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Synod
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- Synod Overview
- Key Ideas
- Recently Implemented Changes
- Major Themes: Question 1
- Major Themes: Question 2
- Major Themes: Question 3
- Complete Synod Responses
- Links to Diocese and USCCB Synod Reports
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In early 2022, Bishop Boyea invited us to have these Synodal Conversations with family or friends who may have fallen away from the faith (or have never been Catholic). In April of 2022, our entire parish was invited to participate in Listening Sessions that would take place here at St. Mary Magdalen.
Infused with prayers invoking the Holy Spirit, these Listening Sessions were a unique opportunity to come together as one family of faith in order to listen to the comforts and sorrows, the trials and the victories that we have experienced as individuals, as a parish, and as a universal Church. They also allowed us to share our hopes and dreams for the future of the Church as a whole and for St. MM in particular.
Almost 25 people volunteered to be Table Leaders or Scribes. They attended a training session to practice just listening to people with no debates or justifications as well as to learn how to keep the session as a listening session instead of a conversation. As a result, people who attended the sessions were able to share their positive and negative experiences, to listen to each other, and to emerge feeling heard.
In all, 73 people participated in the Synod experience. This consisted of 46 women and 27 men. In general, the age range tended toward the older generations (over 50), but there were a few younger people in their 30s and 40s.
After the sessions, the results were summarized and submitted to the Diocese of Lansing. They were also presented to the parish staff and the Pastoral Council. The staff and Council will utilize the results of the Listening Sessions as they plan for the future of our parish.
In 2021, Pope Francis called the entire People of God to journey together in a Synod on Synodality. The goal of this journeying together was to be present with one another, to listen and to learn with each other, and to grow closer to the Lord and His church.
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- SMM parishioners have a strong sense of community and being welcoming. To foster this sense of community, they would like more communication and no messages of negativity.
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They also want to bring back aspects of parish life that are meaningful to them: Coffee and Donuts; Adult Formation offerings on prayer, spirituality, and the Bible; liturgical practices such as Offertory gifts, the Children’s Collection, and receiving the Precious Blood; and many social events.
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Children and families are key. Serving them is vital.
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SMM parishioners feel vested in the parish and want to be involved at all levels of decision-making, ministry, and the spiritual life of the parish.
- SMM parishioners want to have a strong connection with their pastor and feel shepherded by him. They want to know how their pastor feels and what he thinks.
- SMM parishioners want to be able to express their needs and wants to the church and to feel heard. They also want to know what their pastor's vision of the parish is and be able to have input as to their vision as well.
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As part of our ongoing efforts to revitalize the parish, the following is a list of requests mentioned during the Synod Listening Sessions that have been implemented recently.- Mass
More altar servers recruited and trained; Mass Intention mentioned in Prayers of the Faithful; Incense-free Mass during weekends with “special” Masses; Low-gluten hosts available at Mass (Signage in Vesting Room with directions); Cup available again at Masses- Things to Bring Back
Coffee and Donuts (with a spiffy new coffee machine!); Liturgist; Liturgy Sheets; Worship Team; Community-building experiences: Pints & Ponderings, Celebration of Fr. Paul’s Installation as Pastor, Funeral Luncheons, Community Life events- More (and Better) Communication
Communication Team is active; Redesign of St. MM website; New St. MM logo; Financial Health Town Hall Meeting; More social media presence, especially Facebook; Easier sign-up for ministries; flexible sign-up and service abilities for snowbirds; Communications Coordinator being hired- Children
Nursery reopened for 11 am Mass; Children’s Collection; Plans in the works for restarting Children’s Liturgy of the Word; Working to add more family-friendly events- Evangelization
New Director of Evangelization named (Josh Kenny); Participation in community events (Taste of Brighton)
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Question #1: How is this “journeying together” happening today in your parish and/or the Universal Church? (Share positive experiences)
(Universal Church/Diocese/Parish)- St. MM is Welcoming and Friendly
Parishioners are welcoming; People feel ministered to and supported when grieving; New parishioner process is good; People seem eager to attend Mass- Music is wonderful
- Community events are important
- Adult Formation offerings are good
Faith sharing groups; Alpha, Renew; Classes; RCIA; Bible Studies; Retreats; Explanations of teachings; The Chosen; Pints & Ponderings; Digital resources available- Feeling of being shepherded
Trust between pastor and parishioners is important; Parish unity (to survive Covid, especially); Parish works as a team; Pastor listens- Charity important
Families can serve together; Magdalen’s Kitchen serves community; Vibrant Charity and Justice Team; Confirmed children can serve as Religious Formation volunteers- Universal Church
Vatican II was positive; Solid foundation of rules; Variety of Mass/confession times in the area; Pope Francis brings us together; Can find a parish I am comfortable in because of variety in the area; Sacraments are important- Families are important
“St MM instrumental in the spiritual development of my children and family.”; Mom’s Group; Children/non-communicants receive a blessing; facilities available for activities (Boy Scouts, Knights of Columbus);- Variety of ways to express faith
Lots of ministry choices; Weaving; Journaling/Art; Quilters; Knitters; Can carry out “passion projects”; All can be involved in activities; Holy Hour; Strong homilies; Ecumenism, tolerance, and acceptance of other faiths
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Question #2: What prevents us from “walking together?”
