Show Notes

Archbishop Vigneron discusses what it means to be a Synodal Church: What is a synod, a review of Synod 16, and the graces that have followed, and what’s ahead with the global Synod on Synodality.

(0:25) Mike, Mary, and Archbishop Vigneron catch up on the last month. The Archbishop talks about the opportunities for prayer, fraternity, and mutual support at the recent priest and deacon convocations, as well as his trip to the Vatican with USCCB President Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles and their audience with our Holy Father.

(6:50) As the global Church prepares for the Synod on Synodality and the Archdiocese of Detroit approaches the fifth anniversary of Synod 16, Mike asks Archbishop Vigneron to reflect on local church’s synodal identity. The Archbishop talks about how listening to the Holy Spirit must be central to any synod and that participants must come together, listen to one another, and walk alongside each other on the path of discernment.

(10:55) Archbishop Vigneron, Mary, and Mike look back at Synod 16 and the importance of prayer in the years leading up to it – especially during the Year of Prayer for a New Pentecost and the Come, Encounter Christ prayer and worship events held throughout the Archdiocese. Archbishop discusses some of the fruits of Synod 16, particularly that we, as a local Church, are more docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and our prayers are more ardent and less perfunctory.

(15:30) Archbishop Vigneron reflects on earlier Archdiocesan synods, especially Synod 69, and how they relate to Synod 16.

(19:15) Mary asks Archbishop Vigneron about the Mass for Pardon celebrated shortly before Synod 16. Archbishop says that it was vital to celebrate that Mass so that the Holy Spirit could most effectively work through us at Synod 16.

(24:10) What does Pope Francis mean when he calls for us to be a more synodal church? Archbishop discusses how it’s about listening together, repenting together, and working together on a shared mission. In the case of the Archdiocese of Detroit, that mission is to transform southeast Michigan into a community of joyful missionary disciples.

(33:25) Archbishop talks about where he thought we would be five years on from Synod 16. Families of Parishes, although an unanticipated development, are also a fruit of that synod.

(36:30) Where will the Archdiocese of Detroit be in five years? Archbishop says that we will be settled into our Family of Parishes relationships and that this way of being will have become natural for us. Our parishes will be focused on the work of outreach: to those on the margins, young adults, the “nones,” baptized but non-practicing Catholics, and all those who live within the territorial boundaries of our parishes – Christian and non-Christian.

(38:30) Archbishop offers advice about what to take away from this synodal process. He encourages us to listen every day for the missionary opportunities God gives us and to look for partners to carry out that mission. Husbands and wives are natural mission partners, and it is important that they let the Holy Spirit work through them and their marriage to bring about what God wants.

(41:26) Archbishop Vigneron answers listener questions about the symbols of a bishop’s office, intercessions for diaconate vocations, and a synodal Archdiocese of Detroit both pre- and post-pandemic.

(52:20) Archbishop Vigneron asks listeners to pray for the upcoming meeting of the U.S. bishops and closes with a prayer and blessing.