You spoke.
We heard.
And our pope is listening, too.
Our final report to the Diocese from the Synod listening sessions
Section One - Contact Info and Synodal Conversations Data
Name of the Parish/Group you represent (if you represent a parish and a mission church, please include both): Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
City of the Parish/Group you represent (if the group you represent is present in multiple cities, please write "Diocesan Group"): High Point, NC
Number of in-person Synodal Conversations: 14: 4 adult, 10 youth
Number of online Synodal Conversations: 4 adult, English only, as parishioners’ requested
Total number of Synodal Conversations Held (in-person and online): 18
Total number of participants in the Synodal Conversations (in-person and online): 370
Languages used in the Synodal Conversations (select all that apply):
● English YES
● Spanish YES
● Other (please specify): NONE
How many meetings (in-person and online) addressed the first synod question about the signs of the Lord’s presence in our lives? 18
How many meetings (in-person and online) addressed the second synod question about the questions and challenges we face in our lives of faith? 18
How many meetings (in-person and online) addressed the third synod question about the steps forward the Holy Spirit is suggesting to us and our community? 18
Did the Parish/Group you represent distribute a survey among its members to collect responses to the synod questions?
● Yes YES-English and Spanish “Our Pope Is Listening” boxes with questionnaires in both church and Parish Life and Education Center. Questions also were available online, so some parishioners emailed their responses
● No
What synod questions did the survey address? (select all that apply)
● First synod question about the signs of the Lord’s presence in our lives. YES
● Second synod question about the questions and challenges we face in our lives of faith. YES
● Third synod question about the steps forward the Holy Spirit is suggesting to us and our community YES
Section Two - Fruits of the Synodal Conversations
The first synod question asked, "What are the most significant signs of the Lord's presence in your life?" In 500 words or less, please describe the common answers and themes that emerged during the conversation AND the participants' most inspiring or moving responses or questions
What are the most significant signs of The Lord’s presence in your life?
This question was considered individually, and participants’ answers privately used to answer the other two questions, so IHM does not have a comprehensive list of responses to Question 1.
All the Synod responses demonstrated deep yearning for connection – to God, to the Church and to each other within the parish. Some, youth especially, said the synod questions were the first time they felt the Church wanted their input and appreciated what the Church is trying to do. Youth and adults, both English and Spanish, were excited by this invitation and sharing opportunity, hoping the conversation will be the beginning of growth as individuals and together as a community.
Common themes include:
What are the biggest challenges or questions you face in responding to the Lord’s call?
The third synod question asked, "What steps is the Holy Spirit suggesting to you and your community to respond more fully to the Christian vocation?" In 500 words or less, please describe the common answers and themes that emerged during the conversation AND the participants' most inspiring or moving responses or questions.
What steps are the Holy Spirit suggesting to us to respond more fully to the Christian vocation?
Key recommendations include:
Section Three - Responding to the Synod’s Fruits
In 500 words or less, please reflect on how to respond to what emerged during the synodal conversations. As you think about your answer, I encourage you to discuss what you learned from the synodal process with your parish/group's leadership and those who helped you facilitate the conversations. To ponder the issue, you might consider the following questions:
● How should the parish/group respond to what emerged in the synodal conversations? Are there particular steps the Holy Spirit is asking the community to take? How does the parish/group best respond to the questions and challenges that affect people the most?
● Is there a way to continue the conversation?
● How do we foster and give a space to grow in the relationships born thanks to the synodal conversations?
Our 18 Listening Sessions ended April 30. The parish council has not yet reviewed results and made plans together. Below are initial thoughts of a small portion of the pastoral team.
IHM Parish serves its parish and wider community through its Liturgy, Faith Formation, Parish Family Life, Community Outreach, Evangelization and Ecumenism and Properties and Facilities Commissions. Learning what our parishioners care most deeply about has never been as comprehensively examined as this Synod Listening challenge accorded. We usually hear what those who are most vocal or most available offer; the silent majority can get lost. We are immensely grateful to Pope Francis and you for helping us gain new insights.
