Dear Parishioners,

Previously, I wrote about the Synod on Synodality. Pope Francis calling on the Church to listen to her members. Many of us have good and bad experience with the Church and the Pope would like to hear them expressed so that we can examine how the Church organizes her self and how it might better serve the people of God. The Pope wishes for as many Catholics to participate as possible, especially those who may feel left behind by the Church or no longer come for other reasons. We plan to fulfill this request by the Holy Father in two different ways: holding listening sessions and filling out questionnaires.

A listening session is a time for a group to gather together to hear what each other has to say and react to it. It is a nonconfrontational meeting where about six to eight people are supposed to hear each other out. At each of these meetings there will be a facilitator to run it and a note-taker to record the reflections. After everyone talks about their experience, they may react to what other people have said and then offer their insights about what they think the Holy Spirit is calling them to do. I am planning on meeting with the various groups within the parish. But I am also offering two public listening sessions. They will both be in the school cafeteria the following dates/times:

• Sunday January 23rd at 1 pm, after the Noon Mass.
• Sunday February 6th at 3:30 pm, before the 5:30 pm.

I am willing to offer more sessions if needed.

The questionnaire is for people who are unable or unwilling to come to the listening sessions. I have made copies available in the church vestibule for anyone who wishes to fill one out. It would be especially helpful for you to bring them to people who are homebound or who have not been to church for a long time. We are trying to reach as many people as possible and we all know someone who is not currently attending church. So, please share it with those people.

An online version of the questionnaire can be found on our website here: – https://holyinnocentschurch.net/2022/01/synodquestionnaire/

After all this is done, we will compile everything we learn and submit it to the Diocese who will pass on what they know to the Holy Father. If anyone has any questions or would like to volunteer to be a facilitator or note-taker, feel free to reach out to me at toddcarterpriest@gmail.com .

Additional information can be found on our website: https:// holyinnocentschurch.net/synod/

I hope that as many people as possible are able to participate. It’s rare that the Pope will ask us to do anything this extraordinary and I am sure that the Holy Spirit is bringing something good from it.

God bless!

Fr. Carter