Section II: Walking together (synodos)

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From Synod to synodality

As our pastors call and form their Synod Evangelization Teams, the first movement of the Synod implementation now becomes clear: the movement from Synod to synodality. We are moving from the Synod as a first-in-our-lifetime canonical event to synodality as a way of being Church. While the Synod consultation has come to a close, synodality as a way of missionary life and activity is just beginning in this Archdiocese! This movement is not, however, only for the parishes. I could not imagine asking pastors to choose the synodal path of evangelization if I were not willing to walk that “same path” myself. Indeed, I am committed to continuing the work of consultation with the Presbyteral Council, the College of Consultors, and the Lay Advisory Board, and I am in the process of choosing my own “twelve” – clergy, religious and laity – who will “walk with me” and advise me as we seek to implement the Synod.

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Office of Synod Evangelization

I will be collaborating closely with the recently established Archdiocesan Office of Synod Evangelization, which has been primarily tasked with implementing the evangelistic priorities flowing from the Synod Assembly in June. The staff of this Office will take special care to “walk with” the parish Synod Evangelization Teams and their pastors. This “walking with” will include formation for missionary discipleship as well as listening to the Teams so that the creativity inspired at the parish level can be shared with all.

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Vicars of Evangelization

In addition, I wish to “walk with” the pastors who will be guiding the Synod implementation in their parishes. Recognizing that it would not be possible to accompany each of them personally, I have appointed seven Vicars of Evangelization, each responsible for two of our geographical deaneries. These Vicars will encourage and visit the pastors and their Teams in my name and will then share with me their lived experience of implementing the Synod. Distinguished by their proven charism of evangelization, the Vicars will follow in the footsteps of our patron, St. Paul, and his companion, St. Barnabas, who “strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith” (Acts 14:22). At the same time, the Vicars will be in a unique position to listen to the pastors and to communicate suggestions and experiences to me, so that I might be more aware of the pastors’ hopes and needs. The Vicars will also be particularly equipped to coordinate and align evangelization initiatives regionally. In this way, all parishes and their respective Teams will also be “walking together” in the building up of our local church.

(Source: archspmmainsite/Synod_Pastoral+Letter)