Catholic Bishops of the USA Release the Action Items of their Upcoming Assembly in November - FULL TEXT

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather for the 2023 Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, November 13-16.
U.S. Bishops to Meet Nov. 13-16 in Baltimore; Assembly to Be Live Streamed
October 17, 2023
WASHINGTON - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather for the 2023 Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, November 13-16. Throughout the meeting, the bishops will spend time in prayer and fraternal dialogue with one another. Public sessions of the assembly on November 14 and 15 will be livestreamed.

The plenary will begin with an address by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Christophe Pierre. The bishops will hear from Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, president of the USCCB.

While the meeting agenda has not been finalized and therefore is subject to change, the bishops are anticipating a full schedule that includes a number of items: updates on the 2021-2024 Synod of Bishops, the U.S. bishops’ Eucharistic revival initiative and national congress, the Institute on the Catechism, and the recently-launched mental health campaign; a consultation of the bishops on the cause of beatification and canonization of Servant of God Isaac Thomas Hecker, priest and founder of the Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle (the Paulist Fathers); and a consultation of the bishops to support the request of the bishops’ conference of England and Wales asking the Holy Father to name Saint John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church; a vote on the USCCB’s 2024 budget; and a discussion and consideration of the reauthorization of the USCCB’s Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism.

The bishops are expected to discuss and vote on several action items including: a new introductory note and materials supporting Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the bishops’ teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics; the approval of a framework for indigenous ministry; a number of action items pertaining to liturgical texts from the Committee on Divine Worship; and replacing the current USCCB Strategic Plan cycle with a newly-proposed Mission Planning process.

During the assembly, the bishops will vote for the new Conference secretary, as well as chairmen-elect of six Conference committees. The terms for the bishops elected for committee chairmen will serve for one year as chairman-elect before beginning a three-year term at the conclusion of the 2024 Fall Plenary Assembly.

Public sessions of the assembly on November 14 and 15 will be livestreamed at: www.usccb.org/meetings -- news updates, vote totals, texts of addresses and presentations, and other materials will be posted to this page. Those wishing to follow the meeting on social media are invited to use the hashtag #USCCB23 and follow on X, formerly known as Twitter (@USCCB), as well as on Facebook (www.facebook.com/usccb) and Instagram (https://instagram.com/usccb).

U.S. Bishops to Elect New Committee Chairmen at Plenary Assembly in November

When the U.S. bishops gather in November for their Fall Plenary Assembly (November 13-16), they will elect a new Secretary, as well as Chairmen for six standing committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

October 10, 2023
WASHINGTON – When the U.S. bishops gather in November for their Fall Plenary Assembly (November 13-16), they will elect a new Secretary, as well as Chairmen for six standing committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

The Conference Secretary, who also serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Priorities and Plans, is up for a vote due to the fact that Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City was elected during the bishops’ 2022 Fall Plenary Assembly to complete the term left vacant when Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, who was serving as USCCB Secretary, was elected Conference President. The bishops elected will each serve for one year as Chairmen-elect of the respective committees before beginning a three-year term as Chairmen at the conclusion of the Fall Plenary Assembly in 2024.

USCCB SECRETARY-ELECT / CHAIRMAN-ELECT, COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIES AND PLANSArchbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon

The nominees for Chairman-elect of the standing committees are as follows (alphabetical order):

COMMITTEE ON CATHOLIC EDUCATIONBishop James D. Conley, Diocese of Lincoln
Bishop David M. O’Connell, Diocese of Trenton

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONSBishop William D. Byrne, Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne, coadjutor, Archdiocese of Hartford

COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THE CHURCHBishop Robert J. Brennan, Diocese of Brooklyn
Bishop Earl K. Fernandes, Diocese of Columbus

COMMITTEE ON DOCTRINEBishop John F. Doerfler, Diocese of Marquette
Bishop James Massa, auxiliary bishop, Diocese of Brooklyn

COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL COLLECTIONSBishop W. Shawn McKnight, Diocese of Jefferson City
Bishop Daniel H. Mueggenborg, Diocese of Reno

COMMITTEE ON PRO-LIFE ACTIVITIES*Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archdiocese of San Francisco
Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, Diocese of Toledo

*Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington was elected as the Chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities during the November 2022 plenary to complete the term left vacant when Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore was elected Conference Vice President.

Source: USCCB Combined Releases