3-Year Plan for the Parish; What is a Synod?



In 2022, Bishop McClory asked parishes to form a team to pray, discern and discuss the synod process for their parish. The word “synod” is Greek and means “Walking together.”

A global synod began in 2021 when a group of bishops gathered to assist the Holy Father in addressing challenges that face the Church. Pope Francis invited all of us to tap more deeply into the Church’s deep and rich “synodal roots” which means being a church that listens. Bishops were then encouraged to create a Pastoral letter to inspire their Diocese to assess their current environment, and make positive changes towards the overall synod theme. A local synod team was formed to discuss the current state of the parish, discover on a deeper level the synod theme, and then create a 3-year plan for the parish to implement. It’s an opportunity to discern the will of God for the parish going forward and to listen and respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.


Bishop McClory wrote a pastoral letter titled, “We Proclaim Jesus as Lord; A Pastoral Letter on Missionary Discipleship.” A synod team was formed at Holy Martyrs and Our Lady of Consolation parishes in January of 2023 and used this pastoral letter as a starting point for prayer, formation and discussion. The synod team is nearing the end of the planning stage and will soon share their vision with the larger parish and invite all to discern their involvement and participate.


“We recall that the purpose of the Synod is not to produce documents, but to plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to flourish, inspire trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awaken a dawn of hope, learn from one another and create a bright resourcefulness that will enlighten minds, warm hearts, give strength to our hands.” -USCCB


Please pray for the synod team as they finalize plans, that they continue being led by the Holy Spirit. May we look at the upcoming changes that result from our merging parishes and synod plans as an opportunity for growth; that we may be closely connected as the Body of Christ who lovingly and boldy proclaim the Good News to all whom we encounter.  


Gracious God,

Grant us the grace to be your joyful disciples and the courage to be your body missionaries, proclaiming by word and deed that Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.

*This is the prayer written by Bishop McClory that ends his pastoral letter. The letter can be read in full here. 


If you have any questions, please contact Synod Team Leader and Director of Discipleship & Evangelization, Melissa Novak at 219-769-1755, ext 308.


10 Principals of

Missionary Discipleship 

  1. We proclaim Jesus as Lord.
  2. We are called to be missionary disciples.
  3. We invite others into a personal encounter with Jesus.
  4. This is God’s work, not our own.
  5. Prayer and hard work are required of us.
  6. Our efforts as missionary disciples will require our own ongoing conversion.
  7. Joy should be evident in our invitation to others to enter into a personal encounter with Jesus.
  8. Healing and reconciliation are central to our efforts.
  9. An inviting and welcoming outreach is essential to our efforts.
  10. We should embrace a sense of urgency in this work.


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