The first activity of the Synod will be at 5:00 p.m. with Holy Communion and Blessing of the Oils. The Mass will be held at NCC. All clergy and lay delegates should plan their arrivals in time to attend the opening Mass.

There will be a meeting and dinner with members of the Council of Advice (Standing and Executive committees together) following the Mass. Council of Advice members will receive information separately. For those persons appointed to committees, committee meetings will be held beginning at 8:30 pm at the call of the Chairman of each respective committee. The choir will also practice Thursday evening at a time decided by the choir director (Bernard Riley).

The Synod will open on Friday morning at 10:00 am, following Matins and Mass at 7:45 am and breakfast at 9:00 am. All delegates must be registered by 9:30 am on Friday so that the credentials committee will have enough time to finalize their report. There will be no official banquet, however, dinner will be included for all those delegates and observers who are staying overnight at the hotel. The Synod will continue Saturday morning to conclude any unfinished business. All delegates must arrange their schedule to stay until noon to ensure that we have a quorum to conduct business on Saturday morning (if necessary).

Arrangements are being made to provide activities for children during the Synod meetings on Friday. Please do make sure that you register all children planning to attend the synod. As in past years, there is no cost for children under the age of 18, however, they must complete a registration form and be registered at the hotel.

The NCC is a change to our normal synod accommodations. The hotel accommodation includes all meals beginning with dinner the night of arrival, breakfast, and lunch the following day. For those sharing a room, there is an additional charge for each person in the room.

Because the NCC accommodations include all meals as well as meeting room rental, there will be NO other registration fee. Each person will be required to make their own hotel reservations by calling the front desk at 703-729-8000. Please ask for the DMAS Synod rate. 

Please make sure that you provide the names of all people sharing a room, including children, as the hotel needs the names of all people in attendance. The reservation deadline is Wednesday, May 17, 2023. After that date, any rooms remaining in the block will automatically be released. After that date, requests for additional guest rooms will be on a space-available basis at the prevailing rate.

For those delegates and observers who plan to attend synod but will NOT be staying at the hotel, the rate is $79 and does NOT include dinner on Friday night. If you wish to attend dinner on Thursday (following the Synod Mass) or Friday evening, you will need to purchase a meal ticket ($20) for that event.

Please contact Debbie Weaver via email if you do not plan to stay at the NCC but will be attending the synod session so that arrangements can be made for payment of the day rate and meals (dinner on Thursday or Friday evenings).

We will once again have a hospitality suite open Thursday evening (after dinner and committee meetings), Friday (following the conclusion of the meetings) and then again after dinner. The diocese will provide soda and snacks and asks everyone to bring their own wine, beer or other spirits to share.

Please feel free to contact Debbie Weaver at 703-368-3062 (home), 703-399-6965 (cell) or dweaver63@verizon.net should you have any questions regarding the details of the Synod.

Download the Synod Information Packet.