One Family | Journeying Together
Read the full diocesan synod synthesis
Region IX comprises the 15 dioceses in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri: read the Region IX Synod Report
The USCCB published a national synthesis September 19, 2022: read the national Report
Synthesis Report of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: read the report.
In January 2024, the USCCB requested input for an Interim Stage Synthesis that would be used to prepare for the October 2024 assembly in Rome. Each diocese/archdiocese/eparchy was asked to hold 2 – 3 additional listening sessions to gather input on two questions:
- Where have I seen or experienced successes—and distresses—within the Church’s structure(s)/organization/leadership/life that encourage or hinder the mission?
- How can the structures and organization of the Church help all the baptized to respond to the call to proclaim the Gospel and to live as a community of love and mercy in Christ?
Synod Interim Session synthesis from diocesan listening sessions held Saturday, March 2, 2024: read the summary.
Synod Interim Session report for Region IX: read the report.
National synthesis for the Synod Interim Session: read the report.
What is a synod?
Synod is an ancient and venerable word that indicates the path along which the People of God walk together.
Synodality denotes the particular style that qualifies the life and mission of the Church, expressing her nature as the People of God journeying together and gathering in assembly, summoned by the Lord Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel.
What is the objective of this synod?
While recent synods have examined themes such as the new evangelization, the family, young people, and the Amazon, the present Synod focuses on the topic of synodality itself.
The objective of the current Synod is:
- To listen, as the entire People of God, to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church… especially to those at the margins.
- Foster a lived experience of discernment, participation, and co-responsibility, where a diversity of gifts is brought together for the Church’s mission in the world.
- To inspire people to dream about the Church we are called to be
- To make people’s hopes flourish
- To stimulate trust
- To bind up wounds
- To weave new and deeper relationships
- To learn from one another
- To build bridges
- To enlighten minds
- To warm hearts
- To restore strength to our hands for our common mission
The Synodal Process is not only a series of exercises that start and stop, but rather a journey of growing authentically towards the communion and mission that God call the Church to live out in the third millennium.
Phase One | One Family, Journeying Together
Listening and discernment in our local churches | Nov. 28, 2021 – April 8, 2022
Listen to Bishop Johnston’s homily from the opening Mass on October 17, 2021:
Listening & Discernment Sessions
Every parish is invited to organize listening & discernment sessions; below are ones currently known.
January 5 | St. Peter Parish, Stanberry
6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall
More info: facebook.com/stpeterparish
January 15 | Our Lady of Peace, KCMO
7 p.m. in the Parish Gym
More info: www.ourladyofpeacekc.org
February 3 | St. Ann
7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall
February 10 | Immaculate Conception Parish, Lexington
7 p.m. in Dibbons Hall
More info: facebook.com/ImmaculateConceptionCatholicChurchLexington
February 12 | Jerusalem Farm, Kansas City
2 – 3:30 p.m. at Jerusalem Farm, 520 Garfield Ave., KCMO
Questions? Contact Mary O’Connell at mcoconnell3@gmail.com
February 15 | St. John LaLande Parish, Blue Springs
6:30p.m. at St. John LaLande Parish (805 NW R D Mize Rd, Blue Springs, MO)
Contact Kim Shaw 816-229-3378
February 16 February 23| Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (new date due to weather)
6:30 – 8 p.m., O’Hara Room (416 W. 12th St., KCMO)
Virtual option also available. Contact Michelle Reichart, Pastoral Associate, for Zoom link or with any questions- mreichart@kcgolddome.org, 816-842-0416 x113
February 22 | Jerusalem Farm
7 – 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Contact Mary O’Connell at mcoconnell3@gmail.com for the Zoom link or with questions.
February 23 | Redemptorist Catholic Church
6:30-9 p.m. Garden Room, Redemptorist Catholic Church
Contact Anna Elliott annae@olphkc.org or 816-561-3771 with any questions.
March 15 | St. Mary’s Catholic Church
5:30 p.m. in the Church (2017 Main St., Higginsville)
More info: 660-584-3038
March 19 | Holy Family
9:30 a.m. – Noon in the Parish Hall (919 NE 96th St., Kansas City)
Virtual option also available
More info: Christen Cota, Pastoral Associate, for Zoom link or with any questions- christen@holyfamily.com or 816-436-9200, ext. 304
March 20 | St. Therese Parish
2 p.m. in the Woolridge Center (7207 NW Hwy 9, Kansas City)
More info: Father Randy Sly – rsly@sttheresenorth.org
March 21 | St. Therese Parish
7 p.m. in the Woolridge Center (72074 NW Hwy 9, Kansas City)
More info: Father Randy Sly – rsly@sttheresenorth.org
March 23 | Jerusalem Farm | Women only
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. over Zoom
More info: Mary O’Connell, mcoconnell3@gmail.com for Zoom link
March 27 | St. Gregory Barbarigo
3 – 4:30 p.m. in the church (333 S. Davis St., Maryville)
More info: Call (660) 582-3833
March 29 | Our Lady of the Presentation
6:30 p.m. in the Church (130 NW Murray Rd., Lee’s Summit)
More info: mstorms@olpls.org
March 29 | Holy Cross Parish
7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall (5106 St. John Ave., Kansas City)
More info: Yulys Espinosa Acosta- 816-349-5042
What happens next?
- April 8 – May 30 | Diocesan synthesis
Diocesan co-contacts compile and analyze input from all consultations held in our diocese, draft final report for approval and submit to USCCB.
- Episcopal Conferences and Synods of Oriental Churches
USCCB compiles input from all U.S. dioceses to submit for the first edition of the Instrumentum Laboris, which will be published by the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.
- The Continental Phase
The initial Instrumentum Laboris will be the “working document” for the seven continental meetings: Africa, Oceania Asia, Middle East, Latin America, Europe and North America. These seven international meetings will in turn produce seven Final Documents that will serve as the basis for the second Instrumentum Laboris, which will be used at the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2023.
- The Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
Bishops and auditors will gather with the Holy Father Pope Francis to speak and listen to one another on the basis of the Synodal Process that began at the local level. The aim is to discern at a universal level the voice of the Holy Spirit who has been speaking throughout the entire Church.
More information
Website: www.synod.va
Facebook: www.facebook.com/synod.va
Twitter: twitter.com/synod_va
Instagram: www.instagram.com/synod.va