(Share negative experiences)
(Universal Church/Diocese/Parish)- Lack of transparency about Fr. Shaun Lowery
- Poor communication
- Covid hurt the community
Loss of welcoming spirit; Nursery closed; Many people left and have not come back; Coffee and Donuts gone; Activities gone- Negative messages
Negativity about LGBTQ community; Division, polarization, and political discourse; Lack of inclusivity; Too focused on rules and not enough on love of Jesus; Negative attitudes about alternate lifestyles, women, people of color, etc.; Being closed off to people who do not “toe the line”- Priest abuse scandal
- Universal Church
Fear of moving backward; Not enough leadership roles for women; Hierarchy not engaged with laity/Clericalism; Annulment process and how it hurts people; people leaving Church in great numbers; Poorly trained priests (counseling/administration); Pope Francis raises issues, but nothing happens; Inconsistencies among dioceses; Distortion of church in media; Leadership should come from the bottom up; Catholics can be cultish; Mixed messages regarding Communion- Disconnects
Disconnects between Pope and Bishops; Disconnects between published guidelines and actual practice- Parishioners don’t feel heard
Parishioners need to feel respected and that their views are valued; Institutional knowledge/wisdom not being tapped; Not being included in parish planning; More transparency is needed- Things that are lacking:
Reaching out to young people; Support for people with aging parents or disabled family members; Outreach to homebound or elderly; Evangelization; Children’s involvement in Mass; Inclusivity; Grief support
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Question #3: How can your parish or the Universal Church better support you and your family?
(Universal Church/Diocese/Parish)
- Bring Back Community Events
Potlucks; Game Nights; Euchre; Coffee and Donuts; Seder Meal- More Welcoming (Inclusive/Supportive) (LGBTQ/Divorced/etc.
Meet people where they are; No negative messages; Welcoming Statement in the bulletin; Emphasize a loving faith and that all are the Body of Christ; Need to be active in getting people involved- More/Better Communication
Use technology to instruct; More social media; Town Hall meetings; Quarterly reports from ministries; Fix livestream; Respond to requests in a timely way; Use bulletin to teach about our faith- Changes in Universal Church
Women deacons/priests; Married priests; Increased role of women in Church (esp. in hierarchy); Fix annulment process; Bottom up, not top down leadership; USCCB less political; Relax some restrictions; Bishop more active at parish; Priests need training on all aspects of pastoring; More discussion of all vocations; Better listening to the laity- Return kneelers/seats to the way they were designed
Kneelers are not comfortable/too short; Not able to set up church in amphitheater style for better view of altar; Larger people can’t fit; Many seats without kneelers- Children
Children’s Liturgy of the Word; Childcare for events; Reopen Nursery; Children’s Collection; Family-friendly events; Use teens to help with childcare; Programs for children with special needs; Children’s Mass; Help for families with young children; Holy Hour for families/children; Connect Youth/YA/Seniors; More activities for youth; More flexible offerings for Religious Formation; Programs for parents to do faith activities with children- More ecumenism
Serve with other churches in area; RRM gives opportunities to pool resources, energy, and events; Have speakers about volunteer opportunities throughout area- Adult Formation Requests
Small faith groups; Book groups; Take on tough topics; Variety; Modern; Relevant; Multiple times; World Religions class; Catholic Social Teaching class; Marriage Enrichment opportunities; “Bible studies that relate to my life.” (Cavins, Schmitz, Walking with Purpose); More Pints & Ponderings; Announcements at Mass are helpful; Apologetics; Survey parish; Retreats or missions; Help parishioners discover/develop gifts; Classes on social justice issues- Evangelization Needs
Learn from growing churches; Better advertising; Use facilities to evangelize- Things to bring back
Yoga; Meditation; Racial Equity group; Liturgy sheets; New Parishioner Meeting; Precious Blood at Mass; 8 Great Dates; Pax Christi group; Communion services; Befrienders; Grief Support group; Food and Prayer baskets in Offertory Procession; Hire liturgist; New parish directory; Worship Team- Mass
More altar servers of both genders; Mass Intention in Prayers of the Faithful; Have an incense-free Mass at holidays for those who are allergic; advertise availability of low-gluten hosts; Don’t return to pre-Vatican II practices; Need quiet area in church before Mass; Variety of modern worship experiences (Praise and Worship); No politics in message; More prayers to St. Mary Magdalen
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