HARTFORD, Conn. – (October 24, 2019) The Archdiocese of Hartford will this weekend convene delegates from all 132 of its parishes for the third synod in its 175-year history. This meeting will take place from Friday to Sunday at the Hartford Marriott Farmington in Farmington, CT. A synod is an assemblage of clergy and/or laity who convene to address timely matters of the faith and the local Church, for the purpose of providing recommendations to the Bishop or Archbishop.

Archbishop Leonard P. Blair ordered the commencement of the Synod on June 29, 2017. The theme of the Synod is Grow + Go: Grow as a Disciple and Go Make Disciples. Since the decree of convocation, Archbishop Blair has engaged with clergy and laity alike for numerous listening sessions, which afforded the Archbishop unfiltered feedback on what the Archdiocese is doing well, what it is not doing so well, and what it should be doing that it is not currently.

“Today, in the midst of a culture that is generally less inclined to belong to a Church or to religious practice, we as an Archdiocesan family of faith need to have a very serious and focused discussion on where we are and where we are headed,” said Archbishop Blair. “It is my hope and prayer that the Synod will be able to recommend to me priorities and practical steps to promote the life and mission of our Archdiocese.”

“I am so excited for what the Holy Spirit will do within our local Church through this meeting of delegates as they listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as conveyed through the Body of Christ and discern how the Holy Spirit is calling us to strengthen the catholicity of our people and consider new possibilities for evangelization for the future,” said Rev. Jeffrey Romans, Secretary of the Synod and Pastor of St. Bridget of Sweden Parish in Cheshire. “I am confident that this Synod will inspire us to become missionary disciples with hearts set on fire to bring new energy and zeal to our Archdiocesan family of faith!”

The conclusion of the Synod process will be commemorated with a closing Mass that will take place at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT on Sunday, May 31, 2020.

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