5 US Priests Chosen to Participate at the Vatican Synod's International Meeting of Priests in Rome

Five Parish Priests from the United States to Participate in International Meeting of Priests in Rome
March 20, 2024
WASHINGTON – Last month, the Holy See announced a global gathering of parish priests as part of the Synod on Synodality to be held this spring in Rome. “Parish Priests for the Synod: An International Meeting,” will be held April 28-May 2.
At the request of the Holy See, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) was asked to submit a list of five priests who have been participating in synodality in their local parishes to send to the meeting. Per the guidelines of the Vatican’s General Secretariat of the Synod, the USCCB selected four Latin Rite priests, and one Eastern Catholic priest to represent the United States. In consultation with the local bishop, the priests were selected based on the parameters set forth by the Synod Secretariat, including levels of engagement with the Synod, and in consultation with the USCCB’s Executive Committee.
For more information on the meeting, please visit: https://www.synod.va/en/news/parish-priests-for-the-synod.html.
The following priests were selected to participate:

Rev. Artur Bubnevych (pictured 2nd from the far left)
Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church (Albuquerque, N.M.)

Rev. Joseph Friend (pictured far right)
Diocese of Little Rock
Pastoral Administrator, Holy Cross Church (Crossett, Ark.), Holy Spirit Church (Hamburg, Ark.), and Our Lady of the Lake Church (Lake Village, Ark.)

Rev. Luis Navarro (pictured second from last on the right)
Diocese of Stockton
Pastor, St. George Church (Stockton, Calif.)

Rev. Donald Planty (pictured far left)
Diocese of Arlington
Pastor, St. Charles Catholic Church (Arlington, Va.)

Rev. William Swichtenberg (pictured far left)
Diocese of Green Bay
Pastor, St. Mary’s Parish (Appleton, Wis.)

USCCB Release