GRATITUDE FOR OUR JOURNEY AS A FAMILY
I want to express my gratitude to our Chatham Catholic Pastoral Council and Finance Committee for their wisdom, faithfulness, dedication and leadership as we move forward in our IGNITE THE MISSION Pastoral Plan. Their prayerful discernment and support has helped us be a place of welcome and family, inspiring everyone to encounter Christ and be transformed by His love, eagerly going out into the world sharing the Good News.
Pastoral Council Members:
Doug King (Chair), Bev Bechard, Don Brosseau, Irene Helinski, Jon Wood, Jim King, Walter Debicki, Lenora Cavacas and Mark Rivard
Ex-Officio Pastoral Council Members:
Ali Chinnick, Colleen Keane, Maureen MacDonald, Renée Culverwell, Deacon Chris Masterson, Deacon Morgan Treacy, Deacon Jerry Lozon, Deacon Steve Cartier, Fr. Slawek Szwagrzyk and Fr. John Jasica
Finance Committee Members:
Bill Craven (Chair), Lynda Cadotte, Eugene Saklak, Steve Kubica, Tom Venne, Kaz Petrykowski, Clara Roesch and Fr. John Jasica.
A YEAR OF DEEPER REFLECTION & LISTENING
Beginning in September 2025, the Pastoral Council and Finance Committee agreed to a synodal process of “listening sessions” on various topics—meeting in joint session. These gatherings allow for more reflection and deeper insights concerning various aspects of parish life, seeking wisdom and ideas that could be embraced to develop our mission of forming disciples who reach out to all.
These sessions are being organized by the Senior Leadership Team (Jason Denys-Chair, Maureen MacDonald, Colleen Keane, Renée Culverwell & Fr. John) who are responsible for compiling background information prior to each of the synodal sessions, summarize the sharing, create tangible action steps with further support from Pastoral Council & Finance Committee and monitor/update progress. This is definitely a lot of work but we are slowly realizing the fruits of God’s grace through this process.
We have already had three synodal gatherings and the topics were:
(1) THE WEEKEND EXPERIENCE-exploring all aspects of our weekend Masses,
(2) FAMILY & SCHOOL MINISTRY-exploring our school connections and outreach to families and
(3) GROWING GIVERS-exploring ways to encourage parishioners to grow in their financial donations as part of their spiritual lives. We have two more sessions to go before the summer break.
As mentioned above, the plan is to compile all the sharing and develop action items that can be implemented in the months and years ahead. I ask for your patience as this will likely take until the fall to be completed. Once this phase is finished, we will be able to incorporate aspects of our ACTION PLAN released in 2024 creating opportunities for further synodal sessions with parishioners as we move forward in early 2027.
OTHER PASTORAL SYNODAL SESSIONS
We had two other synodal sessions in the last several months that are of special interest and a great blessing. In mid-November 2025, Ali Chinnick organized a “listening session” for nearly 200 grade 8 students that took place at the Spirit & Life Centre. The day started with Mass and then an amazing afternoon of sharing and listening with the help of many fantastic parishioner volunteers who acted as scribes at each table.
In late November 2025 we also had a “listening session” reflecting on the importance of homilies and preaching in our family of parishes as a way to help form disciples and ignite our mission. More information to come in the months ahead!!
