Synod 2023

For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission

Pope Francis has a special invitation for YOU! An invitation to walk forward with him and with all the faithful to “journey together” by participating in the synodal process. We have the opportunity to help prepare for the 2023 Synod of Bishops theme: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission”

To read the Parish Summary, Saginaw Diocese's Synod Report and USCCB's National Synod Report, click the corresponding icon below.

What is a synod? A synod is simply an assembly of the faithful. The goal is to gather the faithful together at every level of the church and listen with a purpose to foster a more vibrant community of faith for the future.

Pope Francis is inviting us into a spiritual process by prayerfully having conversations, sharing our stories, learning about one another and listening with open minds and hearts – without judgment, without prejudice, without agendas.

Pope Francis is asking us to discern the will of the Holy Spirit for the Church. But what is discernment? It is discovering God’s will for us. It is through prayer that we are able to discern God’s will. Discernment is about getting to know God in a deeper way and fostering that relationship.

Preparation for the synodal process at Our Lady of Grace Parish:

  • Pray…we invite you to pray.

  • Pray for the whole Church.

  • Pray for Pope Francis, Bishop Gruss, and all bishops, and Father Dan, and all clergy as we open our hearts and minds to discern the Church that God wants us to be.

  • Pray for yourself as you embark on this synodal journey with us to be open to the Holy Spirit and to share your ideas, hopes and dreams to foster our vibrant community of faith at Our Lady of Grace parish for the future.

Adsumus Sancte Spiritus 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.

Click HERE to Break Open the Synod Prayer

Listening Sessions

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has asked that we seek to bring people together for a listening session, to learn from our listening to one another, a path forward for our community of faith. Our parish is sponsoring listening sessions in order to hear your affirmations of what we may be doing right, but also a truth-telling session of what we are not doing well. We need to hear from you. Your voice is crucial for the faith-building of our community for the future. What will make us grow? What will reinvigorate us? Please prayerfully consider attending one of the listening sessions below that best fits your schedule:

Tuesday, February 15, 2022 -- St. Anne site

12:00 noon mass

12:45 pm Listening session with light lunch

Tuesday, February 15, 2022 -- St. Agnes site

7:00 pm Listening session with desserts

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 -- St. Agnes site

9:45 am Listening session with coffee/donuts

Thursday, March 3, 2022 -- St. Anne site

7:00 pm Listening session with desserts


For More Information

For more information visit saginaw.org/synod2023