In top photo, Jim Merhaut presents his keynote talk during the Sept. 26 online Convocation for Parish Pastoral Council members.
By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
Effective pastoral planning begins with listening – to one another, to the people parishes serve and to the Holy Spirit.
That was the central message shared with 85 women and men from parishes throughout the Diocese who participated in the 2026 Parish Pastoral Council Convocation Sept. 26.
The convocation, hosted by the diocesan Office of Parish Life and Mission, was originally scheduled to take place in person at St. Veronica Parish, Howell, but was moved online because of the state of emergency.
In his keynote address, “Listening that Leads to Mission: Strategic Spiritual Listening,” Jim Merhaut explored the connection between attentive listening, spiritual discernment and effective ministry.
Through prayer, conversation and collaborative dialogue, Merhaut guided participants in considering how intentional listening can foster greater understanding, identify shared priorities and lead to practical strategies for parish life. Participants also received tools and action steps to bring back to their parish pastoral councils and ministries.
“If those in leadership positions in their parishes don’t listen, they won’t know what other people in the parish are seeking,” said Merhaut, founder and director of Coaching to Connect. “You will not be able to serve them in the way that can help meet their needs.”
When leaders make space for parishioners to speak openly and prayerfully about their hopes, concerns and experiences, Merhaut said, leadership becomes less about assuming what people need and more about discerning those needs with them.
Such an approach also can strengthen participation, he added. Parishioners who feel heard and valued may be more likely to see themselves not simply as recipients of parish services but as active participants in the Church’s mission.
Serving with Compassion
The 2026 Parish Pastoral Council Convocation, the fourth such gathering in the Diocese, provides “an important opportunity for parish pastoral council members from across the Diocese to come together in prayer, formation and fellowship,” said Denise Contino, executive director of the diocesan Office of Parish Life and Mission.
“It also allows them to deepen their understanding of their leadership role and to be renewed in their commitment to serving their parish communities,” she said.
Just as importantly, Contino said, the gathering enables council members to share ideas, learn from one another’s experiences and build connections with others engaged in the same ministry.
“Working collaboratively with their pastors, pastoral council members assist in shaping parish efforts in evangelization, catechesis, pastoral care and outreach to the broader community,” Contino said. “By bringing together the gifts, experiences and perspectives of parishioners, councils can help foster a shared vision and support their parishes in moving forward in their mission to proclaim the Gospel and serve God’s people.”
Merhaut emphasized that effective listening requires empathy and a culture of dialogue. He encouraged council members to move beyond simply hearing concerns and instead listen in ways that seek to understand the experiences, hopes and challenges of parishioners.
By cultivating those skills, pastoral councils can strengthen their planning and help ensure that parish priorities and initiatives reflect the needs of the people they serve, Merhaut said, reiterating that attentive listening is an essential part of building welcoming, collaborative and mission-focused parish communities.
“Parishioners assist leaders by sharing their deepest values, hopes and concerns,” Merhaut said, “and leaders draw from the gathered wisdom to develop ministry strategies that directly impact what matters most to parishioners.”
“The result is parishioners feel heard, understood and served,” Merhaut said. “They also feel empowered to participate and become more authentic disciples and servants in their own right.”
Power of listening
Yanci Merkel, a new parish pastoral council member and youth ministry leader in St. William the Abbot Parish, Howell, appreciated learning more about the importance of silence and listening along with the emphasis on approaching council work with an open mind, honesty and a humble heart.
“The structured power of listening, reflecting quietly and evaluating together ensures genuine alignment before taking action,” Merkel said. “This will help to work on the foundation to support the vision and mission of a parish.”
Mark Bonjavanni, a pastoral council member in St. Veronica Parish, said he believes councils have a responsibility not only to support the pastor but also to represent the parish community.
“We need to be out there, meeting with the members of our community and helping to determine the activities that make the Church vibrant to keep members active,” Bonjavanni said, and that means putting Merhaut’s message about active listening into practice by taking time to hear what parishioners believe will help keep families engaged.
“Once you listen to the voices, you can then help develop the activities that will keep them as active members of your community,” he said.
Bonjavanni added that effective leadership requires council members to set aside their own ideas and simply listen.
“Sometimes this requires us to be silent, to actively listen, instead of just coming up with our own ideas,” he said.
This photo shows a screenshot of the 2026 Diocesan Pastoral Council Convocation which was held online Sept. 26. The day’s keynote presenter was Jim Merhaut, shown top row, third from left. Courtesy photo