January 11, 2024
by Bishop John T. Folda
One year ago, our diocesan family took an important step in preparation for the Third Synod of the Diocese of Fargo. For several months we held a series of regional listening sessions around the diocese that allowed all the faithful to gather in prayer, listening, and conversation about the life of the Church in our diocese. At that time I explained our need to prayerfully reflect on the state of our diocese and the mission that Jesus has entrusted to his Church, a mission to live the Gospel and to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). I also explained that this is not a task only for the bishop, or only for priests and religious. It is a calling and a responsibility of all the faithful, and we all have a part to play in the work of the Church in the Diocese of Fargo.
Synod Prayer
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.
The Synod Assembly will take place April 11-13, 2024, at Sts. Anne & Joachim Church, Fargo.
Among the tasks he is to accomplish in preparation for a Synod Assembly, the “Instruction on Diocesan Synods”, published in 1997 by the Congregation for Bishops and Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (the document is available on the Vatican website), directs the Bishop to provide for the publication of a Synodal Directory. This Directory establishes the number of the members of the Synod Assembly, their election, the procedural norms of the meetings, etc..
On the 17th of August, 2023, Bishop Folda issued the Directory for the Third Synod of the Diocese of Fargo. It is promulgated here. It begins:
The purpose of the diocesan synod is to assist the bishop in the exercise of the office proper to him, namely, that of governing the Christian community.
This purpose determines the particular roles to be ascribed to those priests who partake in the work of the Synod as wise collaborators with the Order of Bishops, their helpers and chosen instruments, and who are called to serve the People of God. The synod also offers the bishop the opportunity of calling to cooperate with him and with his priests some members of the laity as well as some chosen religious. This is a particular form of that responsibility and concerns all of the faithful in building up the Body of Christ.
Directory for the Third Synod
of the Diocese of Fargo
To be elected as a parish synodal delegate, “It is an indispensable requisite that these members … be in a canonically regular situation …” (Instruction, II.3). In addition, the individual must 1) be a lay person; 2) have completed his or her eighteenth year of age; 3) be outstanding in firm faith, high moral standards, and prudence; 4) be willing to attend the Synodal Assembly.
The Qualifications, Duties and
Election of Parish Delegates
The Pastoral Leadership Guide outlines the Synod process from beginning to end.
Bishop Folda and members of the diocesan staff participated in 16 listening sessions throughout the Diocese of Fargo in January, February and March 2023. Because of weather, one final session had to be rescheduled for May 2023. The notes are available on the Synod Listening Sessions page.
In the fall of 2022, parishioners were invited to particiapte in a parish self-assessment. Results can be found on the Synod Parish Self-Assessment Survey page.
Bishop Folda asks that the following prayer intention be prayed at parish Masses:
We pray for the Third Synod of the Diocese of Fargo. May the Holy Spirit inspire our prayer, preparation, and discussions, and bless the Church in our diocese with the outpouring of His grace.
This timeline is available for download in the following formats:
The following articles appeared in New Earth magazine about the Diocese of Fargo Synod. Click on the title to read the story.
Title: | Preparing for the Synod | |
Date: | January 2024 | |
Author: | Bishop John Folda | |
Title: | Diocesan Synod: What's Next? | |
Date: | June 2023 | |
Author: | Steven Splonskowski | |
Title: | Next steps for the diocesan synod | |
Date: | January 2023 | |
Author: | Bishop John Folda | |
Title: | A synod for the Diocese of Fargo | |
Date: | June 2022 | |
Author: | Bishop John Folda | |
Title: | Go and make disciples of all nations | |
Date: | June 2022 | |
Author: | Steven Splonskowski |
For more information on the Eucharistic Revival, visit the Eucharistic Revival page.