On the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Jan. 9, 2005, about 200 members of the Diocesan Synod reconvened at St. Isidore’s Parish, Yuba City, while I officially promulgated the Synodal Documents, the fruit of their mutual discernment and prayerful reflection. The feast of the Baptism of the Lord reminds each of us of our Baptismal call to proclaim the Word, witness to the faith and remain “faithful to our calling” (Opening Prayer, Sunday, Jan. 9).

There are many ways to describe a Synod but, foremost, is the fact that its preparation, execution and follow-up are a process. As part of that process, I reconvened the members of the Synod in order to affirm their work and to respond to the direction they gave me through seven pastoral recommendations.

The final document upheld the original recommendations made by the Synod Assembly last Oct. 13, 2004, and expands upon each recommendation to embrace fully the scope of synodal discussions. I now share the results of this process with you, the more than 500,000 faithful living in the 100 parishes of the Diocese of Sacramento. The eight pastoral initiatives promulgated on Jan. 9 set a clear direction for the years ahead. Following is a list of the eight initiatives. I have highlighted one of the several objectives for implementation under each pastoral initiative. The entire text of the initiatives, in both English and Spanish, is available on the Synod Web site, www.synod2004.org, or from your pastor or Synod members.

1. Evangelization and Faith Formation

Provide resources for programs of evangelization and catechesis that support and strengthen the Domestic Church to hand on the faith to the next generation, including such programs as family catechesis and whole community catechesis.

2. Vocations

Develop an aggressive and creative vocation ministry team on the Diocesan level, to promote vocations among youth and young adults. They will function in coordination with parish priests, who are to exercise their role as parish vocation directors and models of priestly life.

3. Collaborative Ministry

Provide the laity with opportunities for participation in various parish ministries, pastoral planning, shared responsibility and decision-making.

4. Eucharist and Sacraments

Formulate and implement a process of prayer and formation focused on the Eucharist, the “source and summit of the Christian Life,” beginning with the Year of the Eucharist.

5. Lay Ministry and Lay Apostolate — Formation and Training

Promote that apostolate that is utterly unique to the lay faithful, the apostolate of the market-place or the work-place. Design and Establish a lay training program that will provide opportunities for adults throughout the diocese to become more knowledgeable about the Catholic faith, to grow spiritually, and to receive training for specific ecclesial ministries within the community of faith.

6. Youth and Young Adults

Establish as a priority the development, support and funding of a comprehensive youth and young adult ministry...

7. Social Service and Social Justice Ministry

Advocate the importance of preaching Catholic social teaching on a regular basis, developing social ministry in parishes, supporting the work of social service agencies, and utilizing available resources to support this ministry.

8. Cultural Diversity

Recognize and celebrate the multi-cultural diversity within the local church while striving to achieve unity, the greatest expression and sign of our Catholic faith.

I invite the prayer and participation of everyone in the implementation of the pastoral initiatives, which will guide our “journey together in Christ” in the years to come. To help us, I have appointed Sister Susan McCarthy, RSM, as Director of Implementation, along with a Commission of people who will work with her.

I invoke the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit, and invite all clergy, religious and laity to promote enthusiastically and act upon the renewed vision for our Local Church outlined in the Synodal Documents. (Synod Decree of Promulgation, Jan. 9, 2005)

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