Bishop Michael W. Fisher will preside at a special Mass this Sunday, October 17th at St. Joseph Cathedral at 3:00 pm, formally launching in the Diocese of Buffalo the worldwide Synod convoked by Pope Francis last weekend. The two-year global reflective and consultation process involves all levels of the Church in considering the universal mission of evangelization and in a process of discerning how to best to engage as an active, constructive influence in addressing the issues that define modern culture and society. The Synod will culminate with the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, dedicated to the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission,” at the Vatican in October 2023.

In his remarks at the Vatican, Pope Francis explained: “…As we begin this synodal process, let us begin by asking ourselves — all of us, pope, bishops, priests, religious and laity — whether we, the Christian community, embody this ‘style’ of God, who travels the paths of history and shares in the life of humanity…” Describing the Synod as a “journey of spiritual discernment,” the Pope explained “That word [Synod] summons us to discernment and it brings light to that process. It guides the synod, preventing it from becoming a Church ‘convention,’ a study group or a political congress, because it is not a parliament, but rather a grace-filled event, a process of healing guided by the Holy Spirit…”