Deep listening has become a familiar and valued practice across the Diocese of Parramatta, and at St Thomas Aquinas Parish, Springwood, it’s now taking even deeper root.
As part of their efforts to shape a new Parish Pastoral Plan, the parish’s Pastoral Council and parish administrator, Fr Chris del Rosario, invited the parish community to a series of ‘Listening Sessions’ – intentional spaces for prayerful dialogue, discernment, and shared hope.
Prompted by the broader diocesan movement toward synodality, these weren’t information nights or feedback forums – they were encounters built on trust, silence, dialogue, and the belief that the Spirit speaks through the People of God.
“We were inspired by similar initiatives in the Diocese of Parramatta,” explained Brandon Scott, Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council.
“We saw the Listening Sessions as an opportunity not only to gather feedback but to truly engage with our parish community,” he said.
“Our goal was to create a space where parishioners could share their hopes, experiences, concerns and insights that would form the foundation of our parish plan. These sessions were about more than consultation; they were about connection and co-creation.”
Parish Administrator, Fr Chris del Rosario, greeting his community after Mass. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
Grounded in the Diocesan Pastoral Plan
Held one week apart to maximise participation, the sessions were grounded in formation on the three pillars of a synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.
Alison Ryan from the Mission Enhancement Team facilitated the sessions, as parishioners reflected on two key themes from the Diocesan Pastoral Plan already discerned by the parish council – ‘An Inclusive and Welcoming Church’ and ‘A Church Renewed in Spirit and Prayer’. In small groups, participants reflected on their hopes, their experience of parish life, and what was needed to grow.
Brandon said, for the parish, a strong and recurring theme was the deep desire for community across all generations.
“Older parishioners often reflected on a time when the parish felt more tightly knit, while younger members expressed a longing to find and build a sense of belonging,” he said.
“What was most powerful was the realisation, through open dialogue, that this shared yearning could be met by recognising each other as part of the same community.”
The 2024-2028 Diocesan Pastoral Plan for a Synodal Church. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta.
A moving experience
Participants were invited not just to speak, but to listen to one another and to the Spirit. It was in this shared silence and story that something began to shift.
Virginia Fortunat, a parishioner of 15 years and member of the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) Mission Team, described her experience of the Listening Sessions as “deeply moving”.
“What stood out most was the raw honesty of people I barely knew – sharing their longings, hurts, and hopes for a Church that walks with them.”
Virginia shared how many voiced a “hunger for spiritual nourishment” that went beyond simply attending Mass.
“They yearn for a faith experience that connects with their everyday lives and struggles,” she said.
“By creating space for everyone to reflect deeply, speak without interruption or judgement, the facilitation modelled the kind of deep listening Pope Francis invited us into – a listening that does not seek to respond, but to understand.”
St Thomas Aquinas Church, Springwood. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
A Parish growing together
The fruit of the Listening Sessions is being felt. The reflections shared are forming the foundation of the new Parish Pastoral Plan.
“These Listening Sessions provided clarity on the values and priorities that matter most to our community – belonging, participation, and spiritual growth,” Brandon said.
“The feedback helped us identify key focus areas and ensured that our planning is grounded in the lived experiences and aspirations of our parishioners.”
The sessions were not merely about planning for the future – they revealed a deeper movement unfolding.
“I witnessed hope in the courage of people naming their spiritual thirst and in the growing awareness that renewal won’t come through quick fixes, but through honest encounter and accompaniment,” Virginia said.
“There was hope in the recognition that ‘Church’ is not confined to the walls of a building, but is alive wherever people are seen, heard, and loved.”
If you or your parish, deanery, agency or community has a question about the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, contact Mike at mike.schembri@parracatholic.org.
