The Diocesan Synod Is Coming August 21-22, 2025

By BRIAN KUSEK

Bishop Fitzgerald’s tenure as the fourth bishop of the diocese was marked by a significant post-war boom. The 1950s were a time of economic and social change in southern Minnesota, with Winona’s historical significance as a hub due to railroads and the Mississippi giving way to Rochester’s growth. Shifting demographics, support for Catholic education, and cultural challenges were surely pastoral priorities. Likely for this reason, he called the first and only completed synod in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in 1950 to strengthen the spiritual and administrative framework of the local church.

Not a lot is known about this exercise of the bishop’s authority. The text it produced is itself pretty anodyne, outlining legalistic norms, like making sure a priest always has a barrier between himself and a female penitent, and taking care to require visiting priests to take the Oath Against Modernism before faculties are granted. Still, his zeal for evangelization and vocations is palpable, judging by the fruits of his episcopate; fruits that undoubtedly earned him the name of “the building bishop.” The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was completed in 1953, just two years after the first seminarian residence hall was completed. Many schools and parishes were established in the remaining 18 years of his office, while the total number of Catholics increased 55%.

Today’s realities are strikingly different, for reasons you have undoubtedly heard enough already. In short, the faith is not spreading as it should. Consequently, young men are not hearing the call to lay down their lives in service to the Church. The rise of secularism and a culture that prioritizes sports and politics over faith has further diluted the centrality of Christ in our communities.

Yet, there is reason for hope. In Bishop Robert Barron, we have been blessed with another leader who shares the vision and energy of Bishop Fitzgerald. From the moment of his arrival, Bishop Barron has made it clear: he is not interested in managing decline. He has articulated two ambitious goals for our diocese:

1. To double the number of priestly vocations; and

2. To double the number of people in the pews.

To that end, we have - since Ash Wednesday been preparing for a diocesan synod to discuss these foundational challenges head-on. Through parish wide surveys and regional listening sessions, the faithful have been actively consulted in order to generate concrete proposals.

Some of these proposals are beyond the scope of the synod’s purpose and authority. For instance, we cannot change the Church’s teaching on women being admitted to holy orders, nor can we alter her position on moral issues. Other suggestions, specifically those related to catechesis, Catholic education, and adult formation, are already being addressed by various members of the Curia and chancery staff.

Still, plenty of other proposals were brought forth concerning how we evangelize and promote vocations at home, in our parishes, and in our diocese. These concrete suggestions concerning hospitality, engaging the culture through the arts and digital media and political engagement, fostering the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, bolstering and enhancing our existing ministries and apostolates - and many more - will be reviewed and formatted by the preparatory commission and presented to the Synod Assembly in August. There, members representing every parish will deliberate, pray, and vote. The bishop - free to accept, reject, or refine proposals - will then issue a decree, setting forth concrete steps to address our pastoral challenges, adjust existing policies, and promote growth in evangelization and vocations

The 1997 Instruction on Diocesan Synods makes plain the ultimate purpose for the upcoming deliberative assembly: “to promote acceptance of the Church’s salvific doctrine and to encourage the faithful in their following of Christ” (Instruction, #3). And for those who have a common concern, their prayer should also be common (quibus communis est cura, communis etiam debet esse oratio).

Our diocesan synod will be celebrated this August on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. Bishop Barron, alongside our vicars, priests, deacons, theologians, and elected parish representatives, will gather for this pivotal moment in our diocesan life. While participation in the synod sessions is limited to select delegates, all are warmly invited to join the public liturgies that will open and close the Synod on August 21 and 22.

Most importantly, all are invited to pray for this synod throughout the summer. Through the intercession of Mary, Queen of the New Evangelization and Mother of Priests, may our efforts yield abundant fruit and usher in a new era of growth, vitality, and fidelity in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.

For more information regarding our diocesan synod, visit our synod website, linked on our homepage: dowr.org

Questions can be directed to Brian Kusek: bkusek@dowr.org or 507-361-3374.

Brian Kusek is the director of evangelization for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.

Prayer for the Diocesan Synod

Most High and Gracious God,

We implore you for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Diocese of Winona-Rochester as we embark on the Diocesan Synod for Evangelization and Vocations.

We ask You to send us graces for wisdom and insight into how we can proclaim the Gospel and invite your sons and daughters into a right relationship of worship and friendship through Your Son Jesus Christ.

As we seek your grace to make you known and loved,

we also beg you for the grace to invite each member of our Diocese to serve you with the gift of their lives in service to the Church especially in more vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life.

Give us the gift of your Spirit for right discernment and clarity of approach so that we might faithfully carry out Your will in this Diocese and in each of our parishes.

We pray in gratitude for every gift and blessing You bestow and put our full confidence in Your holy will.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in union with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen