Below is the report written by the St. Ann Synod committee, followed by a list of the responses documented at the listening sessions.
RESPONSE TO SYNOD LISTENING SESSION, ST. ANN CHURCH, SPOKANE
The Community of St. Ann responded to the questions posed by the Synod with thoughtful and insightful answers. Themes that recurred included the welcoming, Spirit-filled, inclusive character of St. Ann Church. Music and listening, including these Synodal sessions, also were frequently mentioned.
Language barriers in our multi-cultural congregation are an issue. The restrictions on the roles allowed by the greater church for non-conforming members (race, politics, sexual orientation, age, income, physical or mental ability, and the home-bound) were sited. The subject of constraints on women’s roles was repeatedly raised. The limitations necessitated by the covid pandemic were lamented.
Our congregation looks forward to the restoration of in-person gatherings, strengthening community. We are committed to empowering the marginalized, to listening and acting on what we hear, to keeping our hearts and minds open to the Holy Spirit within and around us.
The questions were guided by the world-wide Synod form, but adapted to St. Ann Church based on our mission statement.
MISSION STATEMENT: The Mission of St. Ann Catholic Church is to live the Good News of Jesus Christ. To create a family/community of faith that lives with integrity and justice. To care for those who are vulnerable, and to treat one another and all those we encounter with dignity and respect. We welcome the Holy Spirit and the challenges and commitments to which we are called.
QUESTIONS:
- How are we at St. Ann Church living the good news of Jesus Christ? What experiences do I find joyful? What experiences do I find challenging?
- How do we create a family/community of faith that lives with integrity and justice? How do we care for those who are most vulnerable?
- How can we better treat one another and all we encounter with dignity and respect?
- What difficulties or obstacles do we encounter in living up to St. Ann’s needs?
- What can be done so we feel greater ownership in St. Ann, and that encourages our participation? Is there something that hinders my participation?
- What more is the Holy Spirit calling us to be, to do at St. Ann?
We recorded everyone’s thoughts and ideas in each Listening Session, and made a list of them.
A total of about 40 people participated in the Listening Sessions.
Publicity consisted of weekly bulletin announcements, virtual and physical, through the month of February and the first week of March, with additional e-mails each week, and announcements at Masses and in virtual prayer services throughout those weeks.
We had a variety of ways and times to participate:
Feb. 19, Saturday, 10:00 a.m. via Zoom
Feb. 26, Saturday, 4:00 p.m., after Mass, in person
Feb. 27, Sunday, 10:30 a.m., after Mass, in person
Feb. 28, Monday, 1:00 p.m., via Zoom
Mar. 1, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m., via Zoom (Spanish/English available)
Mar. 6, Sunday, 12:30, after Mass, in person (Swahili/English available)
A written questionnaire was available in hard copy that could be picked up in person or mailed to a person’s home, and returned to the church.
That questionnaire was on-line on the St. Ann website to be completed virtually.
There was a national LGBTQ on-line survey available Feb. 23.
The Listening Session committee members were available all day Feb. 21stand Feb. 23rd, and after noon on Feb 27th for people to complete the questionnaire by phone.
The Diocese of Spokane had an on-line survey to be completed virtually.
RESPONSES TO LISTENING SESSION QUESTIONS:
Question #1: How are we at St. Ann Church living the good news of Jesus Christ? What experiences do I find joyful? What experiences do I find challenging?
Two comments summarized especially well: “All are welcome.” and “the care we take of others” whom we tend to greet with “open hearts.”
Other ways mentioned were having a contemplative side, being a place of strong faith, reading the Bible, homilies/reflections that deal with real world issues, and presenting meaningful liturgies that carry forward ideas and values to our daily lives.
St. Ann is a joyful community, experienced especially in our diversity, our prayerful music and our friendliness. When covid restrictions arose, we came to realize how much we missed gathering and we used Zoom to add a new dimension for those not able or willing to attend weekend Masses in person.
The best challenge we all face is deciding how to get involved at St. Ann. There are so many excellent options! This was an actual comment; others listed specifics like our sound system, transportation issues, and the upcoming change for children’s liturgy. Of course, covid restrictions were brought up and we received comments about restraints from the broader church.
Question #2: How do we create a family/community of faith that lives with integrity and justice? How do we care for those who are most vulnerable?
St. Ann’s values were formed in the 1980’s, based on the Franciscan model, leading to providing Sanctuary for a Salvadoran family. Current activities include the Sunday Lunch Program, the Social Justice Ministry, and the St. Ann/St. Aloysius Immigration Committee. We have several charitable collections for money and other necessities.
Question #3: How can we better treat one another and all we encounter with dignity and respect?
