College Students and the Synod 2026
You’re Invited!
The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is preparing for a historic diocesan synod. College students are invited to play an important role by sharing their experiences, hopes, and insights about faith on campus.
Pray. Reflect. Share.
College students are invited to play an important role in preparing for our diocesan synod. Through prayer, reflection, and sharing your perspective, you can help shape the future of our Church community.
The Special Consultation will officially take place from January 12 to February 28, 2026.
All responses must be submitted by February 28, 2026.
Step 1: Watch
Learn more about the diocesan synod with these short videos
Video 1: Announcement of the 2026 Diocesan Synod
Video 2: Learn How to Take Part in This Historic Moment
Step 2: Pray
Spend at least 30 minutes with each of the five Synod themes.
Use the questions as a guide for prayer and reflection.
Evangelization: How is the Gospel shared on campus?
Catechesis: What opportunities do I have to grow in faith?
Spiritual & Liturgical Life: How does prayer and worship shape my daily life?
Vocations: How am I discerning my purpose and calling?
Outreach: How does our campus serve those most in need?
- Where would a student in need of food go for assistance? Do we operate a food pantry or have other resources on our campus?
- Where would a pregnant student, or student with children, in need of support go for resources?
- What resources does our campus community offer for those in grief or suffering?
- Do we offer any ministry to the most vulnerable and those that support them? (ie: immigrants; those in poverty; those dealing with addiction, same-sex attraction, or mental health struggles)
- Who is my neighbor? What are their needs/challenges? What keeps them from feeling like my neighbor? What can I do to make them feel like my neighbor?
- Which of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy am I most consistently engaging? Which of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy do I rarely, if ever, engage?
- Is service/outreach a priority on my campus, to those on my campus and off?
- In what ways is vocational discernment discussed on my campus?
- Does our campus actively promote vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life? How do we do that?
- Does our campus provide resources for learning how to date well? Are there resources for engaged and/or married students?
- Am I aware of alumni from my school who have pursued vocations to the priesthood or consecrated life?
- What is my purpose in life? How much is God a part of my consideration of my purpose?
- Have I considered how I am making my life a gift for others?
- Who are the models I look up to in particular vocations: Which priest(s)? Religious? Married couples? Consecrated or chaste singles?
- How can we help young people to hear the voice of God, especially in our “noisy” culture?
- How am I encouraging others to respond to their vocation?
- As a parish how can we raise up/display models for vocations?
- Do I find myself reluctant to pursue, explore, or encourage others particularly to vocations of priesthood or religious life? Where does that come from, what are the roots of my hesitation?
- How often is Mass celebrated on my campus? Where else do I go outside my campus for Mass?
- Does my campus offer Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament? How often? Do I go elsewhere for Adoration?
- Is Confession regularly offered on my campus in a weekly scheduled time slot? Are these times well-matched to college students’ schedules?
- Does our campus have an intercessory prayer group or prayer ministry? Is there a place to submit prayer requests on our campus?
- What opportunities are available to me for learning how to pray? What opportunities have I taken advantage of?
- When do I feel closest to God? In life? Over the course of the week? During the course of the day?
- When do I talk to God? When do I listen to God?
- When do I pray with others outside of liturgical prayer?
- How do I prepare for Mass? How does my experience of the Mass affect my daily life during the week?
- What is the role of intercessory prayer in my spiritual life?
- Do I have access to ongoing faith formation? What faith formation opportunities have I participated in, through my school or parish?
- Does my campus have an active campus ministry program?
- Does my campus offer men’s or women’s faith formation groups?
- Do I feel that I have opportunities to grow in faith and to be formed catechetically?
- How do I continue to grow in my knowledge and practice of the faith? What are the formal and informal ways I attend to this regularly (reading, bible study, on-going education, talks, retreats, etc…)? If I do not attend to it regularly, what gets in the way?
- How do I grow in faith with my friends and family? Can our faith, God, prayer be topics of conversation? How can we help one another to grow in our relationships with God?
- What are the elements of faith: knowledge, practice, prayer, Scripture that I feel called to grow in? How could I choose to engage one of these elements in the year ahead? Would I do it on my own, with a friend or family member, or with the community in some way?
- Do I have space in my life presently to put time and effort into supporting catechesis in our community in some way?
- In what ways is the truth and joy of the Gospel shared on my college campus?
- Does my campus offer opportunities for those who want to learn more about Jesus or Christianity?
- Does our campus have active faith-sharing groups?
- Have I been trained in personal testimony or evangelization?
- What is the joy I find in my relationship with God, in the Gospels, and/or in being Catholic? How would I describe that joy?
- What are the ways, the places/contexts, or the people in my life I share my faith?
- Do I feel prepared to offer my own testimony as a disciple of Jesus if called upon? How open am I to learning?
- If I eagerly share my faith with others, how well do I adjust for the audience?
- What would an evangelizing community feel like? What are some of the behaviors or actions that build an evangelizing, mission-oriented community?
- Does our campus feel like an “evangelizing” or “mission-oriented” parish? What do we do well in this regard? What could we do better or differently?
Step 3: Respond
Finally, complete the college student synod response form.
Please submit by February 28, 2026.
