At convocation, pastoral council members reminded that listening is at the heart of ministry,

Jim Merhaut told 85 parish pastoral council members from the Diocese that effective planning requires listening to one another, the people they serve, and the Holy Spirit. During the 2026 Parish Pastoral Council Convocation held online on Sept. 26, Merhaut, the founder and director of Coaching to Connect, delivered a keynote talk titled “Listening that Leads to Mission: Strategic Spiritual Listening.”

The event was moved to an online format from its original in-person location at St. Veronica Parish in Howell due to a state of emergency. Participants used prayer, conversation, and dialogue to study how attentive listening helps uncover shared priorities and create practical strategies for parish life.

Merhaut stated that leaders who do not listen will fail to understand what parishioners are seeking and will be unable to meet their needs. He provided the participants with tools and action steps to share with their specific parish councils or ministries.