Pastoral Planning

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WORLDWIDE & DIOCESE-WIDE CONVERSATIONS

TRANSFORMING OUR LIVES; BUILDING OUR CHURCH

Synod and Diocesan Pastoral Planning

Pope Francis has announced that in preparation for the next Synod of Bishops, there will be a worldwide conversation in the Church or a "synod" about community, engaged participation, and the mission of evangelization. This conversation will follow a two-year path and involve the People of God - everyone, everywhere.

On Sunday, October 17, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., +Most Reverend Bishop Miehm will celebrate a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains to launch the synod and the diocesan pastoral planning process locally. This celebration roots the synod in prayer, sacrament, and community. This Mass will also be live-streamed through the link to the YouTube channel for the Diocese.

To open the conversations, the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee is launching a survey inviting the input of all the People of God. This input will be part of both the worldwide and local conversations to establish pastoral priorities within the Church.

The survey is open from 12:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 17th to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 26th, 2021. The survey is offered in two formats. The Thought Exchange format will give you the opportunity to see what others (without names) have entered on the survey, and the Google Form format has questions specific to communion, participation, and mission. Please feel welcome to choose the survey format that is the most convenient for you.

GOOGLE FORM FORMAT

This format includes the question from Thought Exchange and three specifics questions about communion, participation, and mission.
This format is accessible for youth in Grades 7 to 12 and has been shared with the four school boards and one private school serving the Diocese of Peterborough.

SURVEY

THOUGHT EXCHANGE FORMAT

This format allows you to see and affirm the input of others or to offer a contrasting view.
The platform facilitates a virtual conversation among many people and allows respondents to continue the ongoing conversation with multiple opportunities to input and to respond.

SURVEY

Thank you for contributing your voice, your experiences, and your hopes to this conversation!

Join the conversations at your parish!

Parish Discussion Sessions

Parish Discussion Process Background Context

Rebuilt discussions (2019-2020)

Good beginning
Interrupted by the pandemic
Solid foundation for moving the discussions forward now

Parish Discussion Process going forward 2021-2022

Parish Discussion Process Overview

There are 3 Main Themes for the Synod on the Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission

Please read For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.

The parish will host three discussion forums - in person, online - as you determine.

Please consult your parish team about these 3 themes and the suggested questions for discussion and reflection.

Parish Discussion Process Scripture Focus

SCRIPTURE FOCUS FOR THE PARISH DISCUSSION PROCESS

Acts 10

John 16: 12 - 15

Parish Discussion Session #1 - Communion

Discussion Questions - Communion

Who is part of the Church?
Are any persons or groups left on the margins, expressly or in fact?
How do we listen to the laity, especially to young people and women, to consecrated men and women, to the minorities, or to the excluded?
Can we speak out freely?
How are divergences of vision, conflicts, or difficulties addressed?
What experiences of dialogue and shared commitment do we have with believers of other Christian Denominations, religions and with non-believers?

Parish Discussion Session #2 - Participation

Discussion Questions - Participation

How does our prayer and worship inspire and guide our common journey?
How to we promote the active participation of all the faithful in the liturgy?
How do we support our members in reflection and in their growth in faith and formation?
How do we come together to assume responsibility on the parish level and beyond?
How do we define the goals to be pursued, the way to achieve them, and the steps to be taken?
How do we see authority and responsibility within the Church?
By what procedures and methods do we reflect together and make decisions?
How and with what tools do we promote transparency and accountability within leadership?

Parish Discussion Session #3 - Mission

Discussion Questions - Mission

How do we call each person to recognize their share in the Church’s mission?
How do we have dialogue with the various groups in our Church, our Christian communities and our world?
What are the fruits we have drawn from this common journey?
What are the difficulties?
How do we encourage an authentic form of communication within the Church and with others?
Can we dialogue with secular society?
How do we reconcile social priorities and goals with the priority of the Church’s mission?
How do we discern our missions and support members engaged in mission?
How do we form and help those who hold roles of responsibility?

Parish Discussion Process Report

Report

Please formulate the responses from the Parish Discussion Process in a 1 to 2 page response.
The due date is January 12, 2022.
Submit to Fr. Tom Lynch and Fr. Jerry Tavares

Parish Discussion Process Requirements

Requirements

Host three sessions at the parish between October 17, 2021 and the 2021 Christmas Season.

Write a one to two page summary of the parish discussions with a section for each - communion, participation, and mission.

Submit the one to two page summary report to Fr. Tom Lynch or Fr. Jerry Tavares by January 12, 2022.

Diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee Members

These are the members of the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee:

Most Reverend Bishop Miehm, Chair of the Committee
Msgr. Michael Heffernan, Vicar General, Diocesan Finance Council member
Deirdre Thomas, Assistant to the Bishop / Communications
Fr. Vic Valles, Dean of Central Deanery
Helena Lessard, Diocesan President of the Catholic Women's League / Central Deanery layperson
Fr. Randy Foster, Dean of the City Deanery
Jacob Sullivan, City Deanery layperson
Fr. Tom Lynch, Priest and Principal of Sacred Heart College
Deacon Sean Gallagher
Fr. Gerard McMahon, Dean of the Southern Deanery
Anne Higgins, Southern Deanery layperson
Fr. Neil Campbell, Dean of the Northern Deanery
Kathie Hogan. Northern Deanery layperson
Deb McRae, Director of Finance, Property, and Administration, Diocesan Finance Council member
Joanne Hough, Catholic Lay Organization Member, Past President CWL
Sr. Eileen McManus CSJ, Religious
Fr. Jerry Tavares, Resource for Parishes
Michael Nasello, Collaborative Consultation Resource
Jeannie Armstrong, Superintendent of Learning-Faith/Equity and Secondary Program, Clarington Family of Schools, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board