A Call to Communion, Participation and Mission

Pope Francis has issued a worldwide invitation to all Catholics to participate in the Synod on Synodality. The theme of this Synod is For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.

The word synod is rooted in Greek and means “same road” or “journeying together.” Through this synodal process, Pope Francis invites every Catholic to prayerfully reflect and learn together about how God is calling us to be the Church in the third millennium.

United in prayer, engaged in dialogue, enlightened by the Word, and guided by the Holy Spirit, we will strive to be faithful messengers of the Good News and to pursue the path to which God calls us – towards deeper communion, fuller participation, and greater openness to fulfilling our mission in the world.

The first part of this journey is taking place now, in dioceses across the world, leading up to the Synod on Synodality, a gathering of Bishops from across the globe that will take place in Rome, in October of 2023.

Click here to view a video from the Archbishop on the Synod:

Listening Together:
All Things New and the Synod

In St. Louis, we are blessed that the Synod on Synodality aligns with our All Things New initiative. Both begin with prayer and listening. What we learn through the Disciple Maker Index (DMI), surveys, interviews, and listening sessions, will inspire efforts to build a renewed Church, a renewed mission, and a vibrant future in our own Archdiocese.

These same findings will help form our local Synod report which, joined with reports from dioceses across the world, will help build a renewed and vibrant Universal Church.

This is an exciting time to be Catholic! As we embark on these historic journeys together, let us invite the Holy Spirit to be our guide; to inspire our commitment to listen and engage, especially with those who feel unheard or overlooked; with those who share our faith, and with those who have not yet heard or been moved by the Word of God.