Synod, Eucharistic revival, mental health campaign, to be discussed at bishops’ gathering this week
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is gathering for the 2023 Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, beginning today, Nov. 13 through Nov. 16. Throughout the meeting, the bishops will spend time in prayer and fraternal dialogue with one another.
Public sessions of the assembly on Nov. 14 and 15 will be livestreamed at: www.usccb.org/meetings. The plenary will begin with an address by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Christophe Pierre. The bishops will hear from Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, president of the USCCB.
While the meeting agenda has not been finalized and therefore is subject to change, the bishops are anticipating a full schedule that includes a number of items: updates on the 2021-2024 Synod of Bishops, the U.S. bishops’ Eucharistic revival initiative and national congress, the Institute on the Catechism, and the recently-launched mental health campaign; a consultation of the bishops on the cause of beatification and canonization of Servant of God Isaac Thomas Hecker, priest and founder of the Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle (the Paulist Fathers); and a consultation of the bishops to support the request of the bishops’ conference of England and Wales asking the Holy Father to name Saint John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church; a vote on the USCCB’s 2024 budget; and a discussion and consideration of the reauthorization of the USCCB’s Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism.
The bishops are expected to discuss and vote on several action items including: a new introductory note and materials supporting Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the bishops’ teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics; the approval of a framework for indigenous ministry; a number of action items pertaining to liturgical texts from the Committee on Divine Worship; and replacing the current USCCB Strategic Plan cycle with a newly-proposed Mission Planning process.
During the assembly, the bishops will vote for the new Conference secretary, as well as chairmen-elect of six Conference committees. The terms for bishops elected for committee chairmen will serve for one year as chairman-elect before beginning a three-year term at the conclusion of the 2024 Fall Plenary Assembly.
