In March, 2020. Pope Francis announced his intention to convene a Synod of Bishops in Rome to discuss the issue of "synodality". This Synod on Synodality will take place in October 2023.
In preparation for the Synod, the Diocese of Lansing is encouraging clergy and lay faithful to have discussions with both lapsed Catholics and those who are not Catholic in order to help us better attune our apostolic efforts in proposing Jesus Christ and His Holy Church to contemporary society.
Connor Helson is a Junior at Michigan State University and a campus ministry intern at Saint John Catholic Student Center. So far, he has invited seven other students into a "Synodal Conversation" about the Catholic faith.
"Sometimes I think we don’t talk to people about Jesus Christ or about our own relationship with Him or about the Church and what she teaches because we fear others won’t be interested or will even be hostile," says Connor.
"My conversations so far have shown to me that’s just not the case. People want to know what we believe and why we believe it. So don’t be afraid. Our Lord is with us."
Do you want to have a Synodal Conversation with friend or family? Here's a link to the Conversation Guide along with other resources: https://www.dioceseoflansing.org/synod