Welcoming Back Home parishioners who could not worship and socialize together when pandemic fears isolated us is a challenge. The 75th Anniversary of the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish’s dedication offers many opportunities to encourage renewal.
We have been investigating the start of small faith sharing groups, knowing Spanish and English parishioners crave such formats for learning, sharing and growing their faith and getting to know and love each other more deeply. With Fr. Joe Zuschmidt’s retirement, we lost IHM’s only (English) weekend scripture reflection group study. Restarting here for adults and youth in both languages may be a great start. Providing a format for groups to gather folks across/beyond “friend groups” to hold sessions on a regular basis in their own spaces and times is our goal.
Topics for 2022-’23 Faith Formation can begin with the concerns, questions and challenges parishioners posted above. Finding appropriate literature, online resources and speakers will be our challenge. We can not rely just on Deacon Wally to create and moderate these but need to recruit those who care about each subject to join the Faith Formation Commission to develop the courses of study and make them happen. Evaluating effective use of the FORMED subscription IHM already pays for could help with materials, facilitator training and formatting.
To feel heard, our youth and both Spanish and English adult members must see their concerns addressed in a balanced way. We cannot do everything every individual wants at once. Some things we at the parish level cannot do at all. Parishioners’ priorities are listed above. Choosing the order in which we tackle them is our challenge. We can’t completely ignore those that we “don’t have resources for now” and hope they will dissipate.
Sharing the results of the community Listening Sessions and private “Our Pope Is Listening” box submissions is critical. Our Pastoral Council should choose how:
Any help the Diocese of Charlotte offers is welcome, particularly for our Spanish-only speaking community. Our priests are not diocesan priests, do not speak Spanish fluently, and are stretched even thinner since Fr. Joe’s retirement. Bilingual parishioners running multiple ministries each are overwhelmed. Finding ways to encourage more folks to invest a bit of their Sunday+ in building our parish and our church is our constant battle when our parishioners already feel overstretched.
Lord, help us to feed each other!
Name of the Parish/Group you represent (if you represent a parish and a mission church, please include both): Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
City of the Parish/Group you represent (if the group you represent is present in multiple cities, please write "Diocesan Group"): High Point, NC
Number of in-person Synodal Conversations: 14: 4 adult, 10 youth
Number of online Synodal Conversations: 4 adult, English only, as parishioners’ requested
Total number of Synodal Conversations Held (in-person and online): 18
Total number of participants in the Synodal Conversations (in-person and online): 370
Languages used in the Synodal Conversations (select all that apply):
● English YES
● Spanish YES
● Other (please specify): NONE
How many meetings (in-person and online) addressed the first synod question about the signs of the Lord’s presence in our lives? 18
How many meetings (in-person and online) addressed the second synod question about the questions and challenges we face in our lives of faith? 18
How many meetings (in-person and online) addressed the third synod question about the steps forward the Holy Spirit is suggesting to us and our community? 18
Did the Parish/Group you represent distribute a survey among its members to collect responses to the synod questions?
● Yes YES-English and Spanish “Our Pope Is Listening” boxes with questionnaires in both church and Parish Life and Education Center. Questions also were available online, so some parishioners emailed their responses
● No
What synod questions did the survey address? (select all that apply)
● First synod question about the signs of the Lord’s presence in our lives. YES
● Second synod question about the questions and challenges we face in our lives of faith. YES
● Third synod question about the steps forward the Holy Spirit is suggesting to us and our community YES
Section Two - Fruits of the Synodal Conversations
The first synod question asked, "What are the most significant signs of the Lord's presence in your life?" In 500 words or less, please describe the common answers and themes that emerged during the conversation AND the participants' most inspiring or moving responses or questions
What are the most significant signs of The Lord’s presence in your life?
This question was considered individually, and participants’ answers privately used to answer the other two questions, so IHM does not have a comprehensive list of responses to Question 1.
