History of Synods in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

The Diocese of Philadelphia was established by Pope Pius VII in 1808, and made an archdiocese by Pope Pius IX in 1875. When it was founded in 1808, the geographical area of the diocese included all of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the southern half of New Jersey. Eleven dioceses now serve this area.

In the 193-year history of the Archdiocese, there have been nine synods:

First convoked by Bishop Kenrick in 1832

Second Bishop Kenrick 1842

Third Bishop Kenrick 1847

Fourth Bishop Neumann 1853

Fifth Bishop Neumann 1855

Sixth Bishop Neumann 1857

Seventh Archbishop Ryan 1886

Eighth Archbishop Prendergast 1912

Ninth Cardinal Dougherty 1934

One important fact becomes clear when we look at the history of archdiocesan synods: This will be the first time in the history of the archdiocese that the members of the synod will not just be priests, but also deacons, religious men and women, and the lay faithful. This more inclusive approach reflects the growth in the Church's understanding of herself and her members during the years since the last synod in 1934.

In particular, the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) and the revised Code of Canon Law (1983) call upon all the members of the faithful -- clergy, religious and laity -- to take an active role in the life of the Church according to their gifts, their vocations and their state in life. The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen gentium, 1964) reinforces for the present day the reality that all the baptized belong to the People of God, and inherit the three-fold mission of Christ. All of them carry out that mission -- to teach, to sanctify, and to govern -- in the situations and circumstances amid which God has called them to serve.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia serves over 1.4 million Catholics in the five counties of
Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery
in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.