DETROIT — Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit who have been praying for the success of the archdiocesan synod will be invited to attend the historic gathering’s opening Mass at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at St. Aloysius Church in downtown Detroit.

The Mass will take place one block away from the Westin Book Cadillac hotel, where the main discussions of the three-day synod weekend will occur. Synod members will gather at the Westin at 1 p.m., when Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron will lead a procession of the 350-plus members to St. Aloysius for the opening Mass.

Because of this, as well as limited parking at city meters and garages, members of the public who wish to attend the Mass are asked to arrive early at St. Aloysius, which is located at 1234 Washington Blvd. Synod members will be seated on the main level of the three-level church, which means public seating will be largely limited to the church’s balcony and lower level, which are accessible by stairways.

Because of the importance of synods in the life of the Church, those who attend the Mass will be able to receive a plenary indulgence, according to Michael Trueman, archdiocesan chancellor.

To encourage prayer for the synod, Catholics who “devoutly visit the church in which a diocesan synod is celebrated and there recite an Our Father and the Creed” may gain an indulgence, Trueman said, provided the other conditions for an indulgence are met, including sacramental confession, reception of the Eucharist, detachment from sin and prayers for the intentions of the pope.

Those wishing to receive the indulgence may visit St. Aloysius at any point during the synod, which begins at noon Nov. 18 and continues throughout the entire day Nov. 20.