All the Synod responses demonstrated deep yearning for connection – to God, to the Church and to each other within the parish. Some, youth especially, said the synod questions were the first time they felt the Church wanted their input and appreciated what the Church is trying to do. Youth and adults, both English and Spanish, were excited by this invitation and sharing opportunity, hoping the conversation will be the beginning of growth as individuals and together as a community.
Common themes include:
- People who help us deepen our relationship with the Lord include:
- Family, often specifically parents or grandparents
- Teachers
- Priests & other folks in leadership
- Friends’ families who have strong faith, positive people (even those not Catholic)
- Practices most helpful to growing in faith include:
- Mass/Communion
- Religion class
- Confession
- Choir/music
- Prayer
- Social media
- Bible/readings
- Being kind to others & being treated with respect
- Peace and joy come from:
- Family, good friends & others we can rely on
- Taking breaks from stressful situations/activities & just busy-ness
- Animals & time in nature
- Listening to music
- Sports/physical activities
- Hobbies: Cooking/arts/crafts/performing music
- Self-care/meditation/journaling
- Expressing thanks/giving back (volunteering)
- Successful gatherings include:
- Faith formation
- Holiday events
- Food drives
- Church/school activities that include performance (singing, praying out loud)
- Youth Group
- Church events with youth and adults (not separate)
- Retreats
- Events with people your own age where we get to know each other more deeply without being criticized for our thoughts, beliefs and feelings
What are the biggest challenges or questions you face in responding to the Lord’s call?
- All ages feel “The Church doesn’t ask or listen to me,” adults more at the diocesan/global level.
- Spanish parishioners crave a Spanish-language leader to hear them, not just read to them
- Church must be a refuge, welcoming with Christ’s open arms.
- Youth struggle with “mental health issues,” exacerbated by unrealistic expectations (“trying to please everyone”), pandemic & war
- Many mentioned the struggle within the Church to even discuss LBGTQ+ persons. Some angry with Pope Francis’ demonstrations of love and acceptance of the persons, while not the sin, as “caving to today’s culture.” Others are frustrated that loved ones are seen as damaged or feel outcast.
- Church = place of forgiveness for lost sinners not of judgement and alienation.
- Many are repelled by “hypocrites” within the Church, especially in teaching and leadership positions, (don’t “walk the talk”)
- Divided Church: those who believe the Church should teach/apply Catechetical rules at all levels vs. others who see Jesus’ commandment to love God and one another as the highest form of faithfulness. Divisions include:
- Whether priests/deacons should address “politics” from the pulpit, versus those who feel “Church teachings on social justice” must be made clear from priests and bishops.
- The way Church and government should support the poor. How we vote
- Women’s roles: opinions range from “Vatican II went too far” to strong requests for the Church to ordain women as Deacons and Gospel readers +.
- LBGTQ+ persons: some feel they must be welcomed as God’s children, leaving judgement to God. Others emphatically state the Church’s rejection of the concepts of gender identity and same-sex marriage, quoting biblical dictates as law.
- Immigration – opposing views; anger at Pope Francis for making welcoming refugees and immigrants a Church value.
- COVID – some felt restrictions went too far, some still fear being in large groups
- The Church vs. The World – Distractions, conflict between Church/Society beliefs. The Church’s positions are damaged by the Catholicism’s stigma due to the abuse scandals, those within the hierarchy not behaving according to God’s word and laws.
- Folks busy with work/family/extracurriculars don’t have/make time for Mass, Church activities, volunteering. Youth and adults fear overextension
- Catholics don’t know the Bible
- Youth and adults cited “social media” as opposing Jesus’ teachings. It steals time, attention, fuels anger and glorifies people and actions that are against our morals & Catholic teaching.
- One youth noted “Gaming glorifies lying, cheating and self-aggrandizing.”
- Anger is encouraged/fueled in our secular culture. It is diametrically opposed to Catholic values of peace, acceptance and love for others.
