by Todd Habiger
todd.habiger@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Parish leaders from all corners of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas gathered Sept. 12 at Savior Pastoral Center here for the Renewal from the Heartland convocation, which launched the pastoral planning process for the archdiocese.
A Renewal from the Heartland began last year under the direction of Archbishop Shawn McKnight with listening sessions in each deanery of the archdiocese. The responses to those listening sessions and an online survey that followed were recorded and analyzed to determine the next phase of pastoral planning.
“What we have seen, heard and shared under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit we now proclaim, as we begin the second year of Renewal from the Heartland, our archdiocesan response to the Holy Father’s call for us to become a more synodal church,” said Archbishop McKnight in his opening address, which came from his pastoral letter on synodality in the archdiocese (available at: archkck.org/renewal-heartland).
“Synodal,” a term with Greek origins, loosely means “walking together.”
According to Archbishop McKnight, becoming a more synodal church is not about creating more documents and programs in parishes, but rather renewing parish life.
That starts by listening to the people.
“Bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons and lay faithful are called to move beyond individualism and to build authentic communion through mutual listening, trust and shared responsibility,” the archbishop said.
The listening sessions provided parishioners with the opportunity to speak from the heart about their own questions, hopes and fears in the local church.
“I want to point out how the clergy, religious and faithful of the archdiocese were given the opportunity from the very beginning to shape the pastoral planning process that is now to follow,” Archbishop McKnight said.
The data says
Following the archbishop’s opening address, Helen Osman, a member of the archdiocesan synodal team, touched on the data and key points that came from the listening sessions and online survey.
Approximately 1,000 people total participated in 32 listening sessions, which were held in 17 parishes, two prisons, four high schools and seven community centers. Discussions took place in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL).
The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) analyzed the data and found that more than 97% of archdiocesan parishes were represented, 93% of respondents were lay people and 8% of respondents were Hispanic.
According to Osman, Spanish-speaking Catholics were particularly vocal in their wants and needs.
“Our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters are really crying for help,” she said. “They want to be integrated into parish life, and they need more resources. That came across loud and clear.”
Osman also highlighted that 85% of respondents said they attend Mass at least weekly.
“I think every one of us knows that is not typical of the general Catholic population, unless the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is extremely unique,” she said. “Nationally, the numbers are somewhere between 25 and 32 percent of Catholics who are in the pews on any particular Sunday. So, these are people who are deeply committed to their parish.”
Osman said the archdiocese needs to look beyond committed Catholics and reach out to those who have not been heard from during this process.
Talking it out
Following Osman’s presentation and a panel discussion from priests and laity about how synodality has worked in their parishes and ministries, attendees broke into small groups to discuss the results of the listening sessions and survey, as well as what resonates in their parishes.
Larry Koster from the Lawrence Deanery said his group expressed concern about the church losing young Catholics and the need to keep them engaged in the faith.
In the Atchison Deanery, Kate Werring and her small group focused on the concept of belonging.
“Hospitality is important” in helping parishioners feel included, she said, “but not just one little stab at hospitality.”
Gates Brown from the Leavenworth Deanery joined a group representing the Southern Deanery. They discussed ways to reach out to those who feel alienated from the church and how to deal with tensions that arise with different liturgical preferences.
“‘Never forbid what the church allows, never allow what the church forbids’ is a good way to balance the tensions that can come up,” said Brown.
Next steps
Moving forward, each deanery will host three listening sessions with clergy and laity to determine its pastoral priorities.
Father Michael Hawken, vicar general and moderator of the curia, said each deanery will create a pastoral plan specific to their needs.
“For example, if a deanery plan includes creating an OCIA program that will serve more than one parish, then those parishes grouped in that program would prioritize the success of that new OCIA program within their parish,” he said.
Each of the 21 counties in the archdiocese has its own gifts and challenges, said Archbishop McKnight, which should be considered in pastoral planning.
“This vision will be discerned in each deanery according to the local realities there — the resources available, the cultures of the communities and the capacity among those who gather as leaders in the deanery,” he said.
Each deanery will submit its report to the archdiocese, which will review the plans and adjust its overall pastoral plan accordingly. The results of that plan will be presented at the 2027 archdiocesan convocation.
