“Of the many words that Pope Francis has introduced or reintroduced to our lexicon, one of his frequently employed terms (often left untranslated) is ‘parrhesia,’ described as boldness or conviction, which the Holy Father insists is vital to the proclamation of the Gospel today.”
The synodal process calls us to step back and ask: Are we proclaiming the Gospel to the widest possible audience? Are we journeying together with the people of ordinary life, like Jesus did?
“‘Believe. Celebrate. Live.’ describes our response to this sacred mystery, the source and summit of our faith. The ministries supported by the Bishop’s Annual Appeal bring people closer to Christ and share his Good News.”
Highlighting the importance of a church that truly listens, Pope Francis will participate in a virtual meeting hosted by Loyola University in Chicago with students from North, Central and South America.
LGBTQ Catholics are more than welcome to participate in the prayer, discernment and discussion process leading up to the celebration of the assembly of the world Synod of Bishops in 2023, a synod official said.
“In the weeks ahead, the Diocese Synod Team will connect with ACCs, parishes, schools, ministries and organizations to initiate consultations of the people, sharing resources and tools to help get started.”
With the Spirit’s inspiration, the two years of preparation leading to the Synod of Bishops on synodality called by Pope Francis for October 2023 will provide the framework for what the pope envisions as a synodal church — one in which people are “walking together on the same road” to respond to God’s call to serve one another.
Catholic Church officials say they are not surprised by the 2020 U.S. census showing Hispanics accounted for 51.1% of the country’s growth, rising to 18.7%, or about 62.1 million, of the U.S. population.
