Dear Sisters and Brothers,

 

In any community of people, there are going to be many different perspectives - in fact, here are as many different perspectives as there are people. These many different viewpoints often make universal agreement i impossible. People are very often going to disagree on what the right thing is, and on how things should be done.

Difficulties in communication usually exacerbates the problem, as they not only do not fully agree, but struggle to explain exactly what they think or why they disagree. This can lead to people feeling like they are not heard or understood. When it seems like everyone else has a different perspective that just does not make sense to the individual, that person can feel isolated and even become upset. Or when one person is so focused on their own perspective and experience that they become blinded to the perspective of others, it can create divisions that are hard to overcome.

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As we continue through the All Things New process, I am frequently reminded of the many different perspectives that we have. For example, when I use this bulletin space to regularly give updates on All Things New and the changes that are happening, I get some people who tell me that they know it is important to be as transparent as possible on these things, but that they really wish we could get some “normal” articles. It is easy to become exhausted by all the information and the change, and nice to not focus so much on it for a while; to take the time to process those changes without continually adding new things on top of them. Then, when I have a few bulletin articles that do not mention All Things New at all, I invariably get people who will complain that we are not being clear enough in communicating the changes in the parish or acknowledging changes that have happened or that might be coming soon.

 

I know there is no way to please everyone all the time, and that communication is always difficult, but one of the ways we try to respect each other is by trying to recognize other people’s perspectives. When people share things with me, I try to understand their point of view and the principle(s) behind it. This is not easy (and is often hampered by limitations of communication), but it helps me to not get so caught up in my own perspective and end up ignoring what others are saying or thinking. I am not claiming to be good at this skill, but I do try and am willing to adjust things. I also encourage everyone else to try to exercise this skill and understand others’ perspectives, even if you might disagree with them. It might help make true connections with the other person and we might better listen to one other and respect each other. Perhaps writing this article itself might help explain my thought process on some of these issues, and help you understand my perspective a little better.

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The bulletin article contents are just one small example, but there are so many other decisions that need to be made - from Faith Formation to Mass times to the liturgy itself. There are going to be many different perspectives and preferences on all these things, but at the end of the day some decision has to be made that will inevitably exclude certain options that people preferred. I try to get feedback from parishioners on what people are thinking (this is part of the point of a Pastoral Council) and use that as a factor in making decisions. If a strong majority of people feel a certain way, that carries a lot of weight in the process. But there are many other factors that need to be considered as well, and at the end of the day the Church is not a democracy. We believe that bishops (and their priests in union with them) are given specific graces in ordination to be shepherds of the flock and govern the people. This does not prevent them from making mistakes, but it can help us trust that God can work through that grace for the greater good – even when they are imperfect or make bad choices. Keep praying for one another and for our parish, that God send his Spirit in abundance on us all.

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Peace in Christ,

Fr. Timothy