I invite you to join me in participating intentionally in the synodal path the Holy Father has called us to, for I am certain it will bear much fruit in the life of our diocese.
— Bishop Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte
Diocese of Charlotte Synod: Final Report Submitted
On June 30, 2022, the Diocese of Charlotte submitted its synthesis report to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Click below to read the full report:
Diocese of Charlotte Synod: By the Numbers
Between January and early June 2022, more than 7,000 people across the Diocese of Charlotte participated in 400 listening sessions as part of the diocesan Synod, considering these questions:
- What are the most significant signs of the Lord’s presence in your life?
- What are the biggest challenges or questions you face in responding to the Lord’s call?
- What steps is the Holy Spirit suggesting to you and your community to respond more fully to the Christian vocation?
Most listening sessions (about 350) were held in person, involving about 6,000 people. More than 30 parishes and groups created and distributed online surveys to allow people who could not participate in one of the in-person listening sessions to contribute to the synod, involving 1,000 people.
Synod sessions were held in English, Spanish, Tigrinya, Vietnamese and Korean.
Synod sessions were held by:
- More than 80% of our parishes and missions (76)
- Nearly all Diocese of Charlotte offices and ministries, including Catholic Charities, Family Life, Youth Ministry, Faith Formation, Hispanic Ministry, Vietnamese Ministry, and Korean Ministry
- Campus Ministry, for many of the college communities they serve
- Catholic Schools, with all of our diocesan schools
- Priests in at least 5 vicariates
- Permanent Deacons
- St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly
- 16 lay associations, apostolates and groups, plus more whose members participated in the synod process through their parishes
- 2 religious orders: the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
- Eritrean Catholics of Charlotte, an Eastern Rite Catholic community
What is impressive is that behind these numbers are people who took time to consider the questions and share their testimonies and comments. It’s really moving that so many people expressed a desire to go deeper in a life of faith, to entrust their comments to the Church community and to respond to the call of Bishop Jugis and the pope.
— Dr. Alessandro Rovati, Diocese of Charlotte Synod contact person
Prayer for the Synod / Oración por el Sínodo:
Adsumus, Sancte Spiritus
We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth
and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever.
Amen.
Estamos ante ti, Espíritu Santo,
reunidos en tu nombre.
Tú que eres nuestro verdadero consejero:
ven a nosotros, apóyanos, entra en nuestros corazones.
Enséñanos el camino,
muéstranos cómo alcanzar la meta.
Impide que perdamos el rumbo
como personas débiles y pecadoras.
No permitas que la ignorancia
nos lleve por falsos caminos.
Concédenos el don del discernimiento,
para que no dejemos que nuestras acciones
se guíen por perjuicios y falsas consideraciones.
Condúcenos a la unidad en ti,
para que no nos desviemos del camino de la verdad y la justicia, sino que en nuestro peregrinaje terrenal nos esforzemos por alcanzar la vida eterna.
Esto te lo pedimos a ti,
que obras en todo tiempo y lugar,
en comunión con el Padre y el Hijo por los siglos de los siglos.
Amén.
Diocesan Synod Timeline
- Nov. 13-14, 2021: Letter by Bishop Peter J. Jugis is read at Masses
- Nov. 15, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2021: Preparation of local gatherings of all the diocesan groups
- Jan. 1, 2022 – April 30, 2022: Local gatherings of all the diocesan groups
- June 11, 2022: Common gathering of all the diocesan groups’ representatives
- June 30, 2022: Diocese of Charlotte synthesis is sent to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Resources
- Downloadable prayer card English | Español
- Pope Francis’ homily for the Opening of the Synodal Path English | Español
- Communication resources on the Vatican’s Synod website (including a social media toolkit, posters, flyers, powerpoint templates and more)
- Synod resources from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (including sample Prayers of the Faithful, homily prompts, and more)
Diocesan Synod Contact Person
Dr. Alessandro Rovati is department chair and assistant professor of theology at Belmont Abbey College. He is a graduate of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy, and a published author with leadership roles in national theological associations. His areas of expertise include moral theology and Catholic social teaching. He has already served the Charlotte diocese by teaching classes for St. Joseph College Seminary and by delivering lectures and workshops to youth, laity, clergy, catechists and teachers.
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