The Diocese of Crookston held their first Synod Listening session Feb. 12 in Thief River Falls. 

In a Facebook post Feb. 14, the Diocese highlighted the event and looked forward to an additional 11 opportunities for participants to have their voice heard in the shaping of the local church. 

“Bishop Andrew Cozzens is seeking your feedback to help discern and establish pastoral priorities for the diocese, in conjunction with the Holy Father’s call to pray together and listen to one another as part of the Synod on Synodality,” the Diocese of Crookston wrote in their Facebook post. “Bishop Cozzens plans to attend most of our local events, taking place between now and Apr. 30.  We will discuss what’s working as well as our challenges and opportunities.”

No RSVP is necessary for attendance, the post states. The next prayer and listening event will take place Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at St. Joseph Brooks.

Pope Francis declared a “synod on synodality,” on Oct. 10, 2021, formally titled “Synod 2021-2023: For a Synodal Church.”  The process will last for two years and involves expanding the existing “Synod of Bishops,” The Conversation reports. With this, bishops all around the world are tasked with consulting with monks, nuns, parishioners and laypeople to bring more openness and transparency to the church. They will then convene in 2023 to discuss how to move forward as a church that “journeys together.”

According to The Conversation, “synod” comes from a Greek word meaning “coming together” or “traveling together.”  While the Synodal tradition in the church began with ancient Christian leaders coming together to discuss and pray about issues affecting the entire church, these gatherings became infrequent by the 16th century. One of the main goals of the Second Vatican Council, held from 1952 to 1965, was to reemphasize the role of bishops as leaders of their communities and to encourage more communication and cooperation between bishops, the article states. 

“We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name,” the Prayer of the Synod states. “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.”