- Connections to the Church. How do we bring back people who left or feel pushed out?
- Many Divorced Catholics feel excluded from the Church and sacraments. It’s challenging to clarify Church teaching on divorce/remarriage so all Catholics can reach out to siblings, children & others who left because of this perception
- Many feel they don’t know enough on the teachings of the Church on all aspects of life
- Help enliven spiritual growth
- Challenges to keep parents engaged between Baptism, First Communion & Confirmation and to keep youth & young adults connected to Church and parish after Confirmation, during college years. Many just want marriage and children’s sacraments
- Diverse parish operates as 2 separate units
- Spiritual and social events don’t cross age & language borders
- Too few priests
- Vocations to orders like OSFS
- Spanish-language too
- Perhaps should be allowed to marry as original disciples did
The third synod question asked, "What steps is the Holy Spirit suggesting to you and your community to respond more fully to the Christian vocation?" In 500 words or less, please describe the common answers and themes that emerged during the conversation AND the participants' most inspiring or moving responses or questions.
What steps are the Holy Spirit suggesting to us to respond more fully to the Christian vocation?
Key recommendations include:
- Faith Formation:
- Leaders in Church/Catholic schools must be held accountable to “walk the talk” as Jesus did
- Offer bible education and continuous formation, beginning with reflection on the upcoming weekend’s readings, in both Spanish and English
- Faith Formation opportunities for adults must be “at times convenient for our community.”
- Our parish offers many forms of Bible/Scripture study, including virtual
- Only a handful attend
- How do we measure whether the times, languages and study topics we offer are what folks desire?
- Youth want fun and easy to understand ways to explain the mass and aspects of Catholicism
- Help us learn how to explain & defend our faith – printed info and/or discussion. Requested by Spanish and English adults and some youth
- Learn about other faith traditions without bashing each other: how are we alike?
- Understand the Church’s position (and its current validity) on women’s roles, married priesthood, divorce, sexuality and how this supports Jesus’ teaching and life
- Homilies for teens/young adults that are shorter, more direct, related to younger folks, ask questions
- Don’t focus religious education on guilt and punishment but on Christ’s unconditional love
- Support/Parish Family Life:
- Retreats: Youth named this most, but Spanish and English adults reiterated desire for:
- Dedicated time to pray and reflect together
- Time to get away from other commitments/anxiety sources
- Means to reconnect to the Church
- Opportunity to get to know each other on a deeper level
- Provide a Spanish speaking priest and/or lay leader to keep us abreast of what is available in the parish (Spanish Stewardship Coordinator?) Quarterly flyer too?
- Combining and respecting various cultural traditions in a diverse parish. Increase multicultural events. Find ways to make current events and service opportunities cross language barriers
- Fuel the post-COVID desire within parishioners to renew their spiritual life: Bible studies, prayer groups, FISH dinners in English & Spanish
- Provide structure for Small Prayer Groups to form in both languages
- Whole-family events celebrating folks at every age and across languages to connect them to the Church and the parish
- Mental health: Can the Church provide both spiritual and practical guidance? Help us (youth especially asked) find peace
- Encourage prayer with each other within families and with others
- Helping busy folks recognize how involvement helps growth
- Regular events in church for youth: “having a safe environment for the youth…they can talk about anything with Church members”
- Parish-wide youth+ events: holiday events, food drives, open mic, picnics
- Reach out to those driven away by the abuse scandals/Church’s reaction
- Motivational speakers, especially for youth. Speakers who share their faith experiences, including youth
- More interaction between youth and clergy (even informal)
- Being a church family “I can rely on”
- Keep us in the loop: email quarterly, but never about $
- Retreats: Youth named this most, but Spanish and English adults reiterated desire for:
- Social Justice:
- Equality, openness, restraining from being judgmental, sexist, racist and homophobic, from Rome to the diocese & pulpit & every parishioner. Don’t “throw the first stone”
- Allowing people (youth+) to be themselves and love themselves, to be treated with respect and encouraged to be kind, forgiving, gentle and respectful to all
- Patience with folks (less-active parishioners) who don’t already know how “we do things”
- How do we vote when politicians’ platforms may support antiabortion legislation and in the same breath promise lower taxes as a stronger value than support for the poor? Contrastingly, more inclusive and socially and environmentally responsible candidates often do not support respect for life as the Church does.
