• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
The official logo for the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

Parishioners gather in Hagerstown for Synod of Bishops’ Interim Stage Consultations

March 21, 2024
By Kyle J. Andrews
Special to the Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Synodality, Western Vicariate

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

HAGERSTOWN – Carrie Stumpf meticulously wrote notes as a group of parishioners from parishes across Western Maryland and bordering Frederick County spoke at a circular table in St. Joseph Catholic Church’s auditorium March 12.

She was among a group of people who met at the Hagerstown parish for the Interim Stage Diocesan Consultations, as a part of the XVI General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The goal of the synod is to bring dialogue from clergy, religious and laity to pray, ascertain, communicate and hear each other out.

“I really wanted to attend tonight because I was actually a part of our parish’s meetings two years ago when we did the first round of this and I was one of the scribes taking notes while everyone else talked,” Stumpf said. “So, I was really curious about the follow-up and to see how the process is going. It was my curiosity in the process that brought me here tonight.”

Julie St. Croix is director of the Office of Parish Renewal in the archdiocese’s Institute for Evangelization. She went to the meeting to listen to different opinions on the church and the structures today.

“Pope Francis has asked all the bishops around the world to go back to the table to make sure that all the different voices are heard and to also specifically talk about the structures and the way that we are setting up the whole synod,” St. Croix said. “How are we going to be a listening church and how are we going to journey intentionally together? (The pope) is interested in hearing.”

Two questions are asked at the synod sessions. First, “Where have I seen or experienced successes – and distresses – within the church’s structure(s), organization, leadership or life that encourage or hinder the mission?” The second: “How can the structures and organization of the church help all the baptized to respond to the call to proclaim the Gospel and to live as a community of love and mercy in Christ?”

Answers varied for the first and second question at Stumpf’s table. Among the answers for the first question was that the Catholic Church should focus on giving its charitable funds to Catholic organizations and those that promote God. Another answer mentioned more clarity from Pope Francis on his messaging. Others would love for the Catholic Church to continue to amplify its traditions.

Dr. Winnie Armstrong, a parishioner of St. Mary in Hagerstown, attended the meeting to voice her opinion on urging archdiocesan leadership to continue a Traditional Latin Mass in the western part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Throughout Armstrong’s time in the meeting, she heard calls from some lay people for married priests, along with female priests and deacons. While Armstrong didn’t agree with the stances, she appreciated that they were able to have a cordial discussion.

Andrea Soto, a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist in Frederick, wasn’t aware of the meetings, nor was she sure of what would happen. Out of curiosity, she just wanted to see what the discussion was set to bring.

“Overall, everything was respectful,” Soto said. “People – from what I could tell – really listened to one another. They really thought deeply about the questions, really digging deeply into what their experiences were throughout their time in the Catholic Church and were respectful of others’ opinions.”

The Archdiocese of Baltimore offered two other sessions for synodal feedback on the question of church structures – one at St. Philip Neri in Linthicum Heights and another at St. Francis of Assisi in Baltimore, both held March 7.

Read More Local News

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

Archbishop Lori and Supreme Knight Kelly meet with Pope Leo

Copyright © 2024 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Kyle J. Andrews

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • 3 North Americans named to Vatican dicasteries for ecumenism, interreligious dialogue

  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

  • St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

  • St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

  • DUAL ENROLLMENT Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

| Latest Local News |

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

| Latest World News |

Judge blocks Trump birthright citizenship order as part of class action lawsuit

Ukraine religious leaders issue ‘desperate cry’ to world to end Russia’s war

care of creation

Pope Leo wears Chicago-made vestments to July 9 ‘care of creation’ Mass

sorry baby

Movie Review: Sorry, Baby

ICE

ICE deports Iowa parishioner to Guatemala homeland as supporters pray for his release

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Movie Review: Superman
  • Judge blocks Trump birthright citizenship order as part of class action lawsuit
  • Ukraine religious leaders issue ‘desperate cry’ to world to end Russia’s war
  • Pope Leo wears Chicago-made vestments to July 9 ‘care of creation’ Mass
  • Movie Review: Sorry, Baby
  • ICE deports Iowa parishioner to Guatemala homeland as supporters pray for his release
  • Come away and rest awhile
  • French woman hopes sharing mystical encounter with Minnesota Benedictine helps sainthood cause
  • Pope: Vatican still ready to host peace talks between Russia, Ukraine

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en