We need to acknowledge, listen non-judgmentally to, and honor our diverse community, including the youth, the unsung heroines and heroes who need affirmation that they matter and belong, and those not respected by the church hierarchy. We need to know and love ourselves and our individual faith life, and follow our journey as individuals and in community.
Question #4: What difficulties or obstacles do we encounter in living up to the needs of St. Ann?
Difficulties include the small size of our congregation, limiting our finances, e.g., for facility upkeep needs. Aging parishioners find their ability to engage in church activities diminished. And young people often move on. Time constraints, job demands, and lack of transportation can also limit participation. Pandemic constraints have profoundly altered our accustomed ways of building and sustaining community.
Question #5: What can be done so we feel greater ownership in St. Ann, and that encourages our participation. Is there something that hinders our participation?
Participation in our church community is strengthened by gathering together for sacraments and receptions, by prayer, and by seasonal celebrations. These have been sorely missed during the time of covid.
We persist in being welcoming to all, including those who pray in quiet and those who are visible leaders of activities in zoom and in person. Virtual prayer services and meetings have opened new avenues for participation.
Time, “wakati” in Swahili, is an issue. Communication can be an obstacle, especially for non-English speakers.
The gifts of women and opportunities for them are stifled by the broader Church. At St. Ann, we strive to honor and give opportunities to all.
Question #6: What more is the Holy Spirit calling us to do and be at St. Ann?
The Holy Spirit calls us together to St. Ann Church. It is an intentional community; most parishioners live outside its boundaries.
Here we are called to be ourselves, be better people, better Catholics.
We must listen, be open-minded, pray for each other, increase lines of communication, listen to calls for help, and provide help in concrete ways.
We must be a Vatican II church. We must increase women’s roles in our church. Involving the laity in priestly formation was another idea.
We are called to hold the Holy Spirit in our hearts and protect that presence.
Conclusion (from a member of St. Ann Church)
I wish for a Church that understands God is still forming his kingdom.
I wish for a Church that teaches by example.
I wish for a Church that realizes Ozzie and Harriet are not coming back.
I wish for a Church more interested in salvation than control.
I wish for a Church that resists the temptation to force its beliefs on others.
I wish for a Church with fewer Scribes and Pharisees and more Healers.
We thank Pope Francis for this occasion of grace and growth.
And we thank all who participated by voice, written word and prayer in this Synod.
St. Ann Synod Committee: Barbara Baehr, OP; Susana Lopez; Mark Westbrook; and Pierrette L. Wing
With special thanks to Elizabeth Menzies-Lang for publicity and parish website support.
Compilation of Synod Listening Sessions thoughts
Question #1 — How are we at St. Ann Church living the good news of Jesus Christ? What
experiences do I find joyful?
● Diversity of cultures, of languages
● Diversity of incomes, professions – from street people to college professors
● All are Welcome
○ Such a joyful Community
● Women are able to offer reflections
● How good Patrick is with Children
● Music
● Social Events
● Ubuntu
● Contemplative Side of Church
● Place of strong faith, spirit is with us into the future
● “Reading Bible important and to see the people here.” said by a child
● The care we take of others and those in the neighborhood
● Prayers of the Faithful
● Homilies dealing with the real world, not just what happened in Jesus’s time
● “At St. Ann’s we find open hearts and welcoming spirits… music fills us with joy… love
Fr. Patrick’s homilies always fill us…
○ Liked that they asked about masks, and were happy their wishes were honored
● That people knows other’s names
● Clarity and care of how the Liturgy is done
● Music is profound and heartening (all the groups)
● COVID helps us realize how much we miss/need each and brought us Zoom
● Zoom helped us listen to each other, forced us to open our hearts and live our Mission
Statement
● Mission statement is well worded
● St. Ann avoids be too doctrinaire
What experiences do I find challenging?
● That women’s talents are overlooked in our broader church and they cannot use their
gifts.
● Legalisms
● Hard to hear – sound system
● Troubles (physical, logical) in getting to church, but when they get to church people are
friendly and helpful
● So much available, hard to part is deciding
● Rapid growth of church
● COVID affects all the joyful things, hard to know new people, and so many are not
attending.
○ Lack of fullness of Sacraments
○ No receptions
○ No real bread for Eucharist
● Losing Jolie for Children’s Liturgy
● Transportation to get to Church
● Unable to bring out our full potential in Swahili Mass
● Swahili Mass allows celebration of Mass in our culture
○ Language Barrier
Question #2 — How do we create a family/community of faith that lives with integrity
and justice? How do we care for those who are most vulnerable?
● We have Sunday Lunch served with a smile
● Collection for Neighborhood
● Social Concerns / Social Justice Committee
● Parish of different cultures
● Coffee & donuts is missed, as way of reaching out to people
● Invite people to listen to one another (Q#1?)
