U.S. news

US bishops’ upcoming assembly expected to look at lay ministries, hold key committee elections

WASHINGTON — The U.S. bishops are gathering in Baltimore Nov. 11-14 for their 2024 fall general assembly, which takes place just weeks after the conclusion of the second session of the Catholic Church’s synod on synodality in Rome. Only two days of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ meeting, Nov. 12-13, will be public and livestreamed on the conference’s website. As in years past, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the papal nuncio to the U.S., and Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, president of the USCCB, will both address the assembly. The bishops plan to consider updates for a collaborative effort on “Dignitas Infinita” which concerns human dignity; an update on the interim implementation of “Antiquum Ministerium,” which concerns the ministry of the catechist; the pastoral implementation of Pope Francis’ teaching document “Laudato Si’”; as well as the conference’s mission directive for the years 2025-28. During the assembly, the bishops will vote for the new conference treasurer, as well as chairmen-elect of five conference committees. (OSV News)