Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Catholics around the world, including those in the Archdiocese of Louisville, have been invited to participate in the Synod on Synodality. This global process of listening and dialogue was initiated by Pope Francis in 2021 and aims to reflect on the experience of the Catholic Church.

In the Archdiocese of Louisville, three listening sessions have been scheduled for late February and March. These sessions provide an opportunity for Catholics to contribute their reflections and thoughts on church life, structure, and leadership. Richard "Tink" Guthrie, the archdiocese's synod coordinator and vice-chancellor, emphasized the importance of listening and sharing, stating, "Whatever you share with us, we share it forward."

The previous round of listening sessions in 2022 resulted in the synthesis of reflections into a 10-page document called "Journeying Together." This document, along with reports from dioceses across the country, was submitted to the U.S. bishops and eventually used by the Synod of Bishops in their gathering last October. Now, Pope Francis has requested additional reflections from Catholics before the next synod meeting in October 2024.

Guthrie clarified that the upcoming sessions are not meant to be a repetition of previous ones but rather an opportunity to build upon the insights gained. The Synod of Bishops will take these new reflections into consideration when discussing church matters in 2024.

The listening sessions will be guided by the principles of synodality and prayerful listening with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Guthrie explained that this approach respects everyone's perspectives and allows for a deep understanding of each individual's unique experience of the Church. He emphasized that the sessions are not for debating or persuading but for sharing and listening.

All members of the Catholic community are welcome to attend the sessions in the Archdiocese of Louisville. The dates and locations are as follows:

- February 27, from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at the Archdiocese of Louisville Pastoral Center.

- March 7, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., at the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral in Bardstown, Kentucky.

- March 13, from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary Church.

Following these sessions, the archdiocese will prepare a three- to five-page report summarizing the discussions. This report will be shared at the national level by April 8, and the U.S. bishops will submit a synthesis report to the Vatican's synod secretary by May 15.

To access previous reports from the Synod on Synodality, including the archdiocese's 2022 synthesis report, visit archlou.org/synod/.