Third Diocesan Synod: Calling on the Holy Spirit for guidance

The call is out to the faithful of the Diocese of Fargo to join Bishop John Folda as he opens the Third Synod of the Diocese of Fargo, April 11–13, 2024, at Sts. Anne and Joachim Church in Fargo. Bishop Aloisius Muench called the first diocesan synod in 1941, followed ten years later in 1951 by the second diocesan synod called by Auxilary Bishop Leo Dworschak. A synod has not been held in the Diocese of Fargo in over 70 years, so this will be an historic event for the faithful of the diocese.
           
But just what is a diocesan synod? According to the official announcement made by Bishop Folda calling for the synod, “The word ‘synod’ comes from the Greek and signifies ‘walking together,’ or taking a common road together. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that a diocesan synod is ‘an assembly of priests and other members of Christ’s faithful who assist the bishop by offering advice about the needs of the diocese and by proposing legislation for him to enact. A synod is not a legislature or a parliament where the Church’s teachings will be altered. It is a gathering of the faithful for prayerful discernment and consultation.’”
           
Synod Delegates include parish priests, deacons, consecrated religious, and laypersons. Parish delegates were nominated by their pastors and pastoral councils. There have been several events leading up to the actual gathering. On June 7, 2022, Pentecost Sunday, Bishop Folda announced that a synod would take place. In his homily that day, Bishop Folda called on the Holy Spirit to be a guide and encouraged the faithful to offer prayers for a successful event.

The first phase of preparing for the synod was called “The Church Listens.” Regional listening sessions were held in 17 different locations across the diocese beginning in January, 2023, along with additional sessions with priests and deacons of the diocese. In these sessions, after a time of scripture reflection and prayer before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, those gathered discussed a few key questions: What are the top three things that are working well at your parish/diocese? What are the top three challenges to address in your parish/diocese? What is one step I may be called to take to respond? The discussions were lively and the responses were many and varied.

The second phase of preparation for the synod, The Church Prepares, is complete. Following the listening sessions, the many responses were gathered together and organized into three key areas: Encounter, Formation, and Mission. Based on this consultation process, Bishop Folda formulated the significant issues and questions that should guide the ongoing preparation for our synod.

Focus Area I: Encounter: How can we encounter Christ, especially in the Eucharist, and foster communion with him and with each other in the Church?

Focus Area II: Formation: How are we formed in our identity as missionary disciples so that we may be prepared to live, witness, and hand on the gift of faith?

Focus Area III: Mission: As individual believers and Catholic communities, how can we fulfill our mission to proclaim Christ to others in all circumstances and to all people throughout the Diocese of Fargo?

Phase three of the synod preparation, The Church Engages, is the Synodal Assembly itself. This is where the faithful of the diocese can make an impactful contribution, mostly through prayer, but also by taking part in the public liturgies on April 11 and 13. The opening Mass on April 11 will be the largest. That particular Mass is the “Mass for a Council or Synod” from the Roman Missal, and those attending gain a plenary indulgence. There will be music pieces especially written for the synod by the Director of Music at Sts. Anne and Joachim Church, Patrick McGuire.

“Music profoundly impacts people,” said McGuire. “When we cry out to God in song, it is one of the most impactful and pure acts of humanity. My hope is that as we sing, the music will reflect the themes present in the liturgy. In this way, the music will amplify the liturgy and highlight the messages therein. The liturgy is always teaching us by the scripture and prayers that accompany it. I think this is why the Church crafted this Mass that begins a Council or Synod with ‘love’ as a theme of the celebration, to help open people’s hearts to the powerful love of Christ that extends to become our Christian mission.”

McGuire invites any musician age 13 and older from around the diocese to join the synod choir by calling him at (701) 235-5757.
For the delegates themselves, the three days will be filled with prayer, breakout sessions, special liturgies and open discussions on the three identified focus areas. Lori Bichler is an assigned delegate from St. David’s parish in Ashley. Bichler tells New Earth she is impressed by the length of planning, the efforts placed by Bishop Folda, and of those responding to voice their concerns and voice what is going well in the diocese.
           
“The open dialogue that took place prior to the Synod allowed me to feel comfortable to provide input, that the voices of not only the religious are being heard but of the laity,” said Bichler. “It is important to place respect to all individuals and their roles in the Catholic Church while maintaining the integrity of our beautiful Catholic faith.”
           
Bichler went on to add that she hopes to find that the synod can help provide ways to inspire and grow one into a deeper relationship with God. “Our faith is not only found inside the church but carried out into our everyday lives,” said Bichler. “We are beautifully created. Each has different gifts and charisms to offer to grow the Catholic faith and the Church and to bring others to the faith that do not know Christ. We are just so blessed to be able to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, and we should desire to have everyone to come to the banquet.”
            
After the Synodal Assembly, Bishop Folda will reflect on the results in prayer and prepare a pastoral letter to announce the implementations and next steps. All are encouraged to continue to ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance in this synod process.

Steve Splonskowski, Synod coordinator and moderator, said, “These are exciting times for the Church. Through this synod process, we are taking the time to pray together and discuss how the Holy Spirit is inspiring both us as individuals and as a Church to engage the world as missionaries of the Gospel. It’s amazing what can happen when we take the time to listen to one another and to what the Holy Spirit is inviting us to do. We are already seeing the fruits of solidarity in our preparations for the Synodal Assembly.”
           
“We can be absolutely certain that the Holy Spirit is moving among us, touching our hearts, and the hearts of many, many others as well,” said Bishop Folda during his Pentecost Sunday homily in 2022. “The Spirit sometimes comes very quietly like a gentle breeze. And at other times, he comes upon us like a powerful driving wind. The Spirit is the bond of life and love between the Father and the Son. And he comes upon us so that we might be one with him. I look forward to praying and journeying with all of you through this upcoming diocesan synod. And I beg the Holy Spirit to pour down upon us his abundant blessing and grace to bless this endeavor and all the faithful of the Diocese of Fargo.”