Five Parish Priests from the United States to Participate in International Meeting of Priests in Rome

| 03/21/2024

By: The Good Newsroom

In consultation with the respective local bishops, the priests were selected based on the parameters set forth by the Synod Secretariat

Father Joseph Friend of the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, is pictured in an undated photo with Carmelite Sisters Hermana Elsa Miranda, front, and Hermana Yolanda Padrón-Serrano.
Father Joseph Friend of the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, is pictured in an undated photo with Carmelite Sisters Hermana Elsa Miranda, front, and Hermana Yolanda Padrón-Serrano. Father Friend was selected by the U.S. bishops as part of a 300-member worldwide delegation of priests, which will also speak with Pope Francis during the April 28-May 2, 2024, synod meeting in Rome. (OSV News photo/courtesy Father Joseph Friend)

WASHINGTON – In February, 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 click here.

The following priests were selected to participate:

  • Rev. Artur Bubnevych
    Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic
    Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church (Albuquerque, N.M.) 
  • Rev. Joseph Friend
    Diocese of Little Rock
    Pastoral Administrator, Holy Cross Church (Crossett, Arkansas), Holy Spirit Church (Hamburg, Arkansas), and Our Lady of the Lake Church (Lake Village, Arkansas) 
  • Rev. Luis Navarro
    Diocese of Stockton
    Pastor, St. George Church (Stockton, California)  
  • Rev. Donald Planty
    Diocese of Arlington
    Pastor, St. Charles Catholic Church (Arlington, Virginia) 
  • Rev. William Swichtenberg
    Diocese of Green Bay
    Pastor, St. Mary’s Parish (Appleton, Wisconsin)
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