Give Us A Listening Heart

GIVE US A LISTENING HEART A Summary of Our Synodal Experience in Preparation for Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality, Meeting in Rome in October 2023 by Fr. William Swichtenberg SAINT MARY PARISH APPLETON, WISCONSIN, USA

Inspiration 1.Upon his inauguration as the new King of Israel, King Solomon, as he succeeded his father, King David, received this promise from the Lord God, “Whatever you ask for, I shall give you.” King Solomon did not request that he be given more loyal subjects, or more chariots and horses, or more silver and gold. King Solomon, humbly bowing his head before the Lord, prayed, “Give your servant a listening heart.” I Kings 3: 4-9 2. Krista Tippett, who hosts National Public Radio’s “On Being”, in her book Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Being, writes, “Listening is about being present, not just about being quiet.” 3. I think this is true, also: “The biggest communication problem is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply.” from Vala Afshar’s Twitter Feed 4. Pope Francis, in the preparatory document describing the synodal pathway for the Universal Church states, “The purpose of the Synod…is not to produce documents, but to: “plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, allow hope to be nourished, inspire trust, bind up wounds, weave together relationships, awake a dawn of hope, learn from one another, and create a bright resourcefulness that will enlighten minds, warm hearts, and give strength to our hands.”

Introduction SETTING PROCESS 5. What a grace Pope Francis has given 8. With this introductory reflection as a the Church by sharing his dream that our backdrop, I would like to present a Church be a synodal Church! He is synthesis of your hopes and concerns for certain that Church and synodality go a better Catholic Church and a better hand in hand. We cannot be a better Saint Mary Parish Family. Serving as a Church if we are not walking together reminder for us, here are the questions and listening to each other with an that were presented for our prayer and understanding, respectful and reflection in the spirit of encountering compassionate heart. and listening to each other: 6. Every baptized believer is an What gives you hope for the Roman irreplaceable member of our faith Catholic Church? community. We share together in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. A Pope or Bishop What concerns do you have for the or Priest does not receive a stronger Roman Catholic Church now? dose of the Holy Spirit than the other baptized members of the faith How can we be a better Church in the community. No, we are all equal in future? dignity through the gift of the one Spirit. Saint Paul is certain that “for all of you How can we be a better Church at who were baptized into Christ have Saint Mary Parish in the future? clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither 9. A total of 95 persons participated in slave nor free person, there is not male our parish synodal pathway; 52 of them or female; for you are all one in Christ over the age of fifty and 43 of them Jesus.” (Galatians 3:27-28) under the age of fifty. Even though I would have hoped to hear from more 7. The Holy Spirit is pleading with us to people, I am confident that the dreams trust that the whole is greater than the and desires, expressed in the small sum of its parts. The notion of the sensus group gatherings and surveys I reviewed, fidei fidelium [sense of the faith of the are indicative of the hopes and dreams faithful], proposed by Vatican Council II, of many of the members of our parish reminds us that the Spirit’s modus family. As I reviewed some of the operandi is to speak through every synthesis reports from other nations, baptized believer, and even to trust that including the US, Australia, Germany, goodness, beauty and truth can be Ireland, the UK, and France, I can report discovered in a sister or brother who is that the hopes and concerns of people not a baptized believer. We treasure the throughout the world for the well- presence and gifts of the Holy Spirit being of our Catholic Church fall into a wherever we experience them. consistent pattern.

