What Is A Synod?

Look around your parish community to see how you can help the Church, and how it can help others.

Here are a few ways: • • • • •

Attend Church meetings.

Join Church organizations Babysit for other Church members Help with maintenance at Church Participate in discussions

In addition to the hierarchy (the Bishops, Archbishops, and Primate) there will be clergy (Priests, and Deacons), Religious (Priests, Brothers and Sisters), and elected Lay Delegates from around the Diocese, Province or Jurisdiction attending.

Together everyone will be working for the betterment of our Church.

What Is A Synod?

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THE SYNOD WILL:

Discuss these needs with others. Attend the regional or Diocesan meetings to develop proposals, presentations and reports.

Pray; hear and receive reports; discuss proposals; draw up recommendations; and prepare budgets.

ABOVE ALL… PRAY !!!

SO… WHAT IS A SYNOD?

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IT IS A FULL AND FAITHFUL PICTURE OF THE CHURCH.

 Diocesan  Provincial

BE A PART OF IT!

THE BISHOP, THE ARCHBISHOP and THE PRIMATE… …want to hear from you and to see you participate with them in building up and restoring the Faith and Apostolic Ministry of the Church.

They are the official legislators at Synod, but your participation as consultants, cooperators and colleagues is essential to the success of the Synod.

PRIMATIAL OFFICES 73 Pleasant Street Springvale, ME 04083 Phone (617) 438-3042 www.naorcc.org

NORTH AMERICAN OLD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

A SYNOD… …is a way of continuing the Church’s tradition of representative bodies which gather to discuss and adopt action plans useful to all members of the Church.

Synod meets on different levels. A meeting of the clergy and laity of the Diocese is referred to as a Diocesan Synod. A meeting of all of the Dioceses of a nation or particular region is referred to as a Provincial Synod. A meeting of all of the various Provinces of our jurisdiction is called a General Synod.

DURING THE EARLY CENTURIES… …the Church held many councils to come to a better understanding of how to be the group of people (the Church) Jesus had in mind when He said, “Go, make disciples of all nations…” __________

THE CODE OF CANON LAW…

DURING THE MIDDLE AGES…

…the Fifteenth Chapter we read that the Apostles and Elders convened to look into matters. After much discussion Peter took the floor…They listened to Barnabas and Paul…When they concluded their presentation James spoke up and rendered the decision.

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(Matthew 28: 19)

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IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES…

Sacrament of Christ’s Presence; The Herald of the Gospel. It has been identified as a hierarchical institution and a servant and healer. All of these descriptions can also be said to be “models” of what the Church’s ministry should be.

… the Church took root in many places among many different peoples. Synods and Councils helped to unify these diverse people by issuing laws, correcting abuses, and promoting a renewal of the faith and devotion of the Church among the faithful. __________ Throughout the centuries the Church has been described in many different ways, such as: The Mystical Body of Christ; The Faithful; The Church Triumphant, Militant and Expectant; The People of God; The

…tries to make this understanding of the Church clearer in its definition and regulations governing Synods. Canons 281292 detail the provisions for Provincial Councils or Synods, while Canons 356-362 deal with Diocesan Synods. __________

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT ME? FIRST… …See yourself as a part of Jesus’ Church AND THEN… …Participate in the Synodal and Pre-Synodal Activities.