The Parish Involvement portion of the Synod is now over.
Our original Synod page and information is still listed below this update, as the information may be helpful.
Our Newman Center's Participation Statistics
How many Synodal Discernment Session(s) did your parish/group hold?
Seven In Person Sessions (used the Archdiocese Format Questions)
Online Form for Homebound Parishioners  (used the Archdiocese Format Questions)
Online Form for Outreach to the Marginalized (used customized questions that leads to the Archdiocese Format Questions)
Approximately how many people total participated in the Synodal Discernment Session(s) for your parish or group?
159  = In Person Session Attendees
20  = Online Submissions from Homebound Parishioners
11  = Online Submissions from Outreach to the Marginalized / Estranged Catholics

Our participation and responses were collected and transmitted to the Archdiocese in the format they requested.
If you would like to read the total document, it is available as a downloadable PDF document here.
synod_response_data.pdf
File Size: 182 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

What is the Worldwide Synod?

The 2021-2023 Synod is a worldwide journey – people on every continent are engaging in deep consultation and discernment at the same time.  Walking the path together is a sacred act of solidarity and catholicity. 

​Why does Pope Francis
​
want this Synod on Synodality?

The Pope is exploring a new way of being Church to equip our local parishes to live together in communion; achieve greater participation; and move forward more intentionally in our mission in and throughout the world. Grounded in the movement of the Holy Spirit, the main objective is to prayerfully embrace and explore the giftedness and co-responsibility of ALL the People of God.  This movement of the Holy Spirit will bring light to convert prejudices or distorted practices not rooted in the Gospel; regenerate current and broken relationships; and to better engage and build up the Church’s credibility as a reliable collaborator beyond its church walls. 

What does Synod on Synodality mean?
We highly recommend you watch this short video to understand the process and what Pope Francis hopes to accomplish.


How can you participate at Newman?

Your voice needs to be heard!  We want your participation. 
ALL SESSIONS ARE FILLED.
A goal of this information-sharing portion is bringing people together for conversation.
However, we acknowledge that's not possible for everyone.
If you are homebound or otherwise unable to attend, we have created an online form with the Archdiocese's questions.
AT HOME SYNOD REFLECTIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
The AT HOME SYNOD REFLECTIONS link will be closed on March 13, 2022.


​What are the Next Steps?

The last day to give input in the Synod process via the AT HOME SYNOD REFLECTIONS is March 13. 
Starting on March 14, five members of our Synod Committee will form to be our Synod Parish Representatives. 
They will begin discerning and writing our report to the Archdiocese. 
This report is due by March 31.  Once completed and submitted, we will post it here on this webpage for you to see.  

The last step is for us to send two of our Parish Representatives to the Vicarate level of the synod process. 
They will present our report and participate at that level relaying your input that was gather during the listening sessions. 
​Once completed, that concludes St. Thomas More's active role in the synod process.

In our Archdiocese

No one will be excluded.  Everyone is invited to prayerfully participate in these discernment sessions, particularly the laity.  In the local phase, which runs in our parish through February and March, we will be engaging in a process of prayer and discernment at St Thomas More to collectively discern where and how God is inviting us to renew and extend the Church’s mission in today’s new apostolic age.

The Vatican Prayer for the Synod on Synodality
We stand before  You,  Holy  Spirit,   
as  we  gather  together  in  Your  name.
With You alone  to guide  us,
make  Yourself  at  home  in our  hearts; 
Teach  us  the  way  we must  go 
and how  we  are  to pursue  it.
We are weak  and  sinful;   
do not  let  us  promote  disorder.
Do not  let  ignorance  lead  us  down the  wrong  path
nor  partiality  influence  our  actions.
Let  us  find in You our  unity 
so  that we  may  journey  together  to  eternal life
and not  stray  from  the  way  of  truth   
and what  is  right.
All this  we  ask of  You, 
who  are  at  work  in  every  place and  time,   
in the  communion of  the  Father  and the  Son, 
forever  and ever.  Amen.