Themes 10. I would like to organize my summary using the images of looking into a mirror and looking out of a window. As we accompany one another on our journey of faith, we are invited to look within and to look without. Looking in requires us to reflect on our own experiences as a local spiritual family in the Church, identifying where hope springs eternal and admitting where there are areas for growth in holiness. We look at our own house and celebrate what we are getting right and admit where we need to grow to become more like Jesus. 11. Then, to avoid becoming locked into a self-referential mode, a kind of navel gazing, we must look out the window and beyond our walls, always reaching out to others, with the single-hearted desire to spread the Good News of Jesus and to transform our world more and more into the Lord’s Kingdom. LOOKING IN THE MIRROR us more deeply into the Heart of the Lord and connecting us intimately to Our hopes & concerns: our sisters and brothers who worship What we see in ourselves with us. There is a longing to continue to deepen the beauty and reverence of What gives you hope for the Roman our communal celebrations, in Catholic Church? particular, the Mass, and to continue to work to enhance full, active, and What concerns do you have for the conscious participation on the part of Roman Catholic Church now? all. There is also a desire for experiences that pull us into 12. Looking into that mirror, here is what deepening our friendship with the our synodal experience at Saint Mary Lord and our understanding of our Parish reflected back to all of us. I am Catholic faith, the Mass, and the listing the following themes in no sacraments. particular order, other than the order that the Holy Spirit may be suggesting to me. B. There is a welcomed sense that we as a parish family are moving forward A. Celebrating the Mass, the in a way that tries to capture the spirit sacraments, and the devotional of the Gospel. I always return to Pope practices of our rich Catholic tradition Francis’ beautiful suggestion to (Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, the compare the Church or the parish to a Liturgy of the Hours, the Stations of field hospital. There are people whose the Cross) nourish our spirits, drawing bodies, hearts and spirits have been broken, who struggle to find positive self-esteem, and who feel pushed to

the side. We desire to be a parish in our Church. Some Catholics find family that has the Heart of Jesus, themselves struggling today to trust who included every person and the credibility of our Bishops, who excluded no one. It feels sometimes worried more about the Church’s that the Church may push people out reputation than protecting the sacred rather than pull people in. Our parish preciousness of our children and family is convinced that we want to young people. These heinous crimes pull people in, and to provide a safe, of abuse cry out for a never-ending warm place and experiences that are expression of profound sorrow and affirming, where people can feel loved an unswerving promise that this and accepted, healed and freed. abuse will never happen again in our Church. While we have made C. The sacred role of women in our progress in addressing this stain upon Church needs to be affirmed and our Church, the tentacles of advanced. The Church needs to clericalism - that notion that empower women for commissioned somehow the ordained person is service in our Church. We do want to better than others - still have a grip on have more open conversations about our Church. We are certain that we raising up women to serve as deacons want pastors who “have the smell of and priests in our Church. To be a the sheep upon them,” as Pope balanced and healthy Church, women Francis reminds us. We want pastors need to be placed in leadership roles who walk alongside the people, in our parishes, dioceses and, yes, always in a spirit of humility and an even at the Vatican in Rome. openness to hear the concerns and cries of God’s people. We want to be D. There is a heartfelt concern that we co-workers and collaborators with our engage our young people. Many of pastors in the vineyard of God’s them have drifted away from the humble service to the People of God. Church. Many of their parents and We want deacons, priests, and grandparents agonize over this bishops who are servant leaders upsetting reality. We need our young and not cultic figures. people now. How can we provide forums for them, where they feel D. I note that there were questions valued and listened to, where they about the requirement of celibacy feel safe to express their questions for priests. A hope was expressed and doubts, and where they feel only that one day there might be married our love? We have much more priests as well as celibate priests. The ministry to do to lift up our young shortage of priests puts dangerously people and to convince them of how at risk the existence of our much Jesus wants to be a part of their sacramental Church. People worry lives and of how much we need them! about this. E. Let us not become numb or E. Noted was the apparent conser- apathetic to the lingering, and vatism of our younger priests. I sometimes still raw, hurt and anger would insert here that there is a need revolving around the sexual abuse to reassess how our young men are of children and vulnerable adults by formed in seminaries. I would priests, deacons, and other ministers

