Praying for the Synod Delegates

Pope Francis has called for a Synod on Synodality which will begin in Rome. Synod Delegates from around the world, including Archbishop Paul Etienne, will meet in two different monthlong discernments in October of 2023 and October of 2024. The first discernment will be October 4-29, 2023.

The purpose of the synod is to seek to answer the question: “What steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our journey together?” The synod is taking the data submitted from global dioceses to help discern themes related to this question. This synod is unique in that it is not just bishops, but also religious and lay men and women. This is being called the most significant moment of the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council.

Holy Rosary Parish will be praying in support of Archbishop Etienne and the other delegates. We are asking Holy Rosary parishioners and their families to prayer in your home or at a place of your convenience. Examples of prayer offerings for the success of the synod could be attending morning or evening mass, adoration, praying a rosary or reading that day’s scripture readings. Archbishop Etienne will be sent a list of those offering up their prayers daily for a fruitful outcome of the synod.

Follow Archbishop Etienne's Blog

You can also follow the archbishop’s blog, Truth in Love, at archbishopetienne.com, where you can even sign up for email updates of his ongoing posts.

In his post on 8/29/23 entitled, "Preparatory Meetings Begin For Synod on Synodality: Come Holy Spirit," Archbishop Etienne notes, “It is important to remember that the goal of the Synod is not to produce a document. Rather, as the working document says: 'It’s aim will be to continue to animate the synodal process in the ordinary life of the Church, identifying which pathways the Spirit invites us to walk along more decisively as one People of God.” (#3) Our hope is by means of this Synod; our listening, prayer and discernment to hear the Holy Spirit will “invite us to proceed with confidence and resolution in a task of crucial importance for the effectiveness of the proclamation of the Gospel, which is the goal to which a missionary synodal Church aspires.’ (#60) Please God, may it be so!”

Additional Synod Information

• Find several tools for insight into the Synod as well as for praying for the Synod Delegates and the Church: CLICK HERE
• Synodal Process: CLICK HERE
• Subscribe to the Synod Journey Newsletter: CLICK HERE
• Follow the Synod on Social Media: Facebook   Instagram   Twitter   YouTube   Flickr   
• Frequently asked questions: CLICK HERE

2022 Synod Listening Sessions

The Diocese of Evansville hosted several Listening Sessions during 2022 and sent surveys to get a sense of how people journey together in the Church, that is, how they walk with other people and how they are helped (or not helped) by the Church. These listening sessions were focused on the experience of our people, not on ideas or abstract concepts.  From our listening sessions, the diocese developed a synthesis that was sent to the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), which will synthesize all the contributions from dioceses across the U.S. The Vatican will then take all the contributions from across the world and use them to create a preparatory document for the Synod of Bishops in 2023.

The Executive Summary of our final synthesis is now available. Click here to read what our diocese discovered after hosting over 25 listening sessions and receiving feedback through an online survey.