Third Diocesan Synod - Diocese of Sacramento

About the Synod

On Sunday, August 3, 2003, Bishop William K. Weigand proclaimed the opening of a synod for the Diocese of Sacramento, an extensive process to be carried out over 15 months involving laity, clergy and religious.

The diocesan synod is an assembly of the laity, priests, deacons and religious called together by the Holy Spirit to meet with Bishop Weigand from Oct. 11-13, 2004, in prayer, dialogue, discernment and deliberation. This was only the third synod in the history of the Diocese of Sacramento. The Church understands a synod to be primarily the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Purpose of the Synod

A Synod is the highest and most sacred gathering of the Diocesan Church. A "Synod" is "an intentional coming together on the way," a coming together in response to the Holy Spirit.
"The purpose of the diocesan synod is to offer assistance to the diocesan bishop for the good of the whole diocesan community." (Canon 460)
The Synod addresses broad topics of concern to Catholics of the Diocese of Sacramento and has developed goals and priorities that will guide the Diocese at least through the first decades of the 21st century.
The delegates assist the Bishop in discerning the path that the Lord is unfolding before us at the beginning of the third millennium of our life in Christ.
The Synod addresses broad topics of concern to Catholics in the Diocese of Sacramento, as suggested by lay members of parish pastoral councils, by clergy and religious and proposed finally by the Diocesan Bishop. In addition, parishioners — in a series of regional speak-up sessions in the spring of 2004 — had the opportunity to present their hopes and concerns to the Synod and to offer their observations on topics and priorities. The Synod also took into account the priorities identified by nearly 65,000 parishioners when they responded to the CARA survey in February 2002.
We can expect the Synod to provide occasion for reflection on our history and the many blessings God has bestowed on our Diocese. The goal of the Synod is to discern, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the path that the Lord is unfolding before us as we continue our pilgrimage and together strive to meet challenges of a church always in need of renewal.