The Prayer for the Synod

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. 
 

Synod of the Catholic Church

Dear Parishioners;

We are all invited to participate in the 2021-2023 SYNOD of the Catholic Church. It would be charitable to share this link with your brothers and sisters who may be having some personal issues concerning their faith.

Bishop Christian Riesbeck has written a letter inviting all of us to take part in a world wide Synod, meaning ‘walking together on the road’. On October 10, 2021, Pope Francis held a mass to begin a 2-year-long process for the entire Church entitled “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission”. This prayerful process of listening and decision making will be used to listen to all of the faithful as it discerns God’s will for the future. 
Your Parish Pastoral Council is facilitating this process over the next two months. There will be questions and discussions for us to take part in. More information will be coming soon. For a fuller explanation, please listen to the Bishop’s homily on the Synod on Youtube at 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRkNf24nl2M&t=4s.

These resources, along with Bishop Riesbeck’s homily for the opening of the diocesan consultation phase and the Synod questionnaire can be found on our diocesan website:

English - https://dioceseofsaintjohn.org/synod-2021-2023
Français - https://dioceseofsaintjohn.org/synode-2021-2023.

Father Charles Udeh, SMMM