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Linda Staudt of Windsor has been selected by Pope Francis as a voting lay participant at the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome this October.
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Staudt is one of just seven lay people from across North America to receive the appointment.
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She was nominated by Bishop Ronald Fabbro of the London Diocese to be a participant based on her extensive knowledge of the Synod, her service to the diocese and track record as a leader in Catholic education.
Staudt served as Director of Education for the London District Catholic School Board from 2013 until she retired in 2021 and previously worked in Catholic education locally in Windsor as a teacher and administrator.
“When the announcement was made in late April by the Holy Father that lay people would be participating as voting members, my first reaction was ‘the tent has truly expanded,’” Staudt said.
“At the time, I never imagined that I would be one of those lay persons. I am deeply honoured and humbled on first being nominated by Bishop Fabbro and then selected by Pope Francis to experience first-hand, up close and personal, this synodal journey of the church. It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s not the October I had planned.”
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The meetings in Rome this October are the first of two sessions of the Synod of Bishops. Participants will gather to refine what it means to be a listening church, help define a future path and steps to be based on the Synod’s themes of “Communion, Participation and Mission.”
“Synodal” is defined as the involvement and participation of the People of God in the life of the church, listening to each other prayerfully and guided by the Holy Spirit.
Pope Francis made the decision that up to 25 per cent of the members of the Synod’s Assembly this fall will be non-bishops in a bid to reinforce this Synod will be for all people.
“The selection of Linda to serve as a lay participant at the Synod of Bishops is a great honour for our diocese,” Fabbro said. “Over the years, Linda has been given a lot of responsibility and she has always responded with faithful service.
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“She is leading our diocese and parishes to practise synodality. She is a bridge builder who promotes co-responsible leadership. She empowers others who are working to bring people together to find collaborative solutions. Her contribution to our diocese and our church is exemplary.”
Staudt, a prominent track athlete locally in her youth and member of the Windsor-Essex County Sports Hall of Fame, is an active parishioner and is the Diocesan Synod Committee co-chairwoman and director of safe environment services.
She was also chairwoman and lead writer of the Synod Synthesis Team for the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario and presented the Ontario synthesis to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2022.
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