Quite Something

Last night I attended a listening session with [interim] Archbishop Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the purpose of which was to gather feedback from local Catholics to help inform Pope Francis' choice for our new archbishop.

Held at Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie, last night's listening session (part of an ongoing series) drew well over 300 people. It was quite something to hear so many lay Catholics speak their minds on the strengths of our local church, the biggest challenges we face moving forward, and the most important attributes/characteristics we want to see in our next archbishop.

And, of course, it was quite something to know that we were being listened to!

As I wrote in last month's e-newsletter of the Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (CCCR): "This is exactly the kind of communication process we've been hoping and working for, and we are grateful to the Archbishop and his staff. These listening sessions are our opportunity to step up and let our voices be heard about the type of leadership we want to see in our local church! Please do all you can to attend one of the listening sessions and encourage family and friends to do likewise."

For more about the purpose and significance of the archdiocese's ongoing series of listening sessions, and for a list of remaining sessions, click here.

For an account of my September 3 meeting with Archbishop Hebda, click here.


Related Off-site Links:
Twin Cities Catholics Get Rare Chance to Make Archbishop Recommendations to Vatican – Jean Hopfensperger (Star Tribune via The Progressive Catholic Voice, October 5, 2015).
Twin Cities Catholics Weigh In on New Archbishop – Madeleine Baran (MPR News, October 6, 2015).
CCCR Representatives Meet with Archbishop Hebda – The Progressive Catholic Voice (September 22, 2015).
Our Next Archbishop: What Would You Ask a Candidate If You Knew Your Voice Would Be Heard? – The Progressive Catholic Voice (July 30, 2015).
We Need a New Way of Choosing Bishops – Robert Mickens (National Catholic Reporter, June 22, 2015).

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Here Comes Everybody!
• Robert McClory's "Prophetic Work"
• The Holarchical Church: Not a Pyramid But a Web of Relationships
• The Call to be Dialogical Catholics
• What It Means to Be Catholic
• Rosemary Haughton and the "True Catholic Enterprise"