"By walking together, and together reflecting on the journey made, the Church will be able to learn from what it will experience which processes can help it to live communion, to achieve participation, to open itself to mission."
Pope Francis' aim in the Synod was to involve the whole Church at the diocesan, national, and continental levels through a process of “listening and discernment” on the important theme of synodality: “For a synodal Church: communion, participation, and mission.”
This synodal process began in Rome on the weekend of Oct. 9-10, 2021, and began in the Diocese of Knoxville and all dioceses around the world on Sunday, Oct. 17. The official diocesan report, which can be read below, was submitted to the USCCB in the spring of 2022. The 10-page report is a synthesis of the months-long synod process utilizing an online survey and listening sessions held at parishes, schools, and ministries around the diocese from December 2021 until March 2022.
In January 2024, dioceses were asked to hold a series of meetings within their dioceses to discuss the topics in the October 2023 Synthesis Report (which can be viewed below) and submit a summary to the General Secretariat of the Synod by May 2024. The diocese will be holding listening sessions March 16 and 19, 2024.
Phase 1: Diocesan Phase (October 2021 - April 2022)
Phase 2: Continental Phase (September 2022 - March 2023)
Phase 3: Universal Church Phase at the Vatican with the synod of bishops (October 2023)
Phase 4: Response Phase (January - March 2024)
As part of the Diocese of Knoxville's commitment to fulfill Pope Francis’ call to synodality, the diocese has scheduled two listening sessions open to anyone who would like to participate on Saturday, March 16 at 10:30 a.m. and Tuesday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the chancery in Knoxville. Efforts are being made to allow limited Zoom participation. You can view a preparation worksheet with more information linked below. Your participation will allow the diocese to produce a final report for the October 2024 Synod of Bishops in Rome.
RSVP here to attend.
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All are welcome to participate in this phase of the consultation. If unable to attend online or in-person, please consider completing this brief survey.