Listening at the heart of pastoral planning parish leaders told

Jim Merhaut told 85 parish leaders that effective pastoral planning requires listening to one another, the people served by parishes, and the Holy Spirit. He shared this message during the 2026 Parish Pastoral Council Convocation held online on Sept. 26.

The diocesan Office of Parish Life and Mission hosted the event, which was moved from an in-person meeting at St. Veronica Parish in Howell to an online format due to a state of emergency. In his keynote address, Merhaut, the founder and director of Coaching to Connect, discussed how attentive listening and spiritual discernment connect to effective ministry. He suggested that leaders who do not listen will fail to understand what parishioners are seeking or how to meet their needs.

Merhaut guided participants through prayer, conversation, and collaborative dialogue to help them identify shared priorities and practical strategies for parish life. The session provided council members and ministry leaders with tools and action steps to use within their own local communities.