“The love for people’s Catholic faith and their Catholic identity abounds in the meetings. It’s so present, and it underlies everything,” said Julia McStravog, a theologian and co-coordinator of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ team for the continental phase of the synod.
Vatican officials sent a letter to Bishop Bätzing to say the bishops do not have the authority to create a synodal body that supersedes the authority of the bishops’ conference.
Cardinal Hollerich noted that the document for the current continental phase of the synod acknowledged the tensions in the Catholic Church but also insisted that, if the church is a tent, tension on the lines is needed to hold it up.
“Music has this really unique ability to really capture the heart of the mystery of the Eucharist,” said Marilyn Santos, associate director of the USCCB’s Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis.
Anne McCarney shares her story of faith and love for the Eucharist.
Beginning in January, the diocese’s Eucharistic Revival initiative is hosting “BREAD Talks” in each of the diocese’s five area deaneries, each at a different brewery.
Pope Francis in October of this year announced a second session for October 2024, saying he did not want to rush the process of discerning how the Holy Spirit is calling the church to grow in synodality.
“The meeting was an opportunity for a mutual exchange of updates on some current affairs in different key geographical areas and for an overall assessment of the council’s progress in recent years,” the Vatican said Dec. 7.
