Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy New Year! I pray that you had a blessed and joyful Christmas season with your family, friends, and loved ones.

A new year calls us to reflection. As we look back with gratitude for God’s goodness, we look ahead with faith and hope. Even amidst life’s daily challenges, we have so much to thank God for. We also have so much to look forward to. We live in hope, recognizing the love of Christ that has been handed on from generation to generation is now our responsibility to reveal, to share, and to radiate more fully. This has been at the heart of our local Church’s efforts with Beacons of Light.

Beacons of Light has assisted us in discerning how we might fully live our Catholic faith in this particular time and place. I am grateful to the commitment of so many who have taken up the challenge of Beacons of Light to move our Church from maintenance to mission and more clearly radiate Christ’s love throughout the 19 counties of our archdiocese. As the phases of Beacons of Light come to conclusion between now and June 2027, each Family of Parishes will continue this effort by engaging in discernment of the best use of its resources – its buildings, finances, and personnel.

We must keep in mind that Beacons of Light has not been a typical process or program; we have been given a mandate to take up the mission and ministry of Christ in our present day. We ensure that it will continue for years to come through the six foundational principles of vitality and missionary discipleship. How we transition from the phases of Beacons of Light into the ongoing work of our parishes, schools, and institutions becomes the question.

After much prayer and consultation on this question, I have decided that we will conduct an archdiocesan synod over the next two years. Since our last archdiocesan synod in 1971, much has changed in our Church. A diocesan synod at this time will offer us a moment where we can prayerfully listen to the Holy Spirit and to one another in order to discover anew the joy of our discipleship. It will culminate with a general assembly where representatives of our clergy, religious, and laity will join together to discuss how Christ seeks to shepherd us into the future.

Inspired by the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, encouraged by Pope Leo’s efforts to create a more synodal Church, and considering the more than fifty years that have passed since our last synod was held, Synod 2027 will offer our local Church a blessed opportunity to recognize Christ in our midst and respond enthusiastically to His call. More details will be forthcoming this spring. In the meantime, information on Synod 2027 can be found at catholicaoc.org/synod2027. Please join me in prayer for the fruitfulness of our upcoming synod and for the wellbeing of all God’s children in our archdiocese, especially those who may be suffering and seeking hope.