Dear Parishioners,

IHM has a role this year and next year leading up to the 2023 Synod on Synodality. It was announced by the Vatican in May 2021 concerning this world synod. The theme for the Synod will be:

Towards a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission

The objective for this year and next is for me to listen to you, to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church. All diocesan parishes will be doing the same all throughout the world!

As your pastor I am to shepherd you through our listening process. There are three components to this:

1.Have 2 representatives from the parish attend the Diocesan Opening Liturgy
a)I have selected two representatives from the parish, Bill and Mary Andrea, to attend this liturgy on Sunday, October 17, 2021, at the Cathedral of which there is limited seating

2.Invite parishioners to listening sessions during Advent 2021
a)More information to come to me later this month for these listening sessions and Julie Bowling will be our contact person
b)In January we are to consult other Christians concerning their thoughts on how the Holy Spirit is leading the universal church
c)In February draft a working document about the listening sessions held in Advent and January

3.Gathering for a diocesan Pre-Synodal meeting.
a)This will be scheduled for early March 2022
b)Hand in our parish working document which will be sent to the USCCB.

It would be after this the role of our United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to compile everyone’s documents and take them to Rome before the Synod begins.

Stay tuned for these listening sessions during Advent 2021.

Many blessings,
Father Jim