Year 2 Implementation updates

Parish Planning Exercise

The Year 2 Parish Planning Exercise, the planning meeting between SET, pastor and parish staff involved in the liturgy, is to be held between April 27 and June 30. This video-guided meeting will be about three hours of prayer and planning for Year 2.

Parish Planning Exercise guided video  

Vimeo (English, Spanish) – view and download 

Other materials for the Parish Planning Exercise

Additional resources

How to Prepare for Parish Planning Exercise:

  • Set a date for your Parish Planning Exercise meeting.
  • Invite the appropriate people: Clergy, SET (including ECT), and staff/volunteers with key roles of responsibility for liturgy.
  • Select what prayer option you will use to conclude the Parish Planning Exercise (choice of Mass or Adoration).
  • Read the Year 2 Implementation Plan. Share it and the agenda with all attendees. Ask them to read the Year 2 Implementation Plan as well.
  • To more fully understand Archbishop Hebda’s plan for Year 2, consider watching the video from Parish Planning Exercise. The actual content only lasts about 30 minutes, the rest is prayer/work time measured by countdowns.
  • Book and set up your space; consider AV and optional refreshments.

(Optional) Consider who your point person(s) Philip, Bartholomew and Jude (PBJ) might be for Year 2. (A total of one, two or three is fine.)

Resources from Year 2 Unpacking Day

Archbishop Hebda’s January 4 webinar updates and resources

For those unable to join Archbishop Hebda’s January 4 webinar, watch Archbishop Hebda and Deacon Joe Michalak, director of Synod Evangelization discuss the top questions regarding small groups along with a broad introduction to Year 2 from Archbishop Hebda.

From Deacon Michalak, director of Synod Evangelization

Parish Evangelization Cells: Small Groups at the Service of Synod Evangelization

At Parish Staff Formation Day October 5, 2023, Bishop Williams and Deacon Michalak explained why the approach to small groups is rooted in relational evangelization and why Parish Evangelization Cells System was chosen. Speakers Fr. Paul Fenech (International Moderator of Parish Evangelizing Cells System) and Fr. Victor Vella (National Coordinator, England), along with facilitator, Meghan Dimbylow, gave testimony to the power of this small-group way of being parish.

Synod Evangelization Team Updates

Small Group Leader Formation Materials: Now Available for Download

Find videos and materials (in English and Spanish) for Small Group Leader Formation (Fall 2023) at archspm.org/ect.

Year 1 Implementation Schedule Update

After consultation with priests and parish staff in our Archdiocese and with those engaged in the Parish Evangelization Cell System (PECS) approach to small groups around the world, Archbishop Hebda has fleshed out in greater detail the steps for rolling out small groups. The rollout will involve two formation opportunities following the Small Group Leader Formation Series and a deferral of the Small Group Planning Day. Please see this document listing the steps; ECT members will be receiving more information at their next Zoom formation session in early October, to bring back to the full SET when you meet in late October.

Steps Following 2023 Synod Small Group Visioning Day

  • Synod Evangelization Team (SET) members commissioned at one or more parish Sunday Masses (view commissioning prayers)
  • Pastor appoints from among the 12 SET members, three to be the Executive Cell Team (ECT), the core team or the “Peter, James and John” of your parish’s small group efforts in the coming years
  • ECT members attend live training sessions with opportunities for Q&A
    • Materials and training information has been shared directly with ECT members.
  • Pastors and ECT members meet following initial ECT training in anticipation of the next SET meeting (prior to July 1, 2023)

Small Group Visioning Day

Español  

Materials 

  • 14-page packet – download and print one per participant (English, Spanish) 
  • Team worksheets – download and print one per parish (English, Spanish) 

Worksheet: Online alternative for Part 3B Team Worksheet. 

Videos: See video instructions here (español), including how to turn on captions.  

Note regarding Spanish versions: Videos with some Spanish content are now available; some video content remains in English. The videos may be watched on YouTube with Spanish captions (see instructional video). 

Part 1: 

Download from OneDrive (download Spanish version)

Watch on YouTube (view in Spanish)

Part 2: 

Download from OneDrive (download Spanish version)

Watch on YouTube (view in Spanish)

Part 3: 

Download from OneDrive (download Spanish version)

Watch on YouTube (view in Spanish)

Parish Synod Formation Day, April 2023

If you are a member of your parish’s Synod Evangelization Team and did not attend Parish Staff Synod Formation Day 2023, please be sure to watch the videos below prior to your Small Group Visioning Day. (Consulte este video de instrucciones para aprender cómo activar los subtítulos en español.)

Videos from Clergy Study Day, April 2023

If you are a member of the clergy and were unable to attend Clergy Study Day 2023, please be sure to watch the videos below prior to your Small Group Visioning Day.

Archbishop Hebda Shares His Gratitude, Looks to School of Discipleship – Late January 2023

Archbishop Hebda offers his gratitude to parish Synod Evangelization Teams following the January 2023 Synod Implementation Kick-off events, then looks ahead with anticipation to the School of Discipleship (February 7 – March 21, 2023).

Synod Evangelization Team Kick-off Resources: Late January 2023

Thank you to the 1600+ people who attended one of the three January Synod Evangelization Team Kick-off events.

If you unfortunately were not able to attend one of the Kick-offs or if you simply want to relive the experience, you can view some highlights at the links below.

Catechetical Institute: School of Discipleship Resources: February – March 2023

Read and Listen to the Pastoral Letter

  • Archbishop’s pastoral letter, You Will Be My Witnesses: Gathered and Sent From the Upper Room, is available in English and Spanish. If you have not yet done so, please read the letter prior to attending the School of Discipleship.
  • You may also listen to the Pastoral Letter Podcast.

Welcome from Archbishop Hebda – Early January 2023

Archbishop Hebda sent a letter of welcome to Synod Evangelization Team members in January 2023. See the letter here.

Thank you for serving as a Synod Evangelization Team member! Find resources for your important role below. Questions? Contact synod12@archspm.org.