Section I: Where we have been in the Synod process

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Consultation grounded in prayer and listening

Our process was shaped by Pope Francis’ hopes for a listening Church, one in which we listen to the Holy Spirit and to one another. The Holy Father has consistently taught that for such listening to be fruitful, it needs to be grounded in prayer. For the last three years, we have been praying for the success of our Synod, asking in particular that we might be able to hear the Holy Spirit as we carefully listened to each other. The efficacy of that prayer was powerfully experienced, as prayer and listening have been hallmarks of our Synod process.

Pope Francis asked all bishops to strive to listen for the heartbeat of the faithful as with a stethoscope so that we could both assess and understand the health of the Body of Christ as well as discern the desires of its heart. That is precisely what I was striving to do in this Synod process. It was always my intention to follow the Spirit, wherever that might lead, without any pre-set agenda, to focus upon whatever themes would arise within my competency to address. When I applied the proverbial stethoscope to what had been shared by the many thousands who attended the 2019-2020 Prayer and Listening Events, I discerned three Focus Areas:

– Forming parishes that are in the service of evangelization.

– Forming missionary disciples who know Jesus’s love and respond to his call.

– Forming youth and young adults in and for a Church that is always young.

These three Focus Areas set the framework for the remaining rounds of consultation, including the Archdiocesan Synod Assembly, held over Pentecost weekend 2022.

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The June 2022 Archdiocesan Synod Assembly exceeded my expectations

Whenever I recall the Synod Assembly, my heart fills with great joy and gratitude. It was an extraordinary event in which 464 voting members gathered to learn, discuss, pray, and vote on 40 Synod Propositions. I remain grateful for the generosity of Cretin-Derham Hall High School, Holy Spirit Parish, and the Cathedral of Saint Paul for the exceptional hospitality that they extended those three days. I am also grateful for the hundreds of volunteers who helped make it such a beautiful experience. Many participants commented that the Holy Spirit was clearly present in the three Masses that were celebrated, in the extraordinary prayer meeting at the Cathedral, and in the discussions among the Synod Members throughout the weekend as we grappled with the Synod Propositions that were under consideration. Those propositions had been carefully articulated to reflect the fruit of the three prior rounds of consultation. The full text of the Synod Propositions and Synod Assembly voting results are included as an Appendix to this letter. I remain convinced that this voting gave voice to the Holy Spirit through the Synod Members and resulted in a great body of inspired feedback. These past months, with the Blessed Virgin Mary as my guide, I have pondered this input and meditated upon it in my heart (Lk 2:19). Now it is time to join you in considering the key question: What then should we do? 

(Source: archspmmainsite/Synod_Pastoral+Letter)