By Maureen Smith
JACKSON – For three weeks, four days a week, Bishop Joseph Kopacz and his vicar general, Father Kevin Slattery, listened to the people of the Diocese of Jackson.  More than 1,200 people turned out for the 17 listening sessions scheduled all across the diocese representing the church in most of Mississippi.

CLARKSDALE – Bishop Joseph Kopacz reviews his notes as Father Rusty Vincent, facilitator for several listening sessions, reviews the instructions to those gathered in Clarksdale. (Photo by Maureen Smith)

These sessions were the first step in a pastoral planning process. During the sessions, facilitators asked people to reflect on what the diocese is doing that helps them grow in faith, what broad areas they see as places the diocese can focus energy and resources and what specific projects they would like to see the diocese embrace in the next two to three years. People shared their thoughts in small groups and then had the opportunity to address Bishop Kopacz directly.
Several themes emerged during the often energetic sessions. Many people expressed their thanks for Bishop Kopacz’s presence in the parishes throughout the year. People want a robust youth ministry that gathers young people together to share and strengthen their faith. They appreciate opportunities for faith formation, but want more. People were grateful for the Mississippi Catholic and the work of the Office of Communications, but asked to see more diocesan presence on social and digital media. Members of the Hispanic community expressed their gratitude for Masses in Spanish, while others asked for bilingual Masses and more Spanish-language training for priests and lay ministers.
A number of people would like to see more outreach to fallen away Catholics.
Patty Kreider, a retired court reporter, acted as a scribe at several listening sessions. Her job was to record written comments as an additional record of what people offered. A member of Canton Sacred Heart Parish, she said she enjoyed meeting people around the diocese and hearing their ideas. “I thought the format was very good. It was encouraging that we have a bishop who has taken the time and effort to find out what the priests and laity have on their minds,” she said.
She believes people appreciated the opportunity to speak for themselves directly to the shepherd of the diocese. “People did not hold back and I think he got a lot of good information,” said Kreider.

MADISON – Evelin López, from Carthage St. Anne Parish, shares thoughts with the bishop at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. (Photo by Elsa Baughman)

“This was a wonderful thing because people who might not otherwise come forward came to these sessions,” she added.
Everyone was asked to write their thoughts down on a form provided by Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI), the consulting company facilitating the pastoral planning process. All those forms were collected and representatives from CLI will compile them into one document.
Bishop Kopacz will commission a leadership team composed of people from across the diocese. (see page 11 for leadership team) That team will meet with CLI for several one and two-day workshops during the next year to be trained in strategic planning and to discern pastoral priorities for the diocese. Bishop Kopacz and the team will write some specific pastoral goals with timelines attached and the bishop will write a pastoral letter to accompany them later this year.
The leadership team will eventually transition into a pastoral council for the diocese. Bishop Kopacz has asked for prayers to accompany the planning process.