- Youth service projects
Section Three - Responding to the Synod’s Fruits
In 500 words or less, please reflect on how to respond to what emerged during the synodal conversations. As you think about your answer, I encourage you to discuss what you learned from the synodal process with your parish/group's leadership and those who helped you facilitate the conversations. To ponder the issue, you might consider the following questions:
● How should the parish/group respond to what emerged in the synodal conversations? Are there particular steps the Holy Spirit is asking the community to take? How does the parish/group best respond to the questions and challenges that affect people the most?
● Is there a way to continue the conversation?
● How do we foster and give a space to grow in the relationships born thanks to the synodal conversations?
Our 18 Listening Sessions ended April 30. The parish council has not yet reviewed results and made plans together. Below are initial thoughts of a small portion of the pastoral team.
IHM Parish serves its parish and wider community through its Liturgy, Faith Formation, Parish Family Life, Community Outreach, Evangelization and Ecumenism and Properties and Facilities Commissions. Learning what our parishioners care most deeply about has never been as comprehensively examined as this Synod Listening challenge accorded. We usually hear what those who are most vocal or most available offer; the silent majority can get lost. We are immensely grateful to Pope Francis and you for helping us gain new insights.
Welcoming Back Home parishioners who could not worship and socialize together when pandemic fears isolated us is a challenge. The 75th Anniversary of the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish’s dedication offers many opportunities to encourage renewal.
We have been investigating the start of small faith sharing groups, knowing Spanish and English parishioners crave such formats for learning, sharing and growing their faith and getting to know and love each other more deeply. With Fr. Joe Zuschmidt’s retirement, we lost IHM’s only (English) weekend scripture reflection group study. Restarting here for adults and youth in both languages may be a great start. Providing a format for groups to gather folks across/beyond “friend groups” to hold sessions on a regular basis in their own spaces and times is our goal.
Topics for 2022-’23 Faith Formation can begin with the concerns, questions and challenges parishioners posted above. Finding appropriate literature, online resources and speakers will be our challenge. We can not rely just on Deacon Wally to create and moderate these but need to recruit those who care about each subject to join the Faith Formation Commission to develop the courses of study and make them happen. Evaluating effective use of the FORMED subscription IHM already pays for could help with materials, facilitator training and formatting.
To feel heard, our youth and both Spanish and English adult members must see their concerns addressed in a balanced way. We cannot do everything every individual wants at once. Some things we at the parish level cannot do at all. Parishioners’ priorities are listed above. Choosing the order in which we tackle them is our challenge. We can’t completely ignore those that we “don’t have resources for now” and hope they will dissipate.
Sharing the results of the community Listening Sessions and private “Our Pope Is Listening” box submissions is critical. Our Pastoral Council should choose how:
- Posting the above report in a bulletin flyer and/or a link to it on our website
- Posting snippets over the year in the bulletin and/or on social media
- Articles in our (former) quarterly magazine, Heart To Heart
- Many requested quarterly or monthly email updates on parish ongoings. We are working to develop a database in conjunction with the Parish Pictorial Directory.
Any help the Diocese of Charlotte offers is welcome, particularly for our Spanish-only speaking community. Our priests are not diocesan priests, do not speak Spanish fluently, and are stretched even thinner since Fr. Joe’s retirement. Bilingual parishioners running multiple ministries each are overwhelmed. Finding ways to encourage more folks to invest a bit of their Sunday+ in building our parish and our church is our constant battle when our parishioners already feel overstretched.
Lord, help us to feed each other!
