By Francis Ong
MELAKA — Listening to one another is only the beginning. The greater challenge lies in translating what has been heard and discerned into meaningful action that strengthens parish life.
This was the focus of a follow-up gathering at the Church of St Theresa on October 25 as parishioners came together to reflect on the outcomes of their Parish Pastoral Assembly (PPA) held on August 16 and explore how its priorities could be translated into concrete commitments.
The gathering brought together 37 participants, comprising 26 Mandarin-speaking and 11 English-speaking parishioners, at the parish hall. It aimed to clarify the purpose and direction of the PPA while providing an opportunity for parishioners to raise questions, share concerns and offer suggestions.
Following the August assembly, the PPA Working Committee had reviewed and discerned the contributions from 32 groups that participated in Conversations in the Spirit.
Among the priorities identified were putting God first in parish life, making prayer central, serving with joy and deepening relationships within the parish community.
These priorities were subsequently discussed with the Parish Pastoral Team (PPT) on Sept 15 and presented to the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) on Sept 20. Together with the commitment to hold a follow-up conversation, they formed five pastoral commitments, each accompanied by proposed actions, persons responsible and target dates.
The Oct 25 gathering marked the first step in putting these commitments into practice.
Proceedings began with prayer and a reflection on Scripture, drawn from James 1:19–20, which calls believers to be quick to listen and slow to speak.
After several minutes of silent reflection, participants shared their thoughts in small groups, putting into practice one of the parish’s commitments — making prayer central to its life and activities.
Participants were then taken through the history and evolution of the parish’s pastoral assemblies.
Since the early 2000s, the parish has held annual assemblies as opportunities to review, reflect and renew its pastoral direction. Over the years, the approaches have evolved from questionnaires and SWOT analysis to Appreciative Inquiry and, more recently, Conversations in the Spirit, introduced in the diocese two years ago.
The gathering also reflected on how earlier assemblies, which largely centred on reports from parish leaders followed by questions and criticism from parishioners, sometimes reinforced an unintended division between leaders and the wider community.
While such exchanges had their value, they did not always foster the collaboration, mutual understanding and unity that parish life requires.
Participants were reminded that the Church does not belong solely to its leaders. Rather, every baptised person shares responsibility for its life and mission.
This understanding lies at the heart of the synodal Church envisioned by Pope Francis and continued under Pope Leo XIV — a Church in which the People of God listen to the Holy Spirit, discern together and take shared responsibility for mission.
The Conversation in the Spirit approach, used during the Synod of Bishops in Rome in 2023 and 2024, encourages prayerful listening, respectful dialogue and communal discernment rather than debate or confrontation.
For St Theresa’s parish, adopting this approach represents a continuing effort to move beyond individual expectations and interests towards a greater sense of belonging and shared responsibility.
The five pastoral commitments for 2027 were subsequently presented and explained. These will be incorporated into the parish’s pastoral plan for the coming year.
During the open-sharing session, participants were given two minutes each to speak, followed by one minute of silent reflection before the next person took the floor. A countdown timer helped maintain the structure and encouraged attentive listening.
Seven parishioners shared their views, raising matters relating to parish facilities, liturgy, children and Sunday School, as well as experiences of caring outreach and personal involvement in parish life.
The questions and suggestions will be reviewed by the PPT at its November meeting, with responses to be provided subsequently.
In his closing remarks, parish priest Fr Thomas Chong SJ thanked those present while expressing concern that some whose participation was particularly needed had not attended.
Acknowledging that not everyone, including PPC members, had fully grasped the practice of Conversation in the Spirit, he nevertheless recognised the progress being made.
He encouraged parishioners to remain open to the process rather than resist it, emphasising that learning to listen and discern together is essential to becoming one Church.
Drawing on Bishop Bernard Paul’s reminder, “No preparation, no celebration,” Fr Thomas stressed that preparation is necessary in every aspect of Christian life, including participation in Sunday Mass.
Liturgy, he reminded parishioners, is not merely something celebrated in church but must be reflected in the way Christians live.
He affirmed the goodwill and commitment of those present and encouraged them to continue serving the parish community.
The gathering concluded with prayer, a blessing and fellowship.
More than a follow-up to an annual assembly, the gathering reflected St Theresa parish’s continuing effort to make synodality a lived reality — where listening leads to understanding, discernment leads to action, and every parishioner recognises a shared responsibility for the Church’s mission.
