Parish “Listening Session” Synod Summary Report
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Parish “Listening Session” Synod Summary Report
Met on Sunday, 2-20-22, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Report summarized by Dr. Tongele on 2-23-22
Submitted to ADW on 2-24-22
Foundational Question
In our Social Justice Outreach we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. We journey together when attending Sunday Masses and when parish ministries persevere in carrying out activities despite COVID-19 hindrance. The Knights of Columbus continue with the Food Drive for those hard hit during this pandemic, and the Men's Group has grown into a community of parishioners Walking with the Word.
Listening
The voices in our midst through which God is speaking to us include the clergy's Sunday homilies and the activities of parish ministries. The voices on the periphery come to us from the many cries for social justice, the sociopolitical turmoil and the natural disasters at home and around the world that affect millions of lives. Other voices include the wonders of science and technology which we often take for granted. We must pray so that the Holy Spirit will continue to help our parish grow in ministries of engaging with those who experience poverty, marginalization, or social exclusion.
Speaking Out
We speak up through communications and exchanges during prayer group meetings, bible studies, and the activities occasioned by the parish ministries. We also speak up by making visits and calls and sending mail or email to the Parish Office. COVID-19 has dampened some of the ways that enable our speaking up. We look forward to post-COVID when we will organize more sessions for sharing, voicing ideas and opinions. We are hopeful that many wonderful things will result when parishioners are encouraged once again to gather, to listen, to speak and to better know each other.
Sharing Responsibility
We participate actively in the mission of the Church through Sunday liturgy, the work done by our parish priests and staff, religious education, parochial school, and various parish ministries. COVID-19 has hindered many people from being active in the parish. Other people cite lack of time to commit to parish activities. In order to fully participate and share in our common mission, we must get out of our comfort zone. The challenge for all members of the parish is to engage with and encourage each other to get involved in something in the parish community so that everyone in the parish does something for everyone else. The Holy Spirit brings hope and joy to the parish only through the hope and joy that every parishioner can bring to the parish community.
Discerning and Deciding
Our participation in the decision-making within the hierarchical structures of the Church is in harmony with the Archdiocese's guidance through the Pastor. The entities and organizations in our parish work with their members to discern and decide on ideas and activities to carry out, with the approval of the Pastor, for the life and well-being of the parish. It is generally the few who are committed in various ministries and organizations that actively engage into discerning, deciding and getting things done while others passively participate anyway. The parish priests and leaders of our ministries and organizations need to proactively and regularly call on and encourage parish members to get involved using various venues including Sunday Mass announcements. Such proactive encouragement will empower hesitant members, including those who are on the peripheries, to actively participate in the parish life.
Celebration
The Eucharist is at the center of our parish life. The Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist constitute the powerful nourishment that inspires and informs parishioners' personal decisions and commitment to parish activities and ministries. Parish prayer groups and ministries are supplemental sources of inspiration that strengthen faith and personal commitment in parish life. Our parish is diverse, and it tries to provide space for celebrating cultural diversities, but COVID-19 has been a major hindrance. The outside world and cultural celebrations are also playing some role in drawing away the youth from parish life. Parish leaders must find better ways, methods, and mechanisms to promote celebrations that retain the youth into the active life of our Church.