Diocesan Synod Team and group coordinators announced

Diocese of Knoxville Chancellor Deacon Sean Smith and Catholic Charities Executive Director Lisa Healy have announced members of the Diocesan Synod Team and group coordinators who will help fulfill the first phase of Pope Francis’ call to canvass the entire Catholic Church for the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops in Rome in 2023.

Bishop Richard F. Stika appointed Deacon Smith and Ms. Healy to serve as co-leaders of the synod process for the Diocese of Knoxville.

Members of the Diocesan Synod Team will serve as advisors to Deacon Smith and Ms. Healy and lead training sessions for group coordinators at the local level.

A training session for the Diocesan Synod Team will take place Thursday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Chancery in Knoxville and online.

Training sessions for group coordinators will be conducted at the regional deanery level sometime before Dec. 4. In-person attendance is encouraged, but online participation may be offered.  

Group coordinators will receive an overview of the synod process, and a demonstration of suggested tools and methodology to be used to canvass their parish or Catholic ministry.

Synodal listening sessions at the local level can begin on Dec. 5 and must conclude by Feb. 15, 2022. 

Dioceses around the world received a Synod preparation document in early September which outlined a course of action the Vatican calls both “a gift and a task” and “invites the entire Church to reflect on a theme that is decisive for its life and mission.”

Listening sessions can include, but are not limited to, parish meetings, inter-parish gatherings, school-based group meetings, local association meetings, online surveys, special language group meetings, ecumenical gatherings, and meetings with the vulnerable, poor, homeless, etc.

Following the listening sessions, Deacon Smith will compile a 10-page report from the Diocese of Knoxville for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The report is due to the USCCB on April 1, 2022.

The USCCB will then forward a report on behalf of U.S. dioceses for further discernment at the continental level. The Vatican will use those reports to draft a final working document (instrumentum laboris) for the bishop’s general assembly in 2023.  

“Understandably, I think everyone is wondering where this is going,” said Bishop Stika. “I believe this is a good thing, and Pope Francis recognizes and has stated quite clearly that this is part of a bigger journey. That we are a Catholic community, and that as Christians, we are part of the largest faith group in the world. But we’re not too big to still communicate with each other. The Holy Father has also reminded us that this is a spiritual process that requires discernment. It’s not an exercise in holding meetings and having debates. We need to listen to each other, but mostly listen to what God and the Holy Spirit might be trying to tell each of us.”