SW News: The Catholic bishops of the United States of America are spending some time in prayer and dialogue with one another as they have come together for the 2023 Spring Plenary Assembly in Orlando. The plenary began on June 14 and will conclude on the 16th. The proceedings of the gathering will be live-streamed on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, addressed the bishops before the commencement of the sessions on Wednesday. They also listened to an address by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, who is also the president of the American episcopate.

The bishops are slated to provide updates on the Eucharistic Revival initiative in progress and the ongoing preparations for the National Eucharistic Congress that will take place next year in Indianapolis. They will also discuss the visit of Pope Francis to Lisbon in August to take part in the World Youth Day events.

All the bishops are expected to cast their votes on a number of items on the agenda such as a consultation on causes of beatification and canonization of five diocesan priests of Shreveport Diocese, who are known as the Shreveport Martyrs in local parlance.

A plan of action for the ongoing formation of priests and guidance for them even after their ordination to the priesthood will be discussed by bishops. The bishops of the United States, including the prelates belonging to the sui iuris Oriental Churches, will discuss the priorities for the USCCB Strategic Plan for 2025-2028.

Also under consideration will be four action items regarding the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), which is responsible for the translation of liturgical texts in the Roman Rite from Latin to English for bishops’ conferences in English-speaking countries around the world. One of them is all about the amendment of the statutes of ICEL’s work.

The other three pertain to the approval of certain translations. They include the Liturgy of the Hours and Liturgical Texts for St Faustina Kowalska; the Ordinary of the Liturgy of the Hours and the Proper Texts of the USA for the Liturgy of the Hours.

All the participating bishops will also talk about the development of a process to have a new pastoral statement for people with disabilities. There will also be a National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry and a revision of Part Three of the Ethical and Religious Directives for  Catholic Health Care Services.
Updates, vote details and texts of addresses will be available at: www.usccb.org/meetings.