In his June 19 Decree convoking Synod 2027, the Seventh Synod of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Archbishop Robert G. Casey wrote, “This Synod of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will help the people of this local Church to advise and assist the archbishop in the governance and care of the faithful entrusted to him.” Sounds great! But how are we to do that?

The answer, of course, is by actively engaging in the synod, primarily by participating in one of the many local listening sessions called Conversations in the Spirit scheduled throughout the archdiocese this Fall between Labor Day and Thanksgiving 2026. All are invited to register for a session—laity, priests, seminarians, deacons, and consecrated religious; those active in their faith and those inactive; those at the center of the Church and those at the periphery; those who feel welcomed by the Church and those who feel shunned by the Church. In a word, everyone.

Why are these sessions called Conversations in the Spirit?

Synod 2027 is grounded in prayer. Unlike a secular listening session, as between managers and employees at work, Conversations in the Spirit are intentionally structured to help participants prayerfully listen for and discern the voice and guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as each other. This is beautifully expressed in the opening of the Adsumus, Sancte Spiritus, a prayer invoked at synods throughout the Church’s history and the official prayer of Synod 2027:     

We stand before You, Holy Spirit,

as we gather 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.

What topics are included, and what topics are not? 

The purpose of Synod 2027 is to assist Archbishop Casey with “the discernment of pastoral priorities, the adaptation of Church laws to local circumstances, and the development of strategic plans for the spiritual renewal of the archdiocese” (Decree). Thus, suggestions regarding any aspect of the archbishop’s three-fold responsibility to teach, sanctify, and govern—which affects the everyday life of our parishes, schools, and families—are fair game. Not up for debate are the enduring doctrines and dogmas of the Church or any practices or disciplines (e.g. celibate clergy) of the universal Church that are beyond the authority of the local bishop.

Will our participation really matter? 

Yes, it will. By baptism, we are each a member of the Mystical Body of Christ: “As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ” (1 Cor 12:12). Without any one of us, that body is incomplete. To be synodal is to journey together. Archbishop Casey is not interested in a divided Church, but rather one of unity in diversity. The participation of every teen and adult Catholic, therefore, is both desired and valued.

Next month, we will explore the concept of discernment, which is pivotal to the success of Synod 2027. Between now and then, please pray. Pray that Synod 2027 bears great fruit in our archdiocese and in our communities. And be sure to register for a Conversations in the Spirit listening session!

To register for a Synod 2027 Conversations in the Spirit listening session, visit catholicaoc.org/Conversations.

Mike Schafer served as the Director of Communication & Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati from July 2017 until his retirement this summer.