Re-imagining Parish Life and Leadership in a Synodal Church
Re-imagining Parish Life and Leadership in a Synodal Church
Over the past six months, the Diocese of San Diego has been actively working to promote a culture of synodality, a journey that has been both enriching and transformative. As Pope Francis highlighted during the Synod on Synodality last October in Rome, the Holy Spirit is the true protagonist of this process, guiding and inspiring our efforts.
In March 2024, Cardinal McElroy invited sixteen pastors to consider the possibility of their parishes participating as pilots in this initiative. To lead this effort, he appointed Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido, Vicar for Parish Life, along with Chancellor María “Marioly” Galván and Paulist Father John Hurley. Later that same month, Auxiliary Bishop Felipe and Father John personally visited each of the sixteen pastors to discern their interest and willingness to participate.
Six months after the launch of this initiative, the first Synodal Pilot Parish Convocation was held—a two-day gathering focused on collaboration and shared mission. On Friday, August 23, the pastors and their parish staff from the synodal parishes met to strengthen their collective efforts. The following day, Saturday, August 24, members of the 17 Re-Imagining Teams, parish council members, diocesan seminarians, and representatives from the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Diocesan Women’s Advisory Committee participated. At the conclusion of the convocation, the Re-Imagining Team coordinators presented their main objectives to Cardinal McElroy, marking the next phase of their work.
This journey has been inspiring, and we continue to witness the profound ways in which the Holy Spirit is renewing and revitalizing our Synodal Pilot Parishes. We express our deep gratitude to all those who are actively contributing to this process of discernment and renewal.
PILOT PARISH GOALS
Corpus Christi
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Greater community and connection among parishioners. We want to make families want to be in our church and for the children and members to feel that sense of belonging.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Meet with all Ministry Heads to establish the meaning of “synodality” and being a church that is aligned with that message.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Chula Vista
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Develop a committee of leaders who can guide and strengthen the parish community by seeking a better alignment with the spiritual goals and purposes of the Church.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Develop committed leaders who can guide and strengthen the Mission and Vision of the parish.
Our Lady of Grace
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
By the end of November 2024, conduct Listening Circles with school parents, catechetical and youth ministries, Men for Christ and the Parish at large .
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
By the end of October 2024, conduct Listening Circles with parish staff and discern ways to enhance the parish’s synodal culture as reimagined by the parish, school and leadership.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Diego
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Build upon the successful parish synodality retreat in July, to provide a similar experience of synodality for the various ministry leaders and continue to find ways for youth, young adults, and young couples to be “seen.”
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
To form an ongoing body, perhaps a pastoral council, or some other group, to help the parish and pastor discern our direction of activity.
Sacred Heart, Brawley
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Provide activities where families may share and grow spiritually. Such as: days of recollection, family events, and opportunities for shared experiences.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Merge parish councils and combine activities from the 3 churches as one community, with representation from all 3 parishes. Including formation and the development of a unified Catholic Community calendar.
Sacred Heart, Coronado
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
- Promulgate a Parish Formation Plan and Schedule
In September 2024, create a faith formation committee to discern and understand the needs and the opportunities for faith formation consisting of four mutually supporting components: (1) Intellectual, (2) Spiritual, (3) Humanistic, and (4) Pastoral.
The committee will also develop a proposed calendar for 2025 for events and programs that foster continuing faith formation for the parish community.
- Establish a Parish Ambassador Team
Beginning in February 2025, the pastor and the parish staff will recruit parish ambassadors who will welcome new parishioners and new community members and serve as bridge between new parishioners with needs. The designated ambassadors will be responsible for publishing a succinct guidebook for parish ambassadors with a mission statement by June 15, 2025.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
- Re-establish Pastoral Advisory Council by February 2025. Specifics concerning policies and guidelines will be developed, detailing the rules and responsibilities of the advisory council.
- Hire a Parish Ministry Coordinator The Parish Ministry Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating with the pastor and the parish ministry team various ministry activities at the Parish. The goal is to identify and hire a Parish Ministry Coordinator by May 1st, 2025.
