Celebrating the Gift of God’s Love

Archdiocesan Synod 2023

Archdiocesan Synod

In gratitude for the Archdiocese Synod of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Archbishop Hebda, has officially implemented a 3-year outline for all parishes to commit to.

Year 1 - Small Groups (July 2023 - June 2024)
Year 2 - The Mass (July 2024 - June 2025)
Year 3 - Parents as Primary Educators (July 2025 - June 2026)

 

In the fall of 2022, Father John created a Synod Evangelization Team (SET) for the parish and they are:

  • Jaci Bush
  • Nicole Fisch
  • Julie Moore
  • Deacon Rich Moore
  • Kim Roering
  • John Scanlon
  • Mary Weyandt

This team attended 7 weeks of training last winter and are now focused on how to implement small groups here at St. Pascal Baylon Church.

Many of you might have questions, so we have identified some FAQs below.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact: Jaci Bush, Kim Roering, or John Scanlon.

 

Small Groups - Year 1/St. Pascal Baylon Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Note:  These FAQs have been prepared by members of the Synod Evangelization Team (SET) at St. Pascal Baylon for the use and benefit of parish members and other interested persons as we continue our Synod journey and move forward to implement the Synod Priority of Small Groups for Year 1 (July 2023 – June 2024) in the parish.  The FAQs are based on information currently available to us and are current as of the revision date noted below.  FAQs may be adjusted and new FAQs added as new or updated information becomes available.

Question:  How may I join a Small Group for this Lent?

Answer:  Every adult parishioner is invited to join a Small Group by completing the Sign-up Form and Questionnaire available at the table in the Gathering Space after weekend Masses on January 6/7, 13/14, and 20/21, or from the parish office.  You may also download and print the form and questionnaire here.  Drop off your completed form at the parish office or the table in the Gathering Space after those weekend Masses.  Please return your completed form and questionnaire to the parish office or to a SET member at the table in the Gathering Space after weekend Masses no later than Sunday, January 21, 2024.

Question:  What will the Small Groups at St. Pascal’s be like this Lent?

Answer:  Groups of 6-10 members will meet weekly for 1-1/2 hours for the six weeks of Lent.  Each Small Group will be guided by a Small Group leader (and possibly a co-leader) from our parish who has been specially formed and trained for this role.  Each Small Group will have a common format or structure, which will include prayer, personal sharing, and teaching and content which will be prepared each week by Pastor Fr. John Mitchell, Deacon Rich Moore, and Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation Kim Roering.  The goal of each Small Group is to help its members grow in intimacy with the Lord, grow in love of one another, share Jesus with others in our daily lives by word and deed, give and receive support, deepen our identity as Catholic Christians, and, collectively, help make St. Pascal’s a stronger, vibrant faith-filled community.

Question:  Can you help me understand the structure of and how to fill out the Small Group Sign-up Form and Questionnaire?

Answer:  The document is divided into two parts:  the Sign-up Form on page 1 and the Questionnaire on pages 2 and 3. 

Sign-up Form.  If you wish to join a Small Group, please sign-up by providing your name and requested contact information (telephone number and e-mail address). 

Questionnaire.  The Questionnaire is a series of five questions which provide you with the opportunity to communicate certain preferences you may have for the Small Group in which you may be placed.  For example, if you wish, you may indicate your preference to be placed in a Small Group as an individual, or as a couple, or possibly as a group that you identify (subject to conditions stated in the Questionnaire).  You may indicate your preference about the general age of group members or an interest you have that may be shared by other group members in a particular subject or activity that is important to you.  You may also indicate a preference for the general time and day and location you would like your Small Group to meet.  You will indicate your preference to each of the five questions by ranking them in order (1 – 5) of importance to you.

Note:  Your preferences regarding Small Groups provided in the Questionnaire are important and we appreciate knowing about them.  The Pastor and the Synod Evangelization Team (SET) will carefully consider all responses provided in the Questionnaire.  Please understand, however, that our ability to accommodate preferences noted will depend on a variety of factors, including the number of Small Group Leaders we have, the number of people who wish to join a Small Group, the scheduling availability of Small Group Leaders, participants, and meeting locations, the alignment of preferences with other participants, direction and guidance we receive from the Archdiocese and our pastor, etc.  We may not be able to accommodate all preferences in this first year of Small Groups.  We appreciate your understanding and support. 

