I Introduction

1. THE FUTURE

2. THE VISION AND CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

3. THE ARCHDIOCESAN VISION AND CHALLENGE

4. LISTENING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH OUR SYNOD

5. HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAK TO US?

6. WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYING TO US THROUGH HOLY SCRIPTURE?

7. WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYING TO US THROUGH THE VOICE OF THE CHURCH?

8. WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT TELLING US THROUGH THE SIGNS OF OUR TIMES?

II Contemporary Signs of the Times

1. THE GREAT NUMBER OF LAPSED CATHOLICS

2. THE GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO HAVE NOT HEARD OF CHRIST, OR WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN HIM

3. OUR GODLESS ‘POST-MODERN’ CULTURE – A CULTURE OF DEATH

4. THE ALARMING SHORTAGE OF VOCATIONS

5. THE EMERGENCE OF THE LAITY IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

6. GLOBALIZATION

7. INCULTURATION OF THE CHURCH

8. ECUMENISM

9. INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE

10. RECONCILIATION WITH ABORIGINAL PEOPLE

11. SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR OF THE WORLD

12. RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RESOURCES OF THE EARTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

13. RAPID ADVANCES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE CONSEQUENT RAPID SOCIAL CHANGE

14. ADVANCES IN THE FIELD OF GENETICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

15. THE POWER OF THE MEDIA

16. GROWTH IN THE MANIFESTATION OF CHARISMS

17. HUNGER FOR SPIRITUALITY

18. DISAFFECTION WITH INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF THE CHURCH

19. HUNGER FOR SACRED SCRIPTURE

20. HUNGER FOR PRAYER, ESPECIALLY IN GROUPS

21. RENEWAL MOVEMENTS WITHIN THE CHURCH

22. THE NEW AGE PHENOMENON

23. FUNDAMENTALISM

24. CO-RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE CHURCH

25. JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

26. INTOLERANCE OF ABUSE

27. VIOLENCE

28. PORNOGRAPHY

29. SOCIAL INJUSTICE AND LACK OF PEACE IN THE WORLD

30. CONSUMERISM

31. MODERN ART

32. FEMINISM

33. DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTIONS

34. AIDS AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

35. SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES

36. HOSTILITY TOWARD THE CHURCH AND RELIGION

37. THE MARTYRS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

38. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

39. CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN THE ARCHDIOCESE

40. EMERGENCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY

41. THE AGING OF OUR POPULATION

42. INCREASE IN NUMBERS OF CONVERTS AND PEOPLE RETURNING TO THE CHURCH

43. INCREASE IN BUILDING PROJECTS

44. THE GROWTH OF OUR POPULATION

45. THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND COOPERATION OF OUR CLERGY, RELIGIOUS, AND LAITY 

III Conclusion

1. SUMMARY REFLECTIONS

2. FOUR GOOD REASONS FOR HOPE

1. The Positive Signs of Our Times

2. The Faith Example of John Paul II

3. The Faith Example of the Early Christian Church

4. The Faith Example of the Blessed Mother Mary

 Synod Prayer