CSTM to participate in synodal pilgrimage to Rome

From Saturday, October 12th through Saturday, October 19th more than 150 students, campus ministers and educators from 15 Catholic colleges and universities from across the U.S. will make a pilgrimage to Rome in conjunction with the month-long meeting of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The collectively designed experience aims to create spaces for student participants, both undergraduate and graduate, to continue to encounter the dynamism of the global Synod on Communion, Participation, and Mission. Participants will be formed in the methods and spiritual practices of synodality and equipped to become protagonists of this generational project of transformation in their own communities. 

Participating institutions represent a variety of global charisms in the Church - Augustinian, Cornelian, Ignatian, Lasallian, Marianist, Vincentian - as well as leading theologates and seminaries in the U.S. A full list appears at the bottom of the page. 

“What drew me to the Synod Immersion is my previous work on synodality in higher education that I participated in during my time working in college campus ministry prior to studying at the CSTM," explained Alexis Larios, M.T.S. '25 when asked why she wanted to participate in this pilgrimage. "I find consolation in Pope Francis' inclusion of young people and his desire and willingness to listen to our voices, as well as to voices that have historically been left out of the church's discernment. The synodal project is one which has informed my theological studies and which makes me hopeful for our future.”

“Through their participation in every stage of this global process young people have told us that they are not the Church’s future but rather ‘the now of the Church,’” explained Anthony Russo, associate dean at CSTM and leader of the CSTM delegation. “They have been catalysts for synodality here in the U.S and have asked for more formation in synodality, for more access to communal discernment processes, that their gifts be placed at the service of the mission of the Church. This pilgrimage is just one way to move from listening to young adults to acting with them.”

The cohort’s presence in Rome signals support for the two college students from the U.S. who will be among the 363 voting delegates who will offer recommendations to Pope Francis on how we might renew the Church in order to better serve its mission. Together, participants will discern how making “preferential option for young people,” identified as a priority through the synodal process to date, might answer the question Synod delegates will discern during the general assembly: how can we become co-responsible for the mission of the Church? 

“This truly synodal collaboration is an attempt to kindle and unleash students’ protagonism for the vision of Church that continues to emerge from the Synod,” added Russo. “If becoming a synodal Church is truly a generational project, then we have to offer young generations a taste of synodality that will sustain them in making their own contribution to that effort.”

The collectively designed pilgrimage experience will include teach-ins, communal prayer, participatory art, guided walking tours, attendance at Pope Francis’ weekly General Audience, and encounters with Synod delegates and other Church and congregational leaders. It will engage partners such as AJCU, UISG, the Lay Center and the community of Sant’Egidio among others.