership Team Consultation

 

Synod Small Groups

September 22 through November 11, 2021, Synod small groups met to discuss very important subjects of the church. Each Synod small group consisted of 4-8 people including a trained facilitator who guided attendees through the process. Each two hour session began with prayer, followed by an archdiocesan scripture/teaching video on the weekly topic, with two 30 minute discussion sessions where attendees were invited to have active discussions, sharing thoughts, experiences and ideas.

All parishioners who had been confirmed (and were accompanied by an adult if not one) and adults who had fallen from the church were invited to come as a group or individually.
We encouraged participants to attend as many sessions as they could. 
Existing small groups were invited to hold their Synod sessions at their regularly scheduled dates/times/locations if a trained facilitator was present.

Main Topics of Discussion Were:

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WE ENCOURAGED ALL ADULTS TO PARTICIPATE
WHEN THEY COULD!


Small Group Attendees:  Watch video, discuss, provide feedback
Facilitators: Guide 4-8 attendees in meaningful and charitable discussions
 Register at www.archspm.org/ambassadors

 


SMALL GROUP SESSIONS
DISCUSSION TOPICS

LET'S MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN!

WEDNESDAYS, 9:30a to 12:00p (first half hour is a social and light meal)
THURSDAYS, 6:00p to 8:30p (first half hour is a social and light meal)

Session 1 - September 22/23 
Forming Missionary Disciples Who Know Jesus’ Love and Respond to His Call
Topics: Introduction & Foundational Topics: The Good News of Jesus Christ ("Kerygma"); and Personally Encountering Jesus

Session 2 - September 29/30
Forming Missionary Disciples Who Know Jesus’ Love and Respond to His Call
Topics: Life-long Discipleship; and Universal Call to Holiness

+ + + BREAK FOR FALL FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES !!! + + +

Session 3 - October 20/21
Forming Parishes That are in the Service of Evangelization
Topics: Welcoming Parishes; and Collaboration in Parish Ministry

 

Session 4 - October 27/28
Forming Parishes That are in the Service of Evangelization
Topics: Liturgy and the Sunday Experience; and Sharing the Gospel in Word and Deed

Session 5 - November 3/4
Forming Youth and Young Adults in and for a Church That is Always Young
Topics: Parents as Primary Educators (Birth - Adults); and Helping the Young Encounter Jesus (Birth - Grade 6)

 

Session 6 - November 10/11
Forming Youth and Young Adults in and for a Church That is Always Young
Topics: Youth Ministry (Grades 6-12); and Young Adult Ministry (Ages 18-35)
 

 

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SMALL GROUP IN-PERSON AND/OR ZOOM SESSIONS

Virtual Facilitators must have very good email and Zoom skills with knowledge of screen sharing, breakout rooms, creating and providing linked materials and feedback forms to members. Best method is to have both a Facilitator and a Technical Assistant.

Virtual Members must have access to an electronic device with battery length of 2+ hours.

Preparing for the Synod



This 5-part vitual series offers 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.  Watch at your convenience with family, friends or on your own.

https://www.archspm.org/healing-and-hope-series
 

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Archbishop Bernard Hebda Wants to Hear From You!

In a Nutshell

►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 (Fall 2021)
►Phase 3 - 2022  Parish Feedback Provided to the Archbishop to Create a 5-10 Year Plan

Phase 1 Overview

2019 - 2020 Listening Sessions "The Listening Church"

Sharing Your Ideas!

The Synod process was designed to gather and consolidate member feedback for 2 years, ensuring everyone had a chance to provide their input. Thirty pre-synod listening sessions were held with Archbishop Hebda. Written feedback from 8,000 participants (with 35,000 comments) along with the thousands of responses from the Disciple Makers Index survey were processed. Main topics emerged and were determined for each parish to conduct internal pre-synod listening sessions that took place in the fall of 2022. 

Disciple Maker Index Survey

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.

Archdiocese Update

Impact of Sessions by Local Church

Phase 2 Overview

Listening Sessions Within St. Joseph Catholic Community

Listening sessions were planned for September through October 2022 within St. Joseph, based on the main topics derived from the feedback received in Phase 1. All parishioners were encouraged to attend each session to provide their valuable feedback. Nearly 69,000 Parish Consultation feedback forms were submittted by members of our Archdiocese. The areas of discussion included the following:

Our Parish feedback was compiled and provided to Archbishop Hebda. The information from parishes across the diocese will assist in the creation of the a 5-10 year plan to strengthen and improve our archdiocese using the following steps:

Deanery Consultation:  February 26, 2022
Pastor and 10 Parish Representatives

Archdiocesan Synod Assembly:  Pentecost Weekend, June 2022
Approximately 500 Appointed Delegates (2 From Each Parish)

Pastoral Plan Written and Shared

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Pre-Synod Prayer for the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Mpls

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.