Looking in the mirror, cont. year, Pope Francis offered this reflection to those preparing for priesthood, “Be reiterate that it is crucial that they receive normal guys. One of the problems in a well-rounded formation experience. My some seminaries is that you do not get concern immediately is the fact that many normal people. Be normal also in prayer. of our young priests seem to not pay Pray like a son to his father. It is normality attention to Pope Francis and even avoid that means seriousness. You ask me what praying over his homilies, letters, I carry in my heart and in prayer? The messages, and encyclicals. In speaking prayer that comes naturally to me is with seminarians, on many occasions, always the invocation: Look at your Pope Francis has cautioned against being people, Lord!” too certain. While there may be a comfort level with things being black and white, We hope and pray that all our priests have Pope Francis suggests that things an unswerving respect for women who sometimes are gray. minister in the Church and treasure the privilege of ministering alongside them. In his visit with his Jesuit brothers in Kazakhstan on September 15 of this LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW beyond the four walls of the parish church and campus. The Eucharist, truly, tears Doing better: down all boundaries. I believe that this Where we must go breathing out of the Holy Spirit into our families, workplaces, and communities is How can we be a better Church in the non-negotiable. Jesus does not invite us to future? go out into the world and make disciples. How can we be a better Church at Jesus commands us to do this! Pope Saint Mary Parish in the future? Francis reminds us that this “is the mission of the Church: to heal the wounds of the 13. Now we move on to the second part of heart, to open doors, to free people, to say this synthesis. We, as members of the that God is good, God is the Father, God is Church and the Parish, are obligated to affectionate, God always waits for look out the window and beyond our us.”(Homily at Santa Marta Guest House, walls, reaching out to our sisters and Rome, Feb. 2015) brothers, walking with them, in the spirit of the words and actions of Jesus Himself. 15. Here are my observations, using our parish survey as a springboard. Again the 14. I always remember vividly Pope Holy Spirit is dictating to me the order of Francis’ admonition that we must let these observations. Jesus out of our Tabernacles and our Churches. Jesus is begging to be shared A. Noted in our parish, as well as in parishes and dioceses throughout the world, is the desire that the Church be a place of welcome and affirmation for our sisters and brothers, who are members of the LGBTQ+ community and for their families and

friends. If we are going to engage our in our community. The precious pearl young people, we have to be of our Catholic faith, our social committed to developing this ministry teaching, needs to sparkle in the of outreach. I personally can tell the midst of our community, within and stories of families who have left our beyond our walls. We do not waver parish because one of their loved in proclaiming the sacred dignity of ones is a member of the LGBTQ+ the human person, born and community. “Father, we love our son unborn. We do not waver in working (daughter), who does not feel towards solidarity, where we welcome in the Church. We cannot be celebrate our connection with every a part of a Church that feels like it is person. We do not waver in working pushing our loved ones away!” together to build up the common good for all people. We will not I can report that our parish does not waver in bringing about want to push people away. We have environmental justice, as our planet hope that the Synodal Meeting in screams in the face of relentless Rome next October will hear the cries exploitation of her land, air and water. of so many people throughout the We are more than a single-issue world who want the Church to take a church. The more we embrace the closer look at our teachings and the social teaching of the Church, the treatment of our gay and more we affirm the consistent ethic of transgendered sisters and brothers. life from the womb to the tomb, and The desire to express respect, the more we reflect Jesus’ compassion sensitivity and compassion toward and mercy, the greater the impact we our hurting sisters and brothers is will have on the world! deep seated in the global Catholic community. We must address this We will find ourselves dead in the issue if we are to stop the water, if we do not intentionally go hemorrhaging of our young people out to the peripheries of society, with from the Church. the message and example of the Gospel. The only reason we exist as a We must address the fact that some Church and a parish family is to be of the language we use, notions like mission-bound, outward-bound. “hate the sin and love the sinner,” “depraved,” “intrinsically disordered,” C. We must continue to develop an and “this [gender identity] policy is understanding that to be proclaimers intentionally exclusionary,” is doing of the Gospel requires us to be visible irreparable damage to the spirits of in the very center of the polis, which is the members of the LGBTQ+ the Greek word for city. As you well community. This language, I dare say, know by now, I remain strong even in is contributing to higher rates of the midst of being accused of being depression and suicides among our political. Tackling climate change or LGBTQ+ young people. In God’s name, gun violence or racism or fixing a how can we not be better as a broken immigration system is not Church? about “being political” but rather about embracing the Gospel of Jesus B. Our parish needs to develop and the Social Teaching of the concrete plans to increase our service Catholic Church. Sadly, this

