Bishop Daniel E. Flores, the chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Doctrine and the Bishop of Brownsville released a statement regarding the announcement of delegates for the upcoming 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the North American region. The Synod is scheduled to take place in Rome in October.

“With the announcement of the names of delegates to the October 2023 Synod of Bishops in Rome, the Church enters into the Universal Stage of this synodal journey,” Flores said. “The moment is a joyful one, as bishop delegates and non-bishop delegates now begin their proximate preparations for the Assembly. This will involve prayer and study, and a deep reading of the ‘Instrumentum Laboris.’ All the delegates express gratitude to the Holy Father for the invitation to serve together for the good of the Universal Church.” 

The Synod will be divided into two conferences and is set to occur in Rome from Oct. 4-29, and October of 2024, according to the USCCB.

To prepare for the Synod, delegates will dedicate their efforts to familiarizing themselves with the “Instrumentum Laboris,” a document that serves as a foundation for their discussions and reflections during the Synod, allowing for a focused and insightful exchange of ideas. 

It includes several essential parts, including “Considering the challenges of the family,” "The Discernment of the Family Vocation” and “The Mission of the Family Today.” Each topic rates numerous chapters, enabling a comprehensive exploration of the subject matter, according to the Vatican. 

"I encourage the local churches to use the ‘Instrumentum Laboris,’ in conjunction with their parish and diocesan syntheses, as well as with the U.S. National Synthesis, the Document for the Continental Stage, and the North American Final Document, in order to deepen the discernment of what they have heard and what they can do in their local contexts," Flores said. 

"These documents are an unprecedented dialogue between the Holy See and the People of God and serve as living instruments of the synodal path traveled together up to this point. We ask Catholics in their local Churches to pray for the Synod delegates, and for the ongoing work of the Synod.”

The delegates from Canada and the United States this year include non-bishops, a new decision by the pope. A total of 10 non-bishop representatives were selected, with four from Canada and six from the United States. 

The delegates have been engaging in various activities to gain the necessary experience to prepare, according to the USCCB. 

The Synod provides a chance for cardinals, bishops, priests, and other members of the Church to engage in discussions on various topics relevant to the Church. During these deliberations, participants propose ideas that will be presented to the pope in a document. 

Pope Francis will evaluate them and can accept, modify, or reject these propositions. The final approval of the document is expected after the conclusion of next year’s fall session, according to Fox News.