Year 2: Synodal Summit
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In June 2023, we held our first diocesan-wide Synodal Summit at St. Ambrose University, starting our year-long focus on welcoming and belonging.
On June 22, 2024 we gathered for our second diocesan-wide Synodal Summit at St. Patrick Church in Iowa City to commence our second year in continuing this synodal process, focusing on youth and family engagement.Find recordings from the three Summit video sessions below!
Prior to the summit, each parish and school was asked to identify representatives from their community to attend .
On May 9, 2024, these representatives participated in a
pre-summit Zoom session with our speaker, Denise Utter.
You can watch the recording here or click on the link below.
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Denise Utter
Denise Utter is a speaker, coach, and writer. She loves working with church leaders and their teams exploring new possibilities in faith formation and parish engagement. Her experience at both parish and diocesan levels shapes her work as a coach/consultant for faith-based non-profit agencies like Lifelong Faith Associates and Vibrant Faith, and publishers like Our Sunday Visitor and Twenty Third Publications.
Denise is the author of Engage Every Family: A Parish Guide to Integrated Faith Formation and the parent booklet Faith Talks, Prayers, and Easy Activities for Raising Catholic Kids (both from Twenty-Third Publications). Previous publications include articles for Vibrant Faith online, Catechetical Leader, Catechist Magazine, and Take Out: Our Faith on the Go! (OSV).
Denise has embraced her vocation for over 30 years, having a B.S. in Education and a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Denise lives in Chicago with Rob, her husband of over thirty years; they have three adult children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and a beautiful two-year old grandson.
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Pre-Summit Session Recording - May 9, 2024
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Recordings from the Synodal Summit - June 22, 2024
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Session 1
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Session 2
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Session 3
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Post-Summit Zoom Session Recordings
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Session 1: It All Starts with Listening
Session 1 – August 29, 2024
Click below to watch:
It All Starts with Listening (Empathy in Action)
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Session 2: Minding the Gap
Session 2 - November 21, 2024
Minding the Gap (Going from Listening to Vision-Storming)
Click below to watch:
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Session 3:Session 3 – February 20, 2025
Idea Factory (Unleashing Creative Possibilities)
Click below to watch:
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Session 4:Session 4 – May 8, 2025
From Concept to Reality (Impacting Engagement)
Click below to watch:
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Recommendations for Identifying Representatives
Please identify 3 individuals from your parish or school for a one-year commitment (e.g. 3 from parish and 3 from school if applicable):
(1) a parish/school staff person (for example, clergy, DRE, Youth Minister, Principal, Campus Minister, etc.) who has both the skills and authority to move projects along;
(2) a parent or grandparent who is passionate about ministry to families and young people; and
(3) someone who relates to and understands youth well.
Please consider a balance in age (we strongly encourage at least one rep to be younger than 35), a balance in men and women, and cultural diversity. Cluster parishes may want to collaborate and share reps.In their heart of hearts, it is important that reps are passionate about engaging the families and young people in our parishes and schools. Skills like active listening, collaboration, creativity, and organization would be useful.
To submit the names of your representatives - Click here!
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Role of the Representative
The Diocese will provide guidance, tools, and support along the way.
(1) Over the course of the next year, the reps will work with your parish/school team to identify areas of need regarding ministry to families and youth, and develop a parish/school action plan to address those needs. They will also work with other parish teams across your deanery in the hope of planning a deanery-wide network for resource sharing and event planning.
(2) Prepare for the June Synodal Summit by:-
Taking part in one diocese-wide Zoom meeting on May 9th at 7pm
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Holding a parish/school team meeting using resources from the diocesan meet-up
(3) Actively participate in the June 22nd Synodal Summit at St. Patrick Church in Iowa City, 10am -4pm
(4) Take part in periodic diocese-wide and deanery-wide check-in and formation meetings via Zoom
(5) Regular parish/school visioning and check-in meetings with:-
Clergy
- Parish council/school board
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Any Questions?
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Marianne Agnoliagnolimdavenportdiocese.orgMarriage & Family Life Coordinator
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