10/02/2026
Bishop calls for strengthening the bond between him and his diocese.
There is great anticipation ahead of the upcoming diocesan Synod that is being held in Las Cruces October 6 through 8, 2026. Bishop Baldacchino will preside over the Diocesan gathering at Tuesday’s Vespers, officially opening the Synod.
“A synod is a family gathering. We come together so that the bishop and the people entrusted to him may know one another better and walk forward as one Church," says Bishop Baldacchino ahead of the event.
The Program
The gathering, attended by all pastors accompanied by parishioner representatives from all 46 parishes in the Diocese, will begin and end with a time of prayer. It will include an introductory address by a member of the Bishop's Synodality Team, discussions guided by three questions (on the personal, parish, and diocesan levels) to encourage reflection and sharing, and concluding remarks by Bishop Baldacchino.
"We shall spend two full days together, all told," the bishop says, adding that speakers will be chosen to help deepen reflection on the essential mission of the Church and participation in the sharing and prayer.
"In recent years the Lord has allowed us to take real steps forward. Now we must build on them so that they take deep root," the bishop says, pointing to several areas of significant investment, including parish councils that give the lay faithful a greater voice in the life of their communities.
Work is also under way to create a network among neighboring parishes, with the aim of encouraging the sharing of experiences, starting with those parish communities that are particularly active so that all may benefit from improved collaboration.
Finally, Pastoral Councils at both diocesan and parish levels have been strengthened, while advisory bodies covering specific areas are being involved.
Major Emergencies
The conversation then turns to warning signs coming from parishes.
"Our families carry the heaviest burden," the bishop stresses. "Many households are under strain, parents are struggling to raise their children amid enormous pressures, and the very idea of the family is being worn down."
Another issue, closely linked to the previous one, is problems for young people, who often struggle with addiction. Then there is poverty, which the bishop insists is about more than food: "Poverty here is not only a matter of putting food on the table. People in our communities suffer from isolation, from the lack of steady work, and from not having a secure place to call home."
It is on this last point that our communities are facing a genuine emergency. "Housing costs in our region have risen far faster than wages. For many families, especially those living on one income, a safe and stable home is slipping out of reach."
Reaching Out
One further aspect completes the picture. "Too often the faith is something people hear about on Sunday but do not see touching the rest of their week," the bishop continues. "We want to place Christ back at the center of everything we do, as we look ahead to the Jubilee of Redemption in 2033."
In this regard, the Diocese, rich and complex at the same time, has a particular characteristic: "Our diocese covers a vast territory, and many of our faithful live in small towns and rural communities far from the nearest parish church."
"I often encourage our priests to look beyond the pews," the bishop says. "It is natural for a parish to care first for those who come through its doors. But the Kingdom of God does not stop at the parish boundary, and Christ sends his disciples to everyone, including those who have drifted away or never felt welcome."
It is not easy, but for the bishop it is a viable path and one that cannot be postponed. An encouraging sign, to be recognized and explored further, comes from the many young people who took part in the Jubilee of Youth in 2025.
"There is a deep hunger for God throughout southern New Mexico. Our task is to place everything we have and everything we are at the service of that hunger."
