By Art Turner
As you may be aware, many of our parishes have just completed a discernment process that was based on Archbishop Kurtz’s pastoral letter Your Parish: The Body of Christ Alive in Our Midst. Parishioners were asked to discern or listen attentively to the movement of the Spirit within the community specifically to discover what God’s hope would be for the parish in three areas: family life, education and formation, and service and outreach. I had the privilege of serving as one of the facilitators for the process, engaging six parishes in the Archdiocese (I also had the opportunity to serve as a core team member or a person who provided counsel to the pastor and carry out the work of the process at my home parish, Mary Queen of Peace). I would like to share with you my observations and the reasons why I am grateful for my experience as a facilitator.
Overall, the discernment experience was moving and personally uplifting. I came to realize through my encounter with parishioners at the listening session (the communal opportunity for parishioners to share their ideas) that all the communities I served had certain things in common: a love for their parish and a firm conviction that their parish must continue into the future; a deep commitment to their local neighborhood, town, or rural community; and a strong Catholic identity. I am also pleased to share that in all of my encounters, parishioners made a point to tell me how much they love their pastor. I was amazed at their primary reason too. They said almost the same thing: He cares for us; He really loves us; or He loves being our pastor. Although the pastors were praised for other things like their homilies, or their pastoral presence, or their administrative abilities, the fact that the people felt loved by their pastor was most important.
I am truly grateful for the people I encountered throughout this process, including old friends I hadn’t seen in years at St. John Paul II. I met a blind woman at Our Lady of Fatima who couldn’t read music but led the congregation in song. I received a hug from an autistic boy who thanked me for coming to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I observed the people of St. Dominic in Springfield work hard to bring together their Hispanic and non-Hispanic members at the listening session. I got to meet Deacon Paul Bissig who was very dedicated not only to the people of Good Shepherd but also to the greater Portland community in Louisville. When we had our final core team meeting on February 27, I don’t think Deacon Paul was aware of the illness that would eventually take him. He died June 16. I am grateful that the discernment process allowed me to meet such an incredible man of faith.
Yes, there were challenges along the way. Keeping parishioners on task during the listening session, disagreements among core team members, the GPS not working in some of our rural areas, etc. were just a few of the minor obstacles that had to be overcome. But it was all worth it. I think what I am most grateful for is the witness of faith: a diversity of Catholics from Portland to Hikes Point to Springfield to Campbellsville all living their faith with hope and conviction. Yes, the Catholic Church in the 21st century has its problems, but after my experience as a facilitator I am even more convinced that the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Louisville will not only survive but will thrive as we move forward toward the realization of God’s Kingdom.
Art Turner is Director of Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Louisville.
