By Jennifer A. Gutierrez
President, JAG Consulting
Pope Francis said, “Let us ask: In the church, are we good at listening? How good is the hearing of our heart? Do we allow people to express themselves, to walk in faith even though they have had difficulties in life, and to be part of the life of the community without being hindered, rejected, or judged? Let us not soundproof our hearts.”
This is what the Diocese of Lincoln Jubilee Sessions were all about. More than words, they provided an opportunity for the diocesan faithful to share their experiences, their joys and their struggles as sons and daughters of Christ in the Catholic Church here at home.
In alignment with the 2025 Jubilee Year, Bishop James Conley invited the people of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln to participate in a first-time listening session experience in the spring of 2025. This synodal approach was designed to provide a way for the bishop to learn what the diocesan faithful think about an array of topics, and to use that information to shape a diocesan-wide vision, mission, and a plan for our faith and our future.
Listening sessions were conducted with laity, diocesan staff, pastors, and women religious. Beginning in January, all diocesan faithful were invited to participate in the sessions (February through April) through monthly promotional articles and photo stories in the Southern Nebraska Register and on social media, weekly print registration advertisements and social media promotional posts, including a video of invitation by Bishop Conley, digital registration advertisements distributed weekly to all parishes for insertion into their bulletins and Mass announcements, and more.
I facilitated 13 listening sessions with people from across the diocese. These included seven virtual laity sessions, two virtual pastor sessions, one virtual session with women religious, and in-person sessions with Bishop Conley’s Mission Leadership Team, the Diocesan Pastoral Council, and the Chancery and Pope Saint John XXIII staff. I also collaborated with Hispanic Ministry to provide participation opportunities for Spanish-speaking, limited-English-proficient laity. A brief online comment form (in both English and Spanish) was also made available.
Almost 300 diocesan faithful accepted the invitation to participate in the Jubilee Listening Session experience.
So, what did we hear? Listening session participants from across the diocese highlighted five key diocesan strengths. They were: 1) Strong Vocations; 2) Catholic Schools; 3) Evangelization of High School and College Youth; 4) Orthodoxy and Reverence; and 5) Ministry, Mission, and Community Outreach.
Following the discussion of local and diocesan strengths, listening session participants were asked questions about what they believed were the most pressing challenges of the diocese. They said the greatest challenges were: 1) Well-Being, Support and Ongoing Training of Priests; 2) Sustaining the Catholic Schools; 3) Adult Evangelization and Formation; 4) Communication, Transparency and Accountability; and 5) Rural Inclusion and Engagement. Two additional challenge “subthemes” were Diocesan Physical Infrastructure and Women in the Church.
What was most interesting to me was that the challenges in some cases were the “alter egos” of what were noted as the diocese’s greatest strengths. As a long-time consultant and strategic planner, this is not unusual. Over the last 30 years, I’ve seen clients work hard to thrive in a particular area of their diocese or organization or business. But with this success can come a whole new set of challenges and opportunities.
With advice and counsel from his leadership team, Bishop Conley invited a group of priests, religious and laity from across the diocese to create the plan. From McCook to Nebraska City to Shelby to Lincoln, this team will not only help to build the plan in September, but the team members have committed to working together with you to move the plan forward the first year and most importantly, communicate and connect with all of you to ensure that guided by the Holy Spirit, we are going in the right direction. The five-year plan will be completed in the fall with a pastoral letter from Bishop Conley to follow. A first-year action plan will then be developed in November with a focus upon topline pastoral priorities to be implemented the first year. It will launch in early 2026, guided by the leadership of the planning team in partnership with all of us.
Thank you for your ongoing prayers. And remember to take some time to discern how you are being called to use your beautiful gifts for your parish and our diocese. I cannot wait to see what God has planned for us!
Strategic Planning Committe Members
Very Rev. Thomas Brouillette, V.G. Vicar General, Diocese of Lincoln
Dr. Daniel DeFreece, St. Mary Parish, Nebraska City
Dennis Kellogg, Director of Communications, Diocese of Lincoln
Rev. Leo Kosch, Pastor, St. Joseph, Beatrice
Sr. Joy Le, M.S., Marian Sister
Tracy Lockwood, Chief Financial Officer, Diocese of Lincoln
M. Margaret Mary, C.K. Mother Superior, Christ the King Sisters
Daniel Oldenberg, St. Teresa Parish, Lincoln
Alexandra Rodriguez, St. Michael Parish, Hastings
Rev. Christopher Stoley, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Crete
Rev. Lawrence Stoley, Superintendent, Diocese of Lincoln
Very Rev. John Sullivan, V.F. Pastor, St. Joseph, York
Rachael Tvrdy, Family Life Office Director, Diocese of Lincoln
Maru Whitmore, Sacred Heart Parish, Shelby
Sean Wolfe St. Patrick Parish, McCook
