Phase 3 - Action (starting January 2023)
Using the synodal process, parishes will identify short-term goals that they can begin to implement to revitalize their communities over the course of the year. For more details visit this page for updates or the diocesan website or social media platofrms.
Phase 2 - Discernment (October 2022 - December 2023) - thank you for your input...
Drawing upon the results from the listening sessions held in March, 2022, a survey was created to ask people their opinions on what surfaced from the listening sessions. Over 2,700, including 217 from St. B's, completed an electronic survey; this response rate reflected well the ethnic, racial, and cultural communities of our Diocese. This was in additions to the 11,000 that attended a small group session at parishes, schools, and sites in San Diego and Imperial Counties. From this discernment phase begins now - a few themes emerged:
- willingness of many people to answer personal questions on life and faith is a sign of our parishioner's deep love for God and the Church
- in response to the question about what would you most like to see in your parish - respondents wanted to spread the faith first, followed by outreach to the poor and marginalized, and make the parish more welcoming, better homilies, and money
- for more details, read the Diocesan Synod Survey Report (or visit the diocesan website or social media) or the St. B's Synod Synod Survey Summary
Phase 1 - Listening Phase (October 2021 to October 2022) - Thank you to all who participated...
In March, 2022, we had 196 people participate in one of our 26 Synod small group listening session here at St. B's. Listening sessions were held at two parish events and in 20 Connection to Christ (C2C) small groups. Almost half of our participants were young adults (ages 20-39 years old) and 3/4 of the people were women. Read our parish synod summary. If you have any questions or comments, contact Julie.
In the Diocese of San Diego, which includes those parishes in San Diego and Imperial Counties, over 10,000 people participated in a Synod small group listening session. In addition to parishioners, those in marginalized communities including refugees, migrant workers, those incarcerated and their familes, and homeless men and women participated. Teenagers in our schools and religious education programs also participated. Read our diocese synod summary as well as the national synod report created by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
What is a consultation?
Pope Francis is inviting all of the world’s Catholics to participate in a consultation about how the Church journeys with them, invites their authentic communication, listens to their concerns, and promotes their participation in the full life of the Church. This consultation will bring together the people in the pews, clergy, religious and those living on the margins, in a gathering the Church calls a “synod.” This synod is focused on how the Church engages all of these groups in the life of the Church all levels. The synod’s theme is “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission,” and it is to conclude in 2023.
Parishes in the diocese are consulting their members in March as part of an extraordinary consultation of Catholics worldwide called a “synod.” This process involves answering three questions in a group of six to eight people in about 70 minutes. The participants will briefly share their experiences in the Church and their hopes for its future.The process is anonymous. The session is an opportunity for members to listen to each other. And the information it yields will help the Church to better understand the feelings of its members and to strengthen their participation in the life of the Church at all levels.
Why have it?
The Catholic Church is facing unprecedented challenges the world over. Many have stopped practicing their faith. Countries, communities and families are divided. The pandemic is having a devastating impact. In this crucial moment, the Church is forging a pathway to profound renewal. The Church is holding a consultation, or synod, inviting participants to encounter one another, listen to each other’s experiences, and discover together what God is calling the Church to do in these times. The insights that come from this consultation will be used to renew our parishes, schools and the diocese itself by strengthening a church culture that listens to its faithful, makes them co-responsible for the life of the church and reflects their wisdom.
Catholic groups and small communities also will hold these discussions. The diocese will invite the staff and parents at our Catholic schools to participate in this consultation. Keep an eye out for the announcement of when your parish, group or school will hold these discussions and please sign up to attend. The diocese also will invite people who live on the margins of society to participate, including refugees and newly arrived immigrants, the homeless, and the formerly incarcerated, working with the Catholic organizations that serve them.