The Arlington diocese released the Diocesan Synodal Listening Sessions Synthesis Report April 11, following three diocesan synodal listening sessions Feb. 29 and March 3 and 5. The report summarized topics and comments from the listening sessions.
The diocese hosted the listening sessions at the request of Pope Francis and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ahead of the October session of the XVI Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Participants from diocesan parishes provided feedback on life in the diocese to Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Father Donald J. Planty, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington and diocesan synodal liaison. The feedback was compiled into a report and submitted to the USCCB April 8.
Diocesan synthesis reports sent to the USCCB will serve as the bases for several regional synthesis reports, said Father Planty. “Those regional syntheses will in turn be used to draft the national synthesis which will be forwarded to the Synod of Bishops in Rome to inform the October Second Session.”
The report identifies five recurring themes in the listening sessions: Evangelization, Welcome, and Community; Formation in the Faith with Clarity for Families and Youth; Liturgy, Sacraments, and Prayer; Service and Charity; and Clergy and Vocations. The report describes each theme and includes participants’ suggestions for strengthening that theme in diocesan life and ministry. Suggestions include creating a men’s group in each parish, faith formation programs for parents, and additional programs for respect life advocacy and mental health support.
“The Church does — but must better — welcome and invite people into community and fellowship with charity, then offer them formation in the faith with clarity and nourish them with the sacraments and inspiring liturgies: that is, draw people in by showing them goodness, then form them in the truth and move them by beauty,” the report states.
An accompanying document, Diocesan Best Practices for Synodality, was released with the report. The document lists current synodal practices in the diocese, ranging from the diocesan level down to the parish level. An ongoing synodal practice includes the diocesan Strategic Plan that was launched in 2021 and will conclude in 2026.
The strategic plan has identified six pillars, or areas of focus, for strengthening parishes and increasing charitable works: Revitalize Evangelization and Faith Formation; Cultivate Authentic Discipleship in Christ; Invigorate Catholic Education for All; Strengthen Parish and Family Life; Foster One Communion of Many Cultures; and Deepen Our Commitment to Charitable Works. Working groups have submitted project proposals that will address these goals, and parishes are encouraged to examine and implement the pillars on the local level. Many of the projects emanating from the strategic plan and its working groups address suggestions offered at the synodal listening sessions.
Following the listening sessions, the USCCB selected Father Planty as one of five U.S. parish priests to attend a synod-related international gathering of priests in Rome April 28-May 2.
“I very much look forward to the fraternity of being with 300 pastors from around the world, sharing our pastoral experiences and hopes for how synodality can support our pastoral work ‘in the trenches,’ as I like to say,” Father Planty said.
Find Out More
To read the report, go to arlingtondiocese.org/synod/.
