WE INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN A DISCERNMENT PROCESS FOR PARISH COUNCIL

"We stand before you, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in your name. With you alone to guide us, make yourself at home in our hearts …"

In introducing the Synod to our diocese, Bishop Barry Knestout explained that the synodal process calls us to be on the same path in communion with the whole Church – listening to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and prayerfully discerning God’s will for us. At St. John, approximately one hundred parishioners participated in consultation listening groups during February & March 2022. The feedback from those groups has been summarized in a report, posted on this parish website, submitted to the Diocesan Office of Evangelization so that our comments will become part of the report submitted to the Vatican in preparation for the 2023 Synod of Bishops.

While our participation in the world-wide process is an important contribution, an equally significant outcome is the responsibility of our local faith community to study and act on what we have heard. There were many interesting ideas generated through our discussion process that can help us guide our parish journey forward. And we invite you to be part of using the feedback provided in our parish listening process to revitalize the Parish Council and the involvement of parishioners in parish leadership.

We invite all interested parish members, whether or not you participated in the initial round of listening sessions, to engage in this discernment process by attending a meeting to begin our conversations about where the Synod Listening session feedback will lead us. The outcome of this process is the formation of a NEW PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Synod Reports (links below) and hope you will consider joining us now as we plan for the future.

Two sessions are provided: June 11 and June 18. Register to attend by clicking the link below.

On 9 June, Fr. Rolo has decided to postpone the discernment process to a later time when the incoming pastor, Fr. Francis, will be able to sit with those who expressed an interest in this process to guide him in determining what happens with Parish Council.