Go and make disciples of all nations

On June 5, the Feast of Pentecost, Bishop Folda announced that the Diocese of Fargo will hold its third synod in Spring 2024. The bishop stated in his message shared at each parish how important it is for us who are members of Christ’s body, the Church, to be the light of the world:

“In this era of change in our world and our culture, the Church must come to a renewed understanding of her identity as a communion in Christ, the People of God animated by the grace and gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

Bishop Folda continued in his letter with an invitation to embrace the mission to “go and make disciples of all nations” as the theme for the diocesan synod. As we look forward to the efforts and fruits of the upcoming synod, let’s take a look at what a synod is and a history of synods in the Diocese of Fargo.

What is a diocesan synod?
According to Canon Law, a diocesan synod is a group of priests and other members of the Christian faithful of a diocesan church who assist the bishop for the good of the entire diocesan community.

“It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium,” according to Pope Francis. “What the Lord is asking of us is already in some sense present in the very word ‘synod.’ Journeying together… is an easy concept to put into words, but not so easy to put into practice.”

What is the process and purpose of a diocesan synod?
During the synodal process, after prayer and listening to the faithful, the bishop, consulting with his priests, proposes questions to chosen representatives who are the members of the synod. The members are to freely discuss these questions at the sessions. However, the members of the synod only provide consultation. Only the diocesan bishop has the authority to make policies and laws as a result of the discussions.

In 1999, St. Pope John Paul II spoke these words at the close of the Second Plenary Synod in Warsaw, Poland: “From the first, [the Church] has seen synods as an effective means for the reform and renewal of Christian life.”

The synod is a practice adopted from apostolic times of “joint reflection on important and difficult problems.” The Council of Trent gave the practice of synods a new impetus and they became, according to St. Pope John Paul II, “an important means for deepening the faith and for indicating the way of the Gospel for all generations of the People of God.” These synods were called with a view to give new life to the religious life of the faithful, and to unify Church law.

In his homily during the Warsaw Synod, St. Pope John Paul II extolled the “praiseworthy practice of convoking synods” for a pastoral purpose. He specifically spoke of past synods and their ability to respond to changes in the social landscape: “Through these synods, successive generations sought for themselves new ways of living the Christian life, making a precious contribution to the development and activity of the Church.”

In speaking of that particular synod to the participants, the Holy Pontiff had this to offer as an encouragement and thanks:

“Above all you have tried to observe, to identify, to evaluate, and to draw conclusions. You bring all of that today and present it as an offering to God, as the reapers do after the harvest, bringing the sheaves of cut grain, trusting fully that what they have reaped will be useful—like bread that is made from grain, in the hope that future generations will be nourished by it.”

Synods in the Diocese of Fargo

In 1941, Bishop Aloisius Muench, invoked the first synod of the Diocese of Fargo. In his letter to Pope Pius XII he wrote: “The bishop and the clergy will strategically consult upon the spiritual and temporal needs of the priests and the faithful at the first synod in the Diocese of Fargo on the 29th and 30th of September.”

On Sept. 15, 1941 the Holy Father authorized the synod, and Bishop Muench received the following message: “The Holy Father invokes copious divine assistance and guidance on the occasion of the first diocesan synod. His Holiness imparts to the bishop and clergy his special apostolic benediction.”

As the Diocese of Fargo newspaper Catholic Action News reported in September 1941: “The focal point in the solemn session [was] the Solemn Pontifical Mass and the decree of the promulgation of the laws of the diocese.” 

The final documents from the 1941 Synod in the Diocese of Fargo include a variety of directives, a diocesan calendar recommending various special celebrations, and spiritual devotions each month. For example, on the Feast of the Holy Family, a dedication of the family was recommended. On the Feast of the Sacred Heart, a prayer of reparation was to be recited. Many topics are covered, but two that stood out as a category of priorities that remain unchanged for these more than 60 years are youth and Catholic education. Here are two examples of texts from the Synodal Documents:

“Youth work is hard work, it requires infinite patience, real vision, and courageous perseverance. If leaders of youth work—priests and lay people—find it a long hard pull, let them reflect that there is much at stake. Much to be won or lost for Christ and His Church.” And for Catholic education and parents: “True education cannot disregard the sublime end for which man has been created. To train youth merely for what it must be here below is to fail of true education. Good Catholic parents will take their responsibility seriously in this matter, and will begin even in the early years of childhood with the religious education of their children in the home, they will leave nothing undone to make the home a school of religious education…”      

Ten years later, in 1951, the Diocese of Fargo held its second synod. In response to the letter Archbishop Muench sent to the Holy Father announcing the second synod, he received the following:

“His holiness learned with great pleasure that the second diocesan synod is to be celebrated. In more recent times, it has been without a doubt painfully evident to all that the wide diffusion of evils of every kind has entangled the preachers of the Gospel in numberless difficulties to the point where it is obviously necessary for them to devote energetic and zealous labor to the discovery of new techniques more suitable to greatly expanded needs of our day.”

Again, the Diocese of Fargo newspaper Catholic Action News reported in September 1951 that at the two-day synod: “Many interesting facts were pointed out at the noon luncheon. Since the past synod in 1941, 32 priests who had been present at that time had died, six had retired and four had left ministry.” During that same 10 years, 41 priests had ordained for the diocese. Once again, we see that some challenges in the Church remain constant.

The Fargo Diocesan Synod: three phases
The third synod in the Diocese of Fargo will include a listening phase, a consultation phase, followed by the synod meeting itself, which will take place at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo. Following the synod, the diocese will move into implementation of the synod with a pastoral plan from Bishop Folda.

Synod prayer foundation: Eucharistic revival
Throughout the synod process, the Diocese of Fargo will enter into prayer through the Eucharistic Revival focused on invitation, formation, and living our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The Fargo Diocese will host a Eucharistic Conference in Fargo Sept. 23–24. The faithful in the diocese will be invited into a deeper relationship and understanding of the Eucharist through formation and catechetical activities throughout 2023. The Eucharistic Revival will include a diocesan pilgrimage to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in July 2024.