After an extensive process spanning 15 months and involving laity, clergy and religious from the 20 counties of the diocese, the diocesan synod will culminate in an assembly of its members with Bishop William K. Weigand from Oct. 11-13 at St. Isidore Parish in Yuba City.

The synod, with the theme, “Journeying Together in Christ,” is the third in the history of the diocese and the first in 75 years.

In the nine days prior to the synod, Bishop Weigand has asked all 99 parishes in the diocese to celebrate a novena of prayer to the Holy Spirit.

The novena of prayer begins Sunday evening, Oct. 3 and ends on Monday, Oct. 11.

Parishes are asked to pray the novena before or after the daily Mass and at meetings or gatherings. On Sundays, the novena can be prayed as part of the General Intercessions or after Communion. Individuals are encouraged to pray the novena at home as well.

In addition, all parishes will celebrate the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit on one day during the period of the novena.

Members of the synod recently received the draft document that they will discuss during the synod assembly. It includes three major areas for reflection: the parish community (Eucharist/collaboration), the domestic church (“households of faith”) and handing on the faith (evangelization/catechesis).

Each major area in the document includes an introduction, a theological reflection, implications, underlying themes and a sampling of suggestions.

In an introductory letter, Bishop Weigand called the draft document a work “in progress,” and the result of a number of years of preparation for the synod.

“We have tried to capture what we heard from parishioners,” the bishop wrote.

He asked synod members to advance the document toward its final formulation by spending some time in prayer, reflection and discernment on what is contained in the document prior to attending the synod.

The synod, he noted, will focus on developing pastoral initiatives for the diocese in the form of recommendations.

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