By: Fr. John Jasica
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALIVE!
I would like to express my gratitude to all those who were able to participate in our “listening sessions” on September 15th and September 22nd, 2024 at St. Agnes Church. I want to also thank our table recorders who made perfect notes for Linda Staudt, our facilitator—who is currently in Rome for the second round of the latest Synod of Bishops meetings. Linda did an amazing job inviting everyone to listen to each other and the Holy Spirit—discovering where Christ wants us to go as we seek to be a missionary church of hope and light in our world today.
Both sessions were filled with hope, that we as a family of parishes can move forward. Despite the challenges and sacrifices required, we look to be a faith community that forms disciples who reach out to all. The Holy Spirit is alive and active in everyone in our family of parishes. This is powerful to see!!
WHAT MADE THESE MEETINGS SPECIAL?
The format of the sessions were based on what is being done in Rome right now as you read this article. Each session had a question that all participants were given weeks in advance so that prayerful reflection could happen. We began with a time of prayer and instructions—then people began to share their thoughts on the question at hand one at a time at the tables. No one was allowed to challenge or question the statements. After the first person was finished, another person would share. During the sharing, a table recorder would document all the points made.
After all the people had a turn to share, there was a time of quiet prayerful reflection—participants were asked to think about what they heard from others at the table. A second round of sharing took place with people around the table taking turns commenting on what they found important from others at the table. Once again, the table recorder documented the sharing.
The great gift of this process is that each person has a chance to share what they think. It forces people to listen to others while helping those who may be reluctant to share, to do so safely because there is no room for analysis or challenge during the process. This is totally focused on listening to each other, listening to the Holy Spirit and seeing where there are convergences—or common themes that emerge from all the different tables.
Finally, the table recorder reviewed the thoughts that were expressed during both rounds ensuring that everything was captured from the sharing. These notes were then submitted to Linda Staudt, who summarized the thoughts from all the tables.
A report was produced following each session that was posted to our website and a final report called “NAVIGATING THE PATH AHEAD” was released last weekend which offers a quick summary of our journey the last three years along with the two reports from our “listening sessions”.
WHAT STOOD OUT FOR ME?
I invite everyone to read “NAVIGATING THE PATH AHEAD” putting things into context and seeing the results of our listening sessions. There are many powerful, practical and helpful suggestions, comments and thoughts that will help us as we move forward. Here are just a few comments of many that stood out for me:
“It is important that we maintain our focus keeping Christ at the centre of our mission. The vision of our Ignite the Mission prayer can become a reality through praying it and acting upon it.” (page 13)
This shows me that the prayer is changing our hearts and will lead to action. Jesus is the centre of our mission—above all else.
“It is important that we have a succession plan in place to ensure the IGNITE THE MISSION continues. Our mission is greater than any individual; we are united in the shared goal of becoming a missionary church.” (page 13)
This tells me that people have embraced our pastoral plan and want it to continue in the future beyond me as the pastor. Change in pastors should help our vision to move forward becoming a missionary church. Wow—this was amazing for me to read!!
“We don’t want to lose the gifts and talents of the volunteers presently serving St. Agnes ministries…Existing St. Agnes volunteers need to know their gifts and talents are needed, wanted and welcomed at surrounding churches.” (page 13)
This inspires all of us to work together as one family as we face the closure of St. Agnes Parish. All of us want to ensure that every St. Agnes parishioner feels welcome, wanted and needed. This will mean the other churches in our family will need to adapt and change so that we can continue to grow and be better at forming disciples who reach out to all. Despite the pain and challenges of closure, I also see new and exciting opportunities ahead.
(More to come in next week’s bulletin)