Question:  Who will the Small Group be composed of? 

Answer:  Each Small Group will be composed of 6-10 parishioners, including the Small Group Leader and possibly a co-leader.  Every effort will be made to accommodate a participant’s request to be placed in a group of individuals, couples, or an identified group (subject to conditions stated in the Questionnaire) and, if possible and depending on the importance a participant has indicated in the Questionnaire, with people who align with a stated age preference (if any) or share an interest in a given subject or activity.

Question:  Who decides who is going to be in a particular Small Group?

Answer:  For the launch of Small Groups at St. Pascal’s for Lent 2024, Fr. John Mitchell and the parish Synod Evangelization Team (SET) will be organizing the participants in each Small Group as best they can taking into account the individuals who have signed up to be in a Small Group and the preferences they indicated in their Questionnaires, and, as guided by the Spirit, with the overarching goal of forming each Small Group to have the greatest likelihood of being an enjoyable and fruitful experience.    

Question:  Do I have to sign-up as an individual in order to join a Small Group?  Or may I sign up as a couple or as a group?

Answer:  You are welcome to sign up as an individual or as a couple or as an identified group (of up to 6 people) and, if possible, we will try to accommodate the preference of those who wish to join as a couple or as an identified group.  Please note, however, we reserve the right to combine an identified group with other individuals or couples as necessary.

Question:  May I be in a Small Group with people close to my own age?

Answer:  Participants may indicate whether being in a Small Group with people close to their own age is important to them and, if possible, we will try to accommodate this preference.

Question:  May I be in a Small Group with people who share my interest in a particular subject or activity?

Answer:  Participants may indicate whether being in a Small Group with people who may share their interest in a particular subject or activity (e.g., social justice, the Mass, prayer ministry, evangelization, Bible study, faith sharing, sacramental preparation, etc.) is important to them, and, if possible, we will try to accommodate this preference.

Question:  When will Small Groups meet?

Answer:  Small Groups will meet once a week for 1-1/2 hours during each of the six weeks of Lent (February 14 – March 22).  We hope to have meeting times available weekday (Monday – Thursday) mornings and evenings and possibly Sunday mornings before the 10:30 a.m. Mass.  When a Small Group meets will be determined taking into account as best we can the preferences as to meeting day(s) and time(s) that participants have indicated in their Questionnaires.

Question:  Where will Small Groups meet?

Answer:  Small Groups will meet at St. Pascal’s and possibly other locations to be determined such as a parishioner’s home or other suitable location (e.g., the social room at a parishioner’s apartment building, townhouse, condominium, or senior residential facility).  Where a Small Group meets will be determined taking into account as best we can the preferences as to meeting location that participants have indicated in their Questionnaire.

Question:  What will the content of the Small Group meeting be like?

Answer:  For this initial experience of Small Groups at St. Pascal’s in Lent 2024, the content of the meeting will be the same for every Small Group.  A teaching and related discussion questions will be prepared each week by Pastor Fr. John Mitchell, Deacon Rich Moore, and Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation Kim Roering.  Fr. John has indicated that the content will focus on the weekly Sunday Scripture readings during Lent.  In addition to the same content, the Small Groups will also have a common format or structure, which will include prayer, personal sharing, and discussion.  Although using the same content and a common format or structure, the experience of Small Groups will be unique to each Small Group depending on the experience, interests, and openness of the participants in each Small Group and the Group’s collective willingness to be open to and guided by the Spirit.

Question:  What will happen to Small Groups at the end of Lent?

Answer:  Archbishop Hebda has made clear that his wish is for Small Groups to continue after Lent and into the future for every parish and parishioner.  We hope Small Groups will not solely be a Lenten exercise for participants.  We appreciate, however, that Small Groups in the form offered here are new to St. Pascal’s and that your commitment to join a Small Group is for Lent.  Following Lent, Fr. John Mitchell and the parish Synod Evangelization Team (SET) will review the Small Group experience at St. Pascal’s this Lent and assess whether Small Groups will continue and, if so, in what form in the future and, hopefully, with an eye towards fuller implementation of Small Groups in the parish.  We will likely be following up with Small Group leaders and members alike for their feedback on the Small Group experience to help us in this review and assessment.

 

Read more FAQs here:

Year 1 Synod Implementation FAQs

 

Read more about the Archdiocesan Synod