Looking out the window, cont. people; or whether Pope Francis is truly a prophet in our midst or a heretic; or understanding is not completely whether it is about who is or is not embraced by all Catholics and the brave worthy to receive Holy Communion, prophets among us are still being there is way too much vitriol and silenced. Pope Francis has declared, “I eagerness to judge in our society and in want a poor Church that is for the poor.” our Church. Jesus would be deeply There is no such thing as a gospel of saddened, as what was deep in His prosperity or of nationalism. Heart, on the day before He was to suffer, on the night of the Last Supper, D. Division is a heavy burden to carry. was his dream: “Father, may they all be Whether the arena is at the Congress or one, as You are in Me, and I am in You.” the Supreme Court or the White House; (John 17:21) Together, we are called to whether it is our response to the journey through this life, with the eyes of pandemic or to racism and other pro-life our hearts laser-focused on love. The issues; whether it is our understanding of disciple of Jesus is only about love. We the issues around sexual orientation and cannot remind ourselves often enough of identity; or whether the priest should this singular truth! face the people or have his back to the Looking to the life of St. Francis 16. A watershed moment in the life of 18. Saint Francis’ humility and respect for Saint Francis of Assisi was his undying the other made it possible for him to determination to journey to the Holy enter the world of another. The Sultan, Land so that he could tell the Christian with the same humility and respect, crusaders that they were wrong in their gifted the Saint with a horn, used to call desire for war. Saint Francis, discovering Muslims to prayer, and which can be that the third time was a charm, was viewed today in Assisi. finally able to meet and embrace the Sultan Mailk al-Kamil in Damietta, Egypt, in September of 1219. 17. My friends, this was an embrace for the ages. In the thirteenth century, Muslims and Christians were mortal enemies battling to the death for the control of the Holy Land, where Jesus, our Peacemaker, walked, commanding us to love our neighbors, including our enemies.

Looking to the horizon A WAY FORWARD listening and accompanying each other, on our journey, which will bring us closer 19. Let us practice the holy art of walking and closer to the God’s Kingdom, already alongside one another. May we always and not yet in our midst. We are be awed by the grace that is a holy becoming a better Church and a better listening to one another, entering into Parish Family, all for the praise and glory the experience of the other, without of our Good God! judgment, presenting the Face of Jesus to our sister or brother, all the while seeing Let us be caught up in the “Ripples of Jesus’ Face in her or him. God’s Love, through our hearts, to all hearts!” 20. What’s next? As we discern together and formulate a five-year Pastoral Plan to Father Bill + realize our hopes and dreams for our Parish Family and beyond, let us trust Submitted for Release to the Saint Mary that the Holy Spirit is guiding us. We are Parish Family on the Memorial of Saint committed to implementing Pope Francis of Assisi, Priest; Tuesday, October Francis’ Synodal Model, encountering, 4th, 2022 listening and accompanying each other,

