Message from the President

Patrick J. Daly, OCSTA President

16^th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

As you know, the 16^th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod is taking place this month in the Vatican. The Synod on Synodality will take place in two sessions. The first from October 4 – 29, 2023 and the second on October 24, 2023.

Similar to Councils and Synods that have taken place for hundreds of years, every session of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) began with prayer Adsumus. This prayer attributed to Saint Isidore of Seville will be recited to open each session of the current Synod.

We invite trustees, student trustees, staff and students in Catholic schools to recite the Adsumus often throughout the month of October. We pray that through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, that all gathered at the Synod on Synodality discern and are guided by the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Adsumus Sancte Spiritus

(We stand before You, Holy Spirit)

We stand before You, Holy Spirit,

as we gather together in Your name.

With you alone to guide us,

make Yourself at home in our hearts;

teach us the way we must go

and how we are to pursue it.

We are weak and sinful;

do not let us promote disorder.

Do not let ignorance

lead us down the wrong path

nor partiality influence our actions.

Let us find in You our unity

so that we may journey together

to eternal life

and not stray from the way of truth

and what is right.

All this we ask of You,

who are at work in every place and time,

in communion of the Father and the Son,

forever and ever. Amen.