Synod Small Groups Information

How do I Join?
Why Should I Participate?
What Will Be Discussed?
How do the Groups Work?
What is a Facilitator?
What is a Scribe?




How Do I Join a Synod Small Group?

• Form Your Own Small Group: Do you already have 8-10 people in mind?  Form your own small group.  We'll help you get started.  Fill out the form below and we'll contact you.
• Register to Join a Newly-Formed Small Group: Want to join a new small group?  Register below and we'll place you in a Synod Small Group.
• Existing Parish/School Groups and Committees Can Form a Small Group.  Register below and we will contact you to assist you in this process.
• Join "Open Small Groups" after Masses or on Tuesday from 6:00-8:00pm: After each of the three weekend Masses, there will be 2-hour "Open Small Groups" held in the Gathering Space that are open to walk-ins.  The weekends this will be occuring are: Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and Nov. 7, & 14.  The Tuesday sessions will be the Tuesdays immediately after the Sundays.  Let us know which ones you plan on attending by filling out this form (link coming soon).

What will be discussed at Synod Small Groups?

Three Focus Areas: Small groups will discuss the three focus areas that arose from feedback given in the Prayer and Listening events.  Here is a breakdown of the 6 sessions.

• Focus area #1: Forming parishes that are in the service of evangelization.
• Focus area #2: Forming missionary disciples who know Jesus’ love and respond to his call.
• Focus area #3: Forming youth and young adults in and for a Church that is always young.

Read Archbishop Hebda’s August 13, 2020 article in The Catholic Spirit for more details.

Why Should I Participate in a Synod Small Group?

Help Archbishop Hebda move the Archdiocese forward.

• Ideas generated in small groups will assist Archbishop Hebda in determining the
  Archdiocesan Synod Assembly topics.
• Those topics will guide Archbishop Hebda as he creates the Pastoral Plan for the future of the Archdiocese.

Discover more about the Catholic faith with your Church community through small groups.

• Build strong fellowship and community, connecting you with Christ, others, and your parish.
• Dig deeper into the focus areas by examining Scripture, Church teaching, and today’s cultural context.
• Share how God has worked in your life and the lives of others.

How Will Synod Small Groups Work?

Purpose: Small groups of approximately eight people will gather to learn, pray, and discuss the Synod focus areas.

• Learn: Discover what the Church teaches in today’s cultural context.
• Pray: Listen and reflect upon how the Holy Spirit is guiding you and your small group.
• Discuss: Share insights into the focus areas from your own prayer and experience.

Facilitation: A trained facilitator will promote a meaningful and charitable dialogue between group members.

Feedback: A trained scribe will document the group’s reflections on the Synod focus areas, which then will be provided to your parish and Archbishop Hebda.

Location/Dates: Small groups will meet weekly at parishes across the Archdiocese for six sessions between September 19 and November 14. Each meeting will last two hours.

 

What Does it Mean to Become a Small Group Facilitator or Scribe?

What is a Facilitator? A trained facilitator will promote a meaningful and charitable dialogue between group members. Commitment is minimal; we hope to have one facilitator per small group, to lend familiarity and trust. Training will be provided, a total of ~3 hours.

What is a Scribe? A trained scribe will document the group’s reflections on the Synod focus areas, which then will be provided to your parish and Archbishop Hebda.  Commitment is minimal; we hope to have one facilitator per small group, to lend familiarity and trust. Training will be provided, a total of ~3 hours.

Training: The Archdiocese and Saint John's will provide training for both the roles of Facilitator and Scribe prior to the beginning of Small Group Sessions in the fall. The training itself lasts only a couple of hours, and resources are provided after the fact to help you through each small group meeting.

Location/Dates: Small groups will meet weekly at parishes across the Archdiocese for six sessions between September 19 and November 14. Each meeting will last two hours.

How do I volunteer? Contact Joe Block or Ryan Chimzar in the Parish Office