● Church place to go to pray for each other
● Issue of hearing, listening and helping people (focus on homeless)
● Loved the smiles (masks sadly cover them up)
● The collecting of money for Christmas fundraiser – for families and gifts for children
● People being generous
● Baby showers
● Prayers of the Faithful
● Live respecting each person as a gift
● “The history of St. Ann’s Sanctuary, neighborhood,… wine & coffee sales…”
● Creation of Social Justice Ministry and its subgroups of helping neighbors and
neighborhood, doing education
● Music reaches people, including previous Holiday concert
● Through prayer and donations (Swahili group)
● Encourage friends and family to join the church
● Need to be aware of what people really need
● The people are the church, and they are the people who we serve too.
● Some of our small groups (Zoom?) Mark W. emails keeping us informed
Question #3 — How can we better treat one another and all we encounter with dignity
and respect?
● Being aware of each individual’s faith life and community
● Love your neighbor as yourself
● Look out for others who are on their own. Make people feel like they count and they
belong.
● Acknowledge / honor the children of the church, our future
● Listening to one another
● Welcoming, hospitality
● Challenge of Pandemic, (wearing masks, individual struggles due to pandemic
● Like the Zoom
● Gratitude to Holy Father for asking for this Synod
● Church hierarchy is not respected by all in this group, our community is more liberal
● We are a community of people who chose to be at St. Ann
● Acknowledge the quiet ones
● Celebration of Oscar Romero
● Giving the opportunity to express yourself
Question #4 — What difficulties or obstacles do we encounter in living up to our St.
Ann’s community needs?
● Aging is a challenge, I’m getting too old to participate
● Finances –
● Our youth, they move on… college, etc.
● We come out of culture where we have to work outside of church, we don’t have the
capacity to do more
● But in knowing one another we have each other’s gifts
● The ministry of being parents / role models / mentors for each other
● Why do this survey, it doesn’t matter
● Polarization
● Not knowing people
● All problems are in all neighborhoods, it may be more visible in poor neighborhoods
● Homeless can be scary, but Pope Francis says it is important that we get the smell of the
sheep on us.
Question #5 — What can be done so we feel greater ownership in St. Ann, and that
encourages our participation? Is there something that hinders my participation?
● Transportation, getting to church. Work schedules
● Different languages
● Aging getting older, with less energy
● Evangelizing toward the young.
● You really get back more than you give
● You can be a little helper, you don’t have to be a big helper (leader)
● Having both elements of the active part of our church and the more monastic /
contemplative church
● Mardi Gras & parties
● Appreciating St. Ann though belong to other parishes
● End of COVID!
● Communication issues, who reads what where?
● Appreciate sending out cards
● Include all people in celebrating the Mass
● Swahili group said: Wakati
● Lack of commitment
● The gifts of women need to be honored. We need greater opportunities for women
especially in the broader Church
● Anyone different (gender, divorce, etc) is often excluded by the Hierarchy
● We need to reinforce what the Pope is trying to do with this Synod (listening sessions)
● Pastoral leadership
● Someone needs to listen and it has to go somewhere
Question #6 — What more is the Holy Spirit calling us to do (or be) at St. Ann?
● Calls us to be better people and better Catholics
● Holy Spirit helps us to keep our mind open so we can be better listeners
● We can pray for each other
● We can be ourselves
● We recognize the Holy Spirit is in our heart, protect the Holy Spirit’s presence there
● Women’s roles are promoted by the Spirit
● John the 23 opening the window, continue Vatican II
● That there be greater laity involvement in the formation of priests
● Priests should be chosen by the congregation
● Provide an environment for people where their voices can be heard and be inclusive. We
need to hear from those in need
● Compliance with doctrine or with the Holy Spirit
● Accepting diversity, celebrating Mass as one people
● Serve God, total commitment, while praying the Rosary and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Written Individual Responses next page:
An email sent to MarkW:
Mark,
I was disappointed that the synod offers no opportunity for discussion of the Church at large but only at the parish level. When the synod was first announced I spent some time thinking about what I would want Pope Francis to hear. I was pretty sure it would never filter up past the diocese of course but just for the record here it is:
I wish for a Church that understands God is still forming his kingdom.
I wish for a Church that teaches by example.
I wish for a Church that realizes Ozzie and Harriet are not coming back.
I wish for a Church more interested in salvation than control.
I wish for a Church that resists the temptation to force its beliefs on others.
I wish for a Church with fewer Scribes and Pharisees and more healers.
Mike
A Heart Contrite and Humble…
A Heart Contrite and Humble…
Saint Ann Catholic Church - Spokane 