Thank  you  for  participating  in  this  first  phase  of  the  upcoming  Synod  of  Bishops.  The  theme  for  this synod  is  “For  a  Synodal  Church:  Communion,  Participation  and  Mission.”  Synodality  expresses  the nature  of  the  Church  as  the  People  of  God  journeying  together  and  gathering  in  assembly,  summoned by  the  Lord  Jesus  in  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  proclaim  the  Gospel.  Pope  Francis  has  invited everyone  to  participate  in  a  dialogue  with  one  another  and  with  the  worldwide  Catholic  Church.  In  this phase,  we  are  asking  all  Catholic  parishes,  schools  and  organizations  in  our  diocese  to  gather,  listen  and discern  what  it  means  to  be  Church  and  where  the  Holy  Spirit  is  calling  us. This  is  a  process  of  communal  discernment,  rather  than  individual  discernment.  As  such,  we  are  called  to journey  through  this  process  together.  
          During  this  listening  process,  we  are  inviting  everyone  to  engage in  reflection  and  the  practice  of  Spiritual  Conversations  using  St.  Ignatius  of  Loyola's  great  prayer  of Examen,  Scripture  meditation  or  less  formal  ways  of  sharing.  We  will  reflect  back  on  our  experiences, both  collectively  and  individually,  and  then  project  forward  and  ask  “Where  is  the  Holy  Spirit  leading  us as  a  diocese?” Each  individual  matters  and  each  of  our  experiences  are  valid  and  in  need  of  ears  to  listen.  Nobody  is excluded  -  all  are  welcome.  We  are  on  this  journey  of  faith  together.  In  seeking  where  God  has  been beckoning  to  us,  we  also  look  to  where  that  same  call  harkens  us  forward  into  a  new  and  vibrant  way  of being  Church  together.
          See the resource below which you can use to start a conversation as your family and friends gather over the holidays. Remember to report back to us your impressions.  It is easy to get into the conversation and maybe even avoid some less constructive conversations that some worry about as family gathers.