Synod 2021 - 2023
May 2024 - Update on progress from the Synod Listening Sessions:
Thanks to the grace of the Holy Spirit, and the hard work and participation of many in the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, the Final Summary Report for the Diocesan Phase of the Synod has been completed and submitted to Bishop William Koenig. All are invited to read the report and best practices documents by clicking on the links below.
Bishop Koenig's homily on the Diocese of Wilmington's synod review: ‘May we be strengthened in going forth’. Click here for full article.
Pope Francis invites the entire Church to reflect on a theme that is decisive for its life and mission: “It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium.” This journey, which follows in the wake of the Church’s “renewal” proposed by the Second Vatican Council, is both a gift and a task: by journeying together and reflecting together on the journey that has been made, the Church will be able to learn through Her experience which processes can help Her to live communion, to achieve participation, to open Herself to mission.
Learn more about the synodal process by visiting:
The Diocese of Wilmington Synod website
On the Parish Level:
All are welcome to join in the discussion and reflection on how the Holy Spirit is calling us to improve our "journeying together.
Bishop Koenig is inviting everyone in the Diocese of Wilmington to participate in Listening Sessions as part of the recent Synod process started by Pope Francis. We are part of a worldwide effort which starts at the local level. Pope Francis is asking the entire Church throughout the world to reflect prayerfully on how the Holy Spirit is calling us to improve upon our “journeying together” as a Church.
In this spirit, the Listening Session experience will provide an opportunity for us to listen to God in our own hearts and in the voices of one another. Synod means a dialogue in which there is listening and speaking. We are all there to listen to each other and each of us may speak to the two questions asked. This is an opportunity for us to gather in a prayerful atmosphere and share our thoughts on our church’s strengths, challenges, and action steps as we experience them. In effect, this will help us to play a role in the goals of the Synod for better communion, increased participation, and clarity of our mission as Catholic Christians in our present time. This information will be forwarded to the Vatican and shape the agenda for the worldwide Synod Bishops Meeting in 2023.
These Listening Sessions will prayerfully consider the two questions of the Synod posed by Pope Francis:
(1) The Church in announcing the Gospel journeys together. How is this journeying together happening today in your local Church?
(2) What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our journeying together?
Two Opportunities to join in the discussion:
Session 1: Wednesday, Feb 23 2022, 6:30pm - 7:30pm, ICC Gym
Session 2: Sunday, Feb 27 2022, 1:30pm - 2:30pm, ICC Gym
For more information on these sessions, contact Parish Council icsjparishcouncil@gmail.com, or Brian Ulmen (443-889-2039)
For more information on the Synod visit www.cdow.org/synod/.