ALLOUEZ — On Oct. 9-10, 2021, Pope Francis opened the Synod at the Vatican, a process of prayer, dialogue and listening to help the Catholic Church learn how the Holy Spirit is moving the faithful in the third millennium of the church.
The Diocese of Green Bay began its local phase of the synodal pathway at Mass on Oct. 17, 2021, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay.
In his homily that day, Bishop David Ricken described the Synod as a way “to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit in light of the needs of the times.”
He also introduced the three themes for the synodal process: Communion, Participation and Mission.
Since then, listening sessions have been held in the diocese with the intent to provide a report to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), joining reports from other dioceses around the country.
“As we continue to hold Synod listening sessions, we encourage you to read the results which have been turned into the USCCB from the last several sessions ahead of the Synod in October 2024 session in Rome,” said Tammy Basten, chancellor of the Diocese of Green Bay.
The website for Synod resources, Sharing synodal resources | Un nuovo sito targato WordPress (synodresources.org), features “the results of the original Synod Synthesis completed as well as a document outlining key themes from the local, regional, national and continental reports along with actions taken,” said Basten.
The Diocese of Green Bay Synod Interim Synthesis 2024 covers:
- Where have I seen successes and distresses within the church’s structures, organization, leadership and life that encourage or hinder the mission?
- How can the structures and organization of the church help all the baptized to respond to the call to proclaim the Gospel and to live as a community of love and mercy of Christ?
To access the Interim Synthesis, go to file (gbdioc.org).
The Vatican has regularly held synods since Vatican II in the 1960s. Synods bring together bishops from around the world to discuss important topics and help inform the pope’s thinking on key issues. Recent synods have addressed the new evangelization, families and young people.