Diocesan Pre-synodal Gathering

What is the Diocesan Pre-synodal Gathering? 

Each local Church culminates the diocesan phase with a Diocesan Pre-synodal Gathering. This gathering provides the opportunity for diverse members of the diocese to come together for a liturgical celebration, to pray together, to reflect on their experience of the synodal process in the diocese, to listen to feedback that has emerged from the listening sessions across the diocese, to dialogue about the current reality of the local Church and the signs of the times, and to discern the Holy Spirit’s call for the diocese on the path of synodality. Our Diocesan Pre-synodal Gathering will take place on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at the Cleveland Public Auditorium.

While much of the consultation process during the diocesan phase occured within specific communities, such as parishes, ministries, and other ecclesial groups, the objective of the Diocesan Pre-synodal Gathering is to bring together a representative cross-section of the whole diocese, and to enable participants to pray, listen, reflect, and discern together. After this gathering, the outcomes will be included as part of the diocesan synthesis, together with the feedback that emerged from the listening sessions from across the diocese.  

Who is invited?   

Every parish, school or Catholic organization that participated in the synodal process will discern and select no more than five (5) delegates to represent their community, including: 

• People whose voices are often inadequately heard, such as those who experience poverty, the elderly, minority groups, people with disabilities, migrants, refugees, etc.
• Lay leaders (men, women, young people of various ministries and diocesan bodies)
• Other lay persons (men, women, and young people invited from parishes and other Church organizations)
• Clergy (diocesan priests, religious priests, deacons, etc.)
• Members of Institutes of Consecrated life and Societies of Apostolic life (reflecting the diversity of charisms) and leadership of institutions of apostolic and charitable works
• Interested ecumenical and interreligious delegates (and others who may not be Catholic but who can contribute helpful perspectives for the Church) 

Only registered delegates will be able to attend the Diocesan Pre-Synodal Gathering.

Instructions for Discerning Delegates

Our Logo

This logo was commissioned by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland to recognize the convergence of three major events: our participation in Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality, our partaking in the National Eucharistic Revival, and the joyful celebration of our 175th anniversary as a diocese.

Description

• At the center of this simple yet striking dichromatic image are the host and the chalice, symbolizing the Eucharist – the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ – the source and summit of our lives as Catholic Christians. Bold, striking rays pour out from behind the host, symbolic of the inexhaustible grace that flows at every Eucharistic liturgy – grace that turns sinners into saints.
• The wide chalice is modeled after a 6th / 7th century Byzantine chalice housed at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the image decorating the cup-portion of the chalice is taken from the logo of the Synod on Synodality; it is the Church walking together on mission.
• At the base of the chalice are the letters “CLXXV,” which at first glance may appear to be some strange iteration of “CLEVELAND,” but in fact represent the Roman numerals for “175,” designating the 175th anniversary of our diocese.
• Framing the host, chalice, and rays is a square with a Jerusalem-type cross in each corner, crosses that are taken from our diocesan crest. Four words – GATHERED, BLESSED, BROKEN, SHARED – remind us of our Eucharistic identity as the People of God, whose lives take on their fullest meaning only when we give them away in sacrificial love.
• Finally, the beautiful blue tone serves as a subtle reminder of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the one who constantly and lovingly encourages us, “Do whatever He tells you.” (Jn. 2:5)

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