Parish listening sessions begin next week in archdiocese's restructuring process

From April to June, each parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit to host two listening sessions to discuss future pastorate models

DETROIT — Catholics across the Archdiocese of Detroit are being invited to offer their input during two public listening sessions at each parish this spring as part of the next step in the archdiocese’s restructuring process.

Every parish in the six-county archdiocese will host two sessions, where parishioners can offer their input and feedback on the pastorate models that archdiocesan priests and leaders have been crafting since January. 

The listening sessions, which begin next week and will conclude in mid-June, are part of the Church’s commitment to transparency and collaboration as the restructuring process unfolds, said Fr. Mario Amore, executive director of the archdiocese’s Department of Parish Renewal.

“These listening sessions are intended to gather feedback from parishioners about potential pastorate models that include their parish,” Fr. Amore said in a series of YouTube videos explaining the process. “Feedback during these listening sessions will be shared with the Core Planning Team, the Archdiocesan Restructuring Commission and with Archbishop (Edward J.) Weisenburger.”

Parishioners are encouraged to visit the Archdiocese of Detroit’s restructuring website to register for their parish’s listening session. Two sessions are offered at each parish for convenience, but the material will be the same at both sessions.

Priests of the Archdiocese of Detroit examine proposals for new pastorate models during a meeting at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in March. The models to be presented to parishioners during the listening sessions were developed by priests of the archdiocese in consultation with the Department of Parish Renewal.

Parishioners not able to attend either session, and those who need more time to review the models, will still have the opportunity to give feedback through an online survey that will be made available after each planning area has completed its listening sessions, Fr. Amore said.

“Everyone in the archdiocese has the opportunity to attend one listening session at their parish and the chance to fill out the online survey, if they choose,” Fr. Amore said. “Some people may choose to only do one option or neither, but that is up to them."

Each parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit has been temporarily grouped into a geographic “planning area,” set up for the purposes of examining potential pastorate models. 

Fr. Amore said parishioners are encouraged to attend the listening session at their home parish, even if the feedback they share involves multiple parishes.

“It is not necessary to attend a session at another parish, even if the parishes are closely connected,” Fr. Amore said. “If someone has feedback about another parish, whether they are in the given planning area or not, that can be shared at the listening session they attend.”

A list of frequently asked questions can be found on the archdiocese’s restructuring website, along with a listing of each of the 15 geographic planning areas.

The webpage also contains “parish workbooks” for each parish, comprehensive documents — compiled over the past several months by members of the archdiocese’s Department of Parish Renewal — sharing important historical, demographic, financial and sacramental data and trends at the parish, planning area, and archdiocesan levels.

Priests discuss the archdiocesan restructuring process March 3 at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Parishioners are invited to attend the listening session at their home parish, and can register at restructuring.aod.org. (Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic)

The workbooks are meant to give everyone who attends the listening sessions a glimpse into some of the realities driving the restructuring process, Fr. Amore said.

“Every parish in the Archdiocese of Detroit will experience change in some way as a result of this process,” Fr. Amore said. “The feedback we’re asking for now is, which of the proposed changes would better serve the people of God?” 

In addition to the models presented at the listening sessions, parishioners will also have the opportunity to suggest alternative pastorate models involving their parish, Fr. Amore said.

Each listening session will be led by a volunteer facilitator who will explain the process, outline several pastorate model options, and collect reactions and feedback for further refinement of the models, Fr. Amore said.

“Remember, the models shown at the listening session are not final decisions,” Fr. Amore emphasized. “They are a starting point to begin conversations and solicit the input of the lay faithful to better inform Archbishop Weisenburger’s discernment process. To support this process, you can share feedback on what works or does not work in a given model, provide additional context about your community, or make a note of collaboration points between parishes. Contextual notes about your parish have also been shared in the parish workbooks.”

In addition to parish listening sessions, the archdiocesan curia (the Central Services office for the Archdiocese of Detroit) will host its own listening session.

Once the sessions are completed, the data points and feedback will be aggregated, and the pastorate models will be adjusted before being presented to Archbishop Weisenburger for consideration.

After the listening sessions are completed in June, the models will continue to be refined and shaped based on the feedback received. Revised models will be made available this fall for final feedback from priests and key parish leaders before being presented to Archbishop Weisenburger. (Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic)

There will be no way to virtually attend the listening sessions, but parishioners can still offer feedback on the pastorate models after the listening sessions are completed.

“Once all the parishes in your planning area have completed their listening sessions, an online survey will be made available on the restructuring website where all members of the lay faithful can review the models again and submit feedback, even if they were unable to attend a listening session in person,” Fr. Amore said. 

The survey will be shared with everyone who attends a listening session, as well as being made publicly available at restructuring.aod.org.

“So even if you attend the listening session, if you get home and realize you have more feedback to share, you will have the opportunity, within a few weeks of your listening session, to respond to the online survey,” Fr. Amore said.

After the listening sessions are completed in June, the models will continue to be refined and shaped based on the feedback received. 

Revised models will be made available this fall for final feedback from priests and key parish leaders before being presented to Archbishop Weisenburger. The archbishop is expected to announce new pastorates and priest assignments in the spring of 2027.

“Every comment shared through listening sessions, the online survey, and other avenues, will be read and prayerfully considered,” Fr. Amore said. “From there, we will identify common themes and shared experiences from the people of the archdiocese.

“Listening is one important part of a broader discernment that includes practical information such as Mass attendance, demographic trends, priest availability and parish finances,” Fr. Amore added. “Listening helps deepen understanding and guide wise pastoral judgment, but it is not a vote or a mandate; decisions about future parish structures and collaboration will be made through prayerful discernment by the archbishop, informed by the full picture of parish life across the Archdiocese of Detroit.”