St. Anthony of Padua
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Gather and grow in faith, friendship and community by teaching about the Culture of Synodality process to all leaders through a variety of ways such as practicing a ministry of presence, liturgical celebrations and creating a tangible outreach program that provides a culture of social justice.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Our goal is to teach and share with every ministry, group, and family how to actively listen. Using the Synodal process of seeking understanding instead of just agreement and disagreement.
St. Brigid
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Saint Brigid Parish will continue to develop a culture of radical hospitality and belonging where all are welcome, with particular attention to those who are marginalized. This begins with the sacramental life and extends through all aspects of parish life.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Review the 478 responses from the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) Survey that was collected in May 2024. Responses relate to drivers of parish satisfaction, belief in core Catholic teachings, and our effectiveness of parish support. Allow this parishioner feedback to shape our synod goals moving forward.
St. Didacus
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Organize a ministry fair and other parish events. Invite OCIA candidates to participate in a ministry as part of their formation and Work on items that may come up from listening groups
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Prepare a Formation on Listening retreat. Create listening groups, develop questions and action items and Implement a parish suggestion box.
St. Gregory the Great
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Seek out participation by youth, young adults, recently married couples and young families to join with established parishioners to discern ways to hear and respond to all voices so that they become further engaged in parish life.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal: Listening
With well-developed structure for governance through the Parish Stewardship Council (PSC) in place review current effectiveness of the council. After review and adjustments, commission and empower 10 stewards to actively engage ministries under their responsibility by having the groups provide input on activities, goals, viability, needs, solutions, visions, and hopes. Each steward would report back to the general council with results.
St. Jude Shrine of the West
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Work on more opportunities for personal encounter with Christ, including Holy Hour for all.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Faith formation and leadership development for office staff, Ministry leaders, and Parish council.
St. Luke
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
STL will increase the active participation of the 18- 39-year-old young adult population in all organizational leadership roles, e.g., pastoral and finance councils, committees, ministries, and other parish leadership and support groups.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
STL will reach out to various contingencies of all demographics in our parish community so that they may experience personal encounters with Jesus.
St. Mary Star of the Sea, Oceanside
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Create a Welcoming and Hospitality Ministry with the focus on engaging parish leadership, staff and parishioners in building a sense of radical hospitality throughout the parish.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Parish Re Imagining team will continue to gather to plan action steps for all key parish goals, emphasizing active listening within the parish to meet the needs our community.
St. Mary, Escondido
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Request feedback from Parish community on what programs or events they would like to see/experience at St. Mary and ask how they can collaborate when creating these new initiatives.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Create a Parish health survey/needs assessment and request feedback from parishioners on programs or suggestions they would like to see/experience at St. Mary. Once feedback is received, review and vote on what needs to be implemented or adjusted and prioritize.
St. Therese, San Diego
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Host engaging activities that build spirituality and fellowship to foster a spirit of radical hospitality within targeted segments of our community, helping to form bonds with people within similar demographics:
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Institute a new Ministry Coordination Team entrusted with revitalizing our current ministries to encourage broader participation, foster a greater sense of connection, relationship and fellowship.
St. Thomas More
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Promote parishioner participation to be open to the Holy Spirit to see the need, both individually and for the good of the Church. Devote time, talent, and a decision-making perspective.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Explore and develop workshops that emphasize empathic listening guided by the Holy Spirit. Strive for communication and active listening in/with difficult conversations among diverse groups, and misconceptions about the Catholic Church and its teachings. Review all ministries for relevancy: (Clergy & Ministry leaders).
The Immaculata
Re-Imagining Parish Life Goal:
Immaculata parishioners will be immersed in a culture of discernment to enhance their awareness, capacity, and openness to welcome the Holy Spirit’s guidance, emphasizing the message that everyone from all walks of life and various stages of faith journey are called to discern.
Re-Imagining Leadership Goal:
Each year The Immaculata will select a mission focus to encounter Christ on the margins. This annual mission focus will inspire us to see God in the marginalized and oppressed and challenge us to go forth seeking their good.
CONVOCATION OF
SYNODAL PILOT PARISHES
Creating a More Welcoming Parish Environment
