DMD 2021: Local Catholics gather for day of prayer, fellowship, synod preparation

By Gianna Bonello

Parishioners, priests and religious brothers and sisters from around the diocese traveled to St. John’s University in Collegeville Oct. 23 for Diocesan Ministry Day, an event dedicated to celebrating the diocese’s people, parishes and Area Catholic Communities.

The theme of the day was “One Body: Gathered. Nourished. Sent.” The event included Mass, presentations, prayer, conversations, fellowship and community. It also featured the launch of the diocese’s participation in the Synod of Bishops, the Church-wide gathering that will convene in October 2023 in Rome.

The day began with Mass, celebrated by Bishop Kettler and assisted by Deacon Jim Schultzetenberg. About 15 priests from around the diocese came to Collegeville to concelebrate.

Deacon Jim Schultzetenberg helps Bishop Kettler with the sprinkling rite following the renewal of baptismal promises during Mass.
(Photo Gianna Bonello / The Central Minnesota Catholic)

“We are here today to celebrate the Holy Spirit and God walking with us,” Bishop Kettler said in his homily.

The bishop spoke about the value of gathering together to celebrate Mass after a time of “isolation and separation due to the coronavirus.”

He also introduced the opening of the diocesan phase of the Synod of Bishops, noting that as “pilgrim people of God” we can be “renewed and reformed” by participating in the synod.

“This synod is an opportunity for us to journey together,” Bishop Kettler said.

He stressed the importance of “listening to all members of the Church, especially (those who are not in positions of power or authority.”

After Mass, participants gathered in the Great Hall for refreshments, conversation and fellowship. Soon after, they headed over to Pellegrene Auditorium to listen to the morning keynote session on hospitality.

Radical hospitality

The morning’s keynote was delivered by Cindy Liliana González, who holds a master of arts in ministry from St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary. González currently teaches family ministry in Spanish through the Emmaus Institute, a ministerial formation program in the diocese for lay leadership ministry and potential Latino diaconal candidates.

The theme of González’s bilingual presentation was radical hospitality in the Church.

The morning guest speaker was Cindy Liliana González, a graduate of St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary, where she currently teaches courses in Spanish on family ministry through the Emmaus Institute. She spoke about hospitality, saying,” We are all at one point the stranger in need of hospitality.” (Photo Dianne Towalski / The Central Minnesota Catholic)

“How do we practice our collective faith?” González asked. “The answer is hospitality.”

González mentioned the parable of the Good Samaritan as an ideal reflection of hospitality. She also said the story of Moses and the burning bush from the book of Exodus offers an example of how to practically apply hospitality.

In the story, which González read from the Bible, God speaks to Moses through a burning bush. God tells Moses not to come near and to remove the sandals from his feet because the ground on which he stands is holy. Moses, out of fear of the Lord, refuses to look at God and turns his face away.

González examined the story through the lens of radical hospitality, noting that Moses not only chose to listen to God, but was also asked to give adequate space and to remove his sandals.

“Are we removing our sandals? Are we granting space? Are we listening? … When we practice hospitality, we are standing on holy ground. We must take the time to listen. We must make space. We must remove our shoes, our sandals from our feet,” González said.

González said that in her work with families she has encountered many people who have experienced deep pain and grief as a result of not being included or seen. That same grief can also result from not being included in parishes.

“But over and over again, the concept that it only takes one person to radically be hospitable … (that it) has the power to radically change the outcome of an entire journey, continues to be true,” González said.

González said the questions she posed about hospitality reflect the spirit of the synod.

“If we want to be a part of a hospitable Church, we have to be a hospitable Church,” she said. “We have to say yes to hospitality in our every vocation, every day of our lives.”

Synod kick-off 

After González’s presentation, participants enjoyed lunch in SJU’s dining hall before the afternoon session, which officially launched the diocese’s local participation in the Church-wide Synod of Bishops.

Phase One of the Synod of Bishops officially began for the Diocese of St. Cloud during the afternoon session, as DMD participants broke off into small groups for listening and consultation sessions. (Photo Gianna Bonello / The Central Minnesota Catholic)

The discussion was led by David Fremo, director of Catholic Education Ministries for the diocese and Lily Kreitinger, Latino ministry liaison at St. Andrew Parish in Elk River. Fremo explained the synod’s phases and the diocese’s participation in it.

“The synod is a three-phase process of the whole Church engaged in strengthening her mission through journeying together,” he said. “The nature of synod is really conversation. It’s coming together, it’s listening, it’s being open. … This is the very first time in the history of the Church that such an effort of this scale has ever taken place.”

The synod is split into three phases: local, continental and universal.

The local phase involves every diocese in the world. All Catholics, from laypeople to religious communities, are called to participate in this phase which involves both discussion and listening. Fremo said the primary focus of the local phase is consultation.

“The consultation is a meaningful opportunity to listen to the people of God, to share with one another, to be inspired by the Spirit in honesty and in charity,” Fremo said. “In the St. Cloud diocese, we have a synod team who is going to be responsible for supporting the synodal process from start to finish.”

In the upcoming weeks, Fremo said the team “will connect with people throughout the diocese about how to get started with planning and doing consultations.”

Fremo explained that the consultations can be in any form.

“They can be done in ACCs, in parishes, small groups, events, activities. … they can be formal, informal,” Fremo said.

This local phase will last until April 2022.

After the consultations are complete, a team will then work together to compile what has been shared during the consultations into a synthesized document, Fremo said.

This document, which will be in the form of a 10-page report, will then be sent to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as a part of the continental phase.

In the U.S., the USCCB will pull important notes from all of the reports sent by each diocese.

The USCCB will then review the reports and compile a document that will be sent to Rome in preparation for the Synod of Bishops, which will meet in Rome in 2023.

Fremo stressed the importance of listening during the synod. He said it is important to include all members of the Church, especially “people that have not been at the table or whose voices aren’t typically included when we look for feedback and direction.”

“In this synod we have a powerful and inspiring and really humbling opportunity to bring together the whole Church, to open our hearts, to open our ears, to hear the Spirit speak,” Fremo said.

After Fremo’s presentation, participants broke into five different groups to officially begin phase one of the synod with conversation and dialogue.

“In your consultations you’ll be invited to pause and to give space in your heart and in your mind for the questions your facilitator will share,” Fremo said.

Discussion in groups ranged from identifying the groups they felt the Church needed to reach out to better to the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus.

Participants in one breakout session discussed the groups they felt the Church needed to reach out to more. Responses included young adults, the mentally ill, parents, those who are divorced or widowed and women. The group also discussed tangible ways to connect with these groups.

Another group discussed divisive issues that affect the Church. One attendee mentioned that more efforts should be taken to learn about how the devil works to divide the Church.

Groups also mentioned the need for more effective evangelization to young people.

After the breakout sessions ended, participants gathered back in the Pellegrene Auditorium for a blessing by Bishop Kettler and a closing song.

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To see photos from Diocesan Ministry Day, click here.

More information about the synod can be read here.

Feature photo: Participants gather in small groups for discussion on the synod. (Dianne Towalski / The Central Minnesota Catholic)

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Author: Dianne Towalski

Dianne Towalski is a multimedia reporter for The Central Minnesota Catholic Magazine.

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