What is a synod?  The word “synod” comes from two Greek words syn meaning “together” and hodos meaning “road” or “way”; thus, a synod is a “coming together.”  Pope Francis said, “Celebrating a Synod means walking on the same road, walking together.”  This Synod is a follow-up to Pope Francis’s encyclical entitled, “Fratelli tutti,” which covered the topics of fraternity and social friendship as paths to build a better, more just, and peaceful world, through the involvement of every person and institution.  After the opening Synod Masses in Rome and our diocese, we begin the process of consulting the entire Body of Christ.  Pope Francis said, “[T]he Spirit has been bestowed upon every baptized person, he listens to the voice of Christ speaking through the entire People of God.” 

The feedback on the diocesan level will be synthesized and sent to the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. Your input is invaluable to this process because you are a member of the Mystical Body of Christ in the world and the Holy Spirit speaks to each one of us.

We ask that you consider each question carefully and provide the best answer as it applies to your situation.  Please complete the survey below no later than March 31, 2022.

 

0. A synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, "Journeys together."

    a)  How is this “journeying together” happening today in your local Church?

    b)  What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our “journeying together”?

1.  COMPANIONS ON THE JOURNEY - In the Church and in society we are side by side on the same road.

     a)  In our local Church, who are those who “walk together”?

     b)  Who are those who seem further apart?

     c)  How are we called to grow as companions?

     d)  What groups or individuals are left on the margins?

 2.  LISTENING - Listening is the first step, but it requires an open mind and heart, without prejudice.

      a.  How is God speaking to us through voices we sometimes ignore?

      b.  How are the laity listened to, especially women and young people?

      c.  What facilitates or inhibits our listening?

      d.  How well do we listen to those on the peripheries?

      e.   How is the contribution of consecrated men and women integrated?

      f.  What are some limitations in our ability to listen, especially to those who have different views than our own?

      g.  What space is there for the voice of minorities, especially people who experience poverty, marginalization, or                     social exclusion?

3. SPEAKING OUT - All are invited to speak with courage and parrhesia, that is, in freedom, truth, and charity.

    a)  What enables or hinders speaking up courageously, candidly, and responsibly in our local Church and in society?

    b)  When and how do we manage to say what is important to us?

    c)  How does the relationship with the local media work (not only Catholic media)?

    d)  Who speaks on behalf of the Christian community, and how are they chosen?

4. CELEBRATION - “Walking together” is only possible if it is based on communal listening to the Word and the                                                 celebration of the Eucharist.

    a) How do prayer and liturgical celebrations actually inspire and guide our common life and mission in                                    our community?

    b)  How do they inspire the most important decisions?

    c)  How do we promote the active participation of all the faithful in the liturgy?

    d)  What space is given to participating in the ministries of lector and acolyte?

5. SHARING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR COMMON MISSION - Synodality is at the service of the mission of the                                                                                                                 Church, in which all members are called to participate.

    a) Since we are all missionary disciples, how is every baptized person called to participate in the mission of the                      Church?

    b)  What hinders the baptized from being active in mission?

    c)  What areas of mission are we neglecting?

    d)  How does the community support its members who serve society in various ways (social and political involvement,               scientific research, education, promoting social justice, protecting human rights, caring for the                                           environment, etc.)?

    e)   How does the Church help these members to live out their service to society in a missionary way?

    f)   How is discernment about missionary choices made and by whom?

6. DIALOGUE IN CHURCH AND SOCIETY - Dialogue requires perseverance and patience, but it also enables mutual                                                                              understanding.

    a) To what extent do diverse peoples in our community come together for dialogue?

    b) What are the places and means of dialogue within our local Church?

    c)  How do we promote collaboration with neighboring dioceses, religious communities in the area, lay associations                   and movements, etc.?

    d) How are divergences of vision, or conflicts and difficulties addressed?

    e) What particular issues in the Church and society do we need to pay more attention to?

    f)  What experiences of dialogue and collaboration do we have with believers of other religions and with those who                   have no religious affiliation?

    g)  How does the Church dialogue with and learn from other sectors of society: the spheres of politics, economics,                   culture, civil society, and people who live in poverty?

7. ECUMENISM -The dialogue between Christians of different confessions, united by one baptism, has a special place in                                the synodal journey.

     a) What relationships does our Church community have with members of other Christian traditions and                                     denominations?

     b)  What do we share and how do we journey together?

     c)  What fruits have we drawn from walking together?

     d)  What are the difficulties?

     e)  How can we take the next step in walking forward with each other?

8. AUTHORITY AND PARTICIPATION - A synodal church is a participatory and co-responsible Church.

    a) How does our Church community identify the goals to be pursued, the way to reach them, and the steps to be                    taken?

    b)  How is authority or governance exercised within our local Church?

    c)  How are teamwork and co-responsibility put into practice?

    d)  How are evaluations conducted and by whom?

    e)  How are lay ministries and the responsibility of lay people promoted?

    f)  Have we had fruitful experiences of synodality on a local level?

    g)  How do synodal bodies function at the level of the local Church (Pastoral Councils in parishes and dioceses,                         Presbyteral Council, etc.)?

    h)  How can we foster a more synodal approach in our participation and leadership?

9. DISCERNING AND DECIDING - In a synodal style we make decisions through discernment of what the Holy Spirit is                                                            saying through our whole community.

    a) What methods and processes do we use in decision-making?

    b)  How can they be improved?

    c)  How do we promote participation in decision-making within hierarchical structures?

    d)  Do our decision making methods help us to listen to the whole People of God?

    e)  What is the relationship between consultation and decision-making, and how do we put these into practice?

    f)  What tools and procedures do we use to promote transparency and accountability?

    g)  How can we grow in communal spiritual discernment?

10. FORMING OURSELVES IN SYNODALITY - Synodality entails receptivity to change, formation, and on-going                                                                                        learning.

      a) How does our church community form people to be more capable of “walking together,” listening to one another,                participating in mission, and engaging in dialogue?

      b)  What formation is offered to foster discernment and the exercise of authority in a synodal way?

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