Appendix ACCOMPANING INSIGHTS 12.C - The Sacred Dignity of Women FROM THE ORIGINAL How much longer do you think women are going to remain second-class citizens in the Catholic DOCUMENT OF COMMENTS Church? FROM SMALL GROUP There are many intelligent, well educated women who could provide leadership roles. CONVERSATIONS & SURVEY If a woman can never be a priest, she could be RESPONSES* encouraged to be a deacon.. I have always held the belief that women would be excellent leaders in the 12. A - The Treasury which is the Mass and the Church. Sacraments 12.D - Young People We need to attract more musicians. I love our I am concerned that there is not a large amount of music, but I’m 67 years old and I know that when I young people 20-35 at some parishes. was in college, it was the music that brought me I sometimes feel that my faith was strongest when I back to Mass every week. was younger and believe that may be true for many The beauty of the sacraments and the Mas are my of our young and innocent members. To plant and favorite part of being Catholic. grow the seeds of faith we need to support our I have always found in the sacraments of the youngest members in their faith with good role Catholic church, its traditions, and rituals. That models and support young families with their peers Christ is present in the tabernacle and the eucharist in faith. is what makes the Catholic Church feel like home How can we better engage young people? for me. Get on social media, advocate to the younger Omit unnecessary things in the Mass. Maybe only person. do the creed once a month, the Gloria once a As children advance toward adulthood, is there an month, and even have gentle music after a period of openness to verbalize any doubts about Catholic silence to minister more to those in the pews, church and get support to discuss it further. reflecting after a thought-provoking homily. It’s difficult to engage young people to join the The worship experience is and can be profound. parish. As I looked around at Mass last Sunday, Lack of energy. there were mostly older folks. If the church is to Music is so important to create a welcoming, survive in practice and not only in name, it will engaging atmosphere to attract people to come to need to figure out how to be more family-oriented. church. 12.E - The Travesty of Clergy Sex Abuse of 12.B - The Ministry of Inclusion is One of Children/Vulnerable Adults Welcome and Warmth The church’s slow response to the sexual predators I am a single Mom of a child born out of wedlock, in the ranks. and St Mary Parish has welcomed me since the day How are we dealing with the clergy abuse scandal I found out I was pregnant. We together have found now, especially the victims? My children left the a home here free of judgment and build life-long church because the church did not take relationships with other parishioners. responsibility right away…There is a lack of The future of the Church lies in the millennial resources for those who struggle. generation., We need to meet the young people where they are at - no condemnation but an embracing of their gifts and insights.

12.F - A Fuller Picture of Ordained Ministry All the good work and charity that goes unnoticed. I’m very concerned about the shortage of priests. Need better PR. We are different, but women are as capable as men, Stay active in the community and get the RE kids as seen in many religions, and it’s time to include participating when available. them in the hierarchy. Our members must continue to be involved in our Consider female deacons. community as possible. St Mother Teresa of Should the celibate priesthood be reconsidered? Calcutta is the best role model to follow. 12.G - Seminarians and Young Priests Let’s continue community outreach. The current younger priests are more conservative 15.D - The Burden of Division in their way of thinking which isn’t very attractive The church is too divisive instead of love thy to those of us who want to be more forward neighbor and care for the least among us. thinking and welcoming to all human beings. I have family members who will not go to their own A disturbing undercurrent of conservative home parishes because the pastors are so divisive. catholicism which promotes the idea that ordained It seems that there are branches of the church that and professed life is better than the married or are growing into greater division, liberal and single life. That makes most of us second-class conservative. This adds confusion and leads to Christians at best. conflict. It is difficult to explain why the few priests being I hope that there could be more consistency in our ordained are ultra-conservative/ old school teaching Catholic theology and teachings across countries, in the seminary? Make it more difficult to dioceses, parishes, priests. understand the direction of the church (May even The Catholic Church is one but you see one focus be deterrent to vocations) on the future (trying to put faith in action in one 15.A - The LQBTQ+ Community parish or diocese and then neighboring Continue the message of inclusion for all. Not only parishes/dioceses reverting to practices back to the do people who identify with the LGBTQ 1900's, it is difficult to explain what some are going community notice this, but likewise all straight backwards. people who have those friends or true empathy for *This is only a small sampling from the original anyone facing unfair discrimination… volatice document. This document will be reviewed by condemnations put people away from Christianity Father Bill, along with the members of the Senior in general. Leadership Team and the Pastoral Leadership 15.B - Service/Mission to the Community Council again [and again], as preparation for the I’d love to band together as a church to do even compilation of a Five-Year Parish Mission Plan. more to support those in our local communities. The themes described in the “Give us a Listening Perhaps some additional transparency and Heart” Synthesis Document are themes that have promotion of what is currently going on in the surfaced during the synodal pathway walked by parish would encourage more participation and millions of people throughout the world. attract the unchurched. How do we reach out to those who need to hear this message? How do you preach to those who regularly hear the message to increase their knowledge and encourage them to minister to the various disenfranchised groups? Don’t talk - do. Pope Francis seems to be a doer.

Ripples of God's love, through our hearts, to all hearts. SAINT MARY PARISH APPLETON, WISCONSIN, USA