Cardinal Gregory to Celebrate October 17 Mass To Open the 2021-2023 Synod in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cardinal Wilton Gregory invites the people of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington to participate in the global process leading up to the 2023 Synod of Bishops with an Opening Mass at 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 17, at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. The theme of the Synod is “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.”

The 7 p.m. Opening Mass will officially launch the synod process in the Washington Catholic Archdiocese, just as Masses in Catholic dioceses around the world that day will do the same. They follow an Oct. 10 Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to open the Synod of Bishops. The General Assembly of the Synod will be held at the Vatican in October 2023.

Opening Mass

of the Archdiocesan Synodal Process for the

2023 Synod of Bishops

Sunday, October 17, 2021

7 p.m. ET

Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle

1725 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036

Livestream link: https://youtu.be/Wn1ACaB0sY0

“The Holy Father has asked that bishops, priests and deacons follow Christ’s example through this Synod process by engaging with our people, and those who have left our communities, through prayer, listening, dialogue and discernment,” said Cardinal Gregory in a letter to the Catholic community. “As people emerge from the global pandemic,” the Cardinal said, “the Synod offers us the opportunity to be with each other, to invite our family and friends back to the faith, to listen to each other’s joys and sorrows, and share our hopes and dreams for our parishes.”

“Parishes will begin holding listening sessions this month through the end of the year or early January,” said Dr. Jeannine Marino, Archdiocesan Secretary for Pastoral Ministry and Social Concerns and one of two local Archdiocesan contacts for the global Synod. Each parish will also appoint two delegates to Archdiocesan listening sessions early next year. That will be followed by the preparation of an Archdiocesan synthesis report of the listening sessions next spring.

Catholics and all interested may participate in the process through listening sessions at parishes or through an online questionnaire, found with Synod resources on The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington website at https://adw.org/synod