On December 9, 1531, Juan Diego was walking to catechism class in modern day Mexico City, when an encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill changed his life — and the lives of millions of others — forever.  

Such encounters that lead to authentic transformation are at the heart of Bishop John Dolan’s historic seven-year pastoral plan on evangelization, TILMA — Testifica, oh Iglesia, a la Luz del Misterio del Amor (Testify, O Church, to the Light of the Mystery of Love).  

This year, the pastoral plan emphasizes the sacred journey of life and the transformative encounters with Christ that take place within the sacramental life of the Church. To understand the faithful’s experiences of approaching the sacraments — both positive and negative — and to make sacramental encounters with Christ as approachable as possible, the diocese is hosting a series of listening sessions on the sacraments throughout the diocese beginning Aug. 21. 

Fr. Chuck Kieffer, vicar for Synodality and Planning, and Pat Markey, director of Mission Integration and Leadership Development, are spearheading the process. The 10 listening sessions invite participation from those who have received the sacraments, are preparing for sacraments or have accompanied someone in the sacramental preparation process.  

Fr. Kieffer emphasized Bishop Dolan’s desire to reach out to all members of the diocesan community, sharing, “the bishop wants to find out how [people] understand the sacraments changing them personally and empowering them to go out and transform the world and evangelize. 

“One of the key questions we want to determine from people is how have they felt welcomed, or not welcomed, when they approached the Church for sacraments.”  

Trained facilitators will lead the listening sessions using a model of group discernment called “conversation in the Spirit.” Facilitators and note-takers will compile the insights from the listening sessions and send them to the diocese for review and discernment.  

“It’s a prayer-based conversation. Every session begins in prayer, invoking the Holy Spirit,” said Markey. “There’s a lot of focus on silence before anybody says anything, followed by deep and profound listening. 

“The bishop really wants to know what people are experiencing when they go to receive the sacraments and what that’s doing in their lives,” Markey added.  

A committee, composed of diocesan employees and priests, is assisting Fr. Kieffer and Markey in the planning of the listening sessions. Fr. Fernando Camou, who serves as the director of the Office of Worship in the diocese, sits on the committee. He has expertise in sacramental theology due to his recent studies in Rome.  

“Sacraments, in reality, are firstly visible, tangible signs that give the invisible grace they symbolize,” Fr. Camou stated. “We believe Jesus left us those sacraments for real connection with us.”  

Fr. Camou highlighted the importance of participation in the listening session, observing, “if the Church is a family, in the truest sense that we have one heavenly Father, then the most influential thing in the Church is for that family to talk to each other.”  

Mary Permoda, the director of Mental Health Ministry, also serves on the planning committee. She has experience in the practice of conversation in the Spirit, having assisted in over 500 sessions at St. Patrick Catholic Community in Scottsdale, Ariz.  

Like Fr. Camou, she encourages people to attend, including those who received the sacraments of initiation as adults.  

“We need to hear from the faithful,” Permoda said. “How are we bringing people to the sacraments and helping people live them out? Parents bring in the young ones,” she continued, “but there are adults coming to baptism as well. If you’ve just been baptized, how is that sacrament coming alive in you?”  

Insights, experiences and suggestions gathered during the listening sessions will be assessed and discerned to help shape sacramental formation processes and renew the diocese’s approach to accompaniment.  

Fr. Camou hopes people will come to share their experiences of approaching the sacraments — good and bad.  

“Everyone and anyone is welcomed, especially people who have something to say about their experience with the sacraments,” Fr. Camou stated. “We hope that they will come so that we can hear them out.”  

For more information on the sacramental listening sessions, including what to expect, where the sessions will take place and how to find a listening session near you, click here. 

Below, tune in to a conversation about the listening sessions with Bishop Dolan, Fr. Kieffer and Markey: