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What is the role of the Faithful?As baptized Catholics, we have the responsibility to support our Church. The first thing each one can do is to pray for the success of the Synod. During the consultation phase, we also need to respond to the invitation to make our voices heard, since each one's ideas, hopes and experiences, rooted in faith, will inform this very significant gathering of the People of God. Our personal, generous support of the outcome of the Synod will be crucial to its long-range success and the vitality of the Church in Philadelphia in this new millennium. Together, we will give witness to the presence of Christ in our society as He lives in His Church today. We will also be providing, for future generations, a strong and vital Church in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. What is meant by consultation?Whenever the Archbishop requests the consultation of the faithful on Church matters, he is inviting them to share their thoughts and ideas that come from their day to day experience of living their Catholic Faith. The recommendations made to the Archbishop are not the "people's votes" but the "people's voices." The Archbishop's particular role within the communion of the Church is to oversee the "ministry of the Word, to safeguard the liturgical life in the Churches entrusted to his care and to provide for adequate pastoral government of the [Arch]diocese." Therefore, the three major categories of concern for all phases of the Synod preparation and at the Synod itself fall under areas of the Archbishop's role as teacher; his role in the sanctification of the faithful (through worship and the sacraments) and his responsibility for the governance of the Archdiocese. During the Synod, the Archbishop listens to the concerns and needs of the faithful which are studied in light of Church teaching and Tradition. Finally, the Archbishop approves a future course for the Archdiocese based on the final recommendations presented. What topics will be considered at the Synod?Cardinal Bevilacqua has selected the following topics for the Tenth Synod:
Have we heard your voice?Meetings are being held in each vicariate to allow people to discuss the issues under consideration, and to offer more information about the Synod topics.For more information, click here. |
The Archdiocese of
Philadelphia serves over 1.4 million Catholics in the five counties of
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