Tuesday, March 5, at 6:00pm in Harten Hall We will host a Synod Supper, featuring guest speaker JuliaOsęka, who is a full voting member of the current Synod. Julia is one of the 70 non-bishop voting delegates selected by the Holy Father from around the world (one of the ten non-bishop delegates representing the United States and Canada). Julia is a junior at St Joseph’s University. She will share her experiences leading up to and during the Synod meeting this past October, talk about the current efforts, and discuss her planned participation at the Vatican again this October with the second General Assembly of the Synod. RSVP to Kathy for the March 5th dinner by March 4th.
Thursday, March 14 at 6:00pm in Harten Hall We will host another Synod Supper, featuring Massimo Faggioli, PhD, who is widely acclaimed to be a leading scholar of the papacy of Pope Francis. Dr. Faggioli will share his perspective on the current Synod and why this might well be the most important legacy of the current papacy. RSVP to Kathy for the March 14th dinner March 13th.
We will also have an opportunity to pray and dine together over a light supper, discuss and socialize. RSVP by calling 610-535-4801 or emailing [email protected] and. Please join us for both events!
NEW PARISH PRIORITIES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS As a result of the inputs we received from the Parish during our Synodal Listening Sessions and survey responses, we are excited to present our new Parish priorities for the next three years. Thank you to all who have contributed to the development of these priorities and action plans. We hope that you will join us in this initiative to make our parish an even stronger community of faith by being part of the implementation process as a member or leader of one of the teams implementing these priorities. Please contact Steve Ramsey ([email protected]) if you would like to be a part of this important work.
World Wide Synod Update In early April, 2023 the North American Final Document for the Continental Stage of the 2021-2024 Synod was published by the United States and Canadian bishops. A copy of this document may be accessed at this link:
Recently, the Vatican issued a summary report from the millions of responses via the listening sessions conducted throughout the world. These responses, synthesized and transmitted to each diocese, were sent to the General Secretariat of the Synod. Globally, participation exceeded all expectations. The report cited that not only dioceses, but also religious institutes of consecrated life (like the Augustinians), associations and lay movements of the faithful, and groups and individuals from all continents participated. What resulted is a Document for the Continental Stage (DCS), which was recently released. You can access it at: www.synod.va. The document is entitled: Working Document for the Continental Stage.
Our parish is moving forward, together with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, to collaborate in the next steps for the worldwide Synod, which will convene in October 2023 and continue through 2024. Information will be shared with the parish on a regular basis to keep you informed and to invite you further into the process.
The synthesis of the Listening Sessions for the Synod is in the links below. The information has already been submitted to the Archdiocese and Augustinians Worldwide. Our parish results show that people would like more social interaction, and so our Stewardship and Parish Councils will partner to plan social events for the future, including enhancing our Welcome Committee for new parishioners and the monthly highlighting of parish ministries.