“I will seek input from all. I will listen to all. I will discern with you all.” – Bishop Christopher Coyne

Convening the Synod

In the spring of 2017, Bishop Christopher Coyne announced plans to convene the first Diocesan Synod in Vermont since 1962. Its purpose is to establish a pastoral plan for the immediate future of the Catholic Church in Vermont and to establish particular laws and policies to do so. This is at least a year-long project and is “a serious undertaking by the Church,” he said.

The bishop serves as the convener and presider of the synod, and membership contains both ex-officio members of the clergy and laity as well as representatives of religious communities, lay fraternities and at-large representation such as young people, parents and members of minority communities.

Before the sessions of the synod are convened, all of the members of the Catholic community are invited to participate in a preparation process in which they are invited to pray, listen, learn and discern what the future pastoral plan for spreading the “Good News” of the Church in Vermont should be. This is taking place on the parish level, the deanery (regional) level and the diocesan level. It includes personal meetings and digital means of communication.

After this work of preparation is completed, the bishop will convene the synod to meet in the necessary sessions to complete the work of discernment and planning and to then enact the policies, laws and directives to carry out that plan in the Vermont Church.

Diocesan synod update: Click here to know more