Themes of listening and synodality resonate in diocesan Adult Faith presentations

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

Listening was the theme of the first Adult Faith Awaken series of 2026, recently held in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.

The four-week faith formation series explored the foundational elements of listening to others, the role of deep and intentional listening in evangelization and in living as a synodal Church, as well as the importance of listening in the context of one’s relationship with the Lord, described diocesan Adult Faith coordinator Astrid Alas.

The listening theme has continued in the diocese of Saskatoon with the diocesan Spring Congress “Speak Lord, Your Servant is Listening” circuit scheduled in three locations this spring. Diocesan ministry leaders are addressing themes of listening and synodality in the Congress presentations held March 11 in Saskatoon, April 18 in Watson, and April 25 in Kindersley.

Effective active listening

The Awaken series held earlier this year at the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Saskatoon opened with Director of Ministry Services Marilyn Jackson introducing the concept of listening with a lively presentation that revealed the profound impact that effective, active listening has on relationships.

Marilyn Jackson, diocesan Director of Ministry Services, presented the first session in the Awaken series Jan. 27. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Jackson explored the vital importance of feeling heard and how the art of active listening can lead to healing, placing the discussion in a reflection on how Jesus listens to the dismayed disciples on the Road to Emmaus.

The “art of accompaniment” encouraged in Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium “The Joy of the Gospel” is grounded in the art of respectful, loving listening, she added. It is a necessary first step and ongoing posture that opens hearts to the saving message of the “Kerygma” – redemption through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“In a culture paradoxically suffering from anonymity and at the same time obsessed with the details of other people’s lives… the Church must look more closely and sympathetically at others whenever necessary. In our world, ordained ministers and other pastoral workers can make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze. The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious, laity – into this “art of accompaniment”, which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (cf. Ex 3:5)” – Evangelii Gaudium #169

Awaken participants engage in a practical listening exercise to open the adult faith series. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Levels of listening

Sr. Marta Piano of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity continued the series Feb. 3, 2026, with a presentation on the “Four Levels of Listening.”

She explained how an open mind, an open heart, and an open will are needed to move towards “generative listening” – the level of listening at which we move beyond the automatic, the factual and even the empathic to come to new connections and new realizations about oneself and others. It is a level of listening that requires conscious effort and concrete steps to pay attention to what is being said, what lies behind the words, and what effect all of that is having on you, the listener.

Sr. Marta Piano of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity (left) explored four levels of listening, introduced by diocesan Adult Faith coordinator Astrid Alas. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

The enemies of listening are inner voices of judgment, cynicism, and fear, Piano said. “Overcoming these enemies requires recognizing these voices, rather than suppressing them, and actively engaging in suspending (judgment), redirecting, and letting go” to move to a place of deeper awareness and understanding.

“Open the eyes of your mind, open the ears of your heart, open the hands of your will and we will dance with God in all our relations,” she shared.

Listening to God in scripture and prayer

This was followed by a presentation on “Listening to God in Scripture and Adoration” with Fr. Daniel Yasinski, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Saskatoon.

Yasinski walked through the many ways that listening is encouraged, cited, and modelled in scripture. He then led participants on new paths for listening to God in prayer and adoration.

Fr. Daniel Yasinski, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Saskatoon, led a session on listening to God in scripture and adoration. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

A mark of synodality

Fr. Joseph Salihu, pastor at Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon and chair of the Diocesan Synod Committee, concluded the Awaken series Feb. 17, 2026, reflecting on pathways to becoming a “Missionary Synodal Church” grounded in listening – to each other, to those on the margins, and most importantly, to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Noting that the meaning of the word synodality is “together on the way,” Salihu said this is the nature of the Church.

“The synod is not a program, it is a way of being. It is meant to help us appreciate one another and our dreams and aspirations, and to provide ways to heal, enabling us to become stronger missionary communities eager to spread the gospel,” he said, describing the fundamental synodal themes of communion, participation, and mission.

Fr. Joseph Salihu, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Saskatoon and chair of the Diocesan Synod Committee with diocesan Adult Faith Coordinator Astrid Alas. (Submitted photo)

The four marks of synodality are “relating, listening, discernment, and self-emptying,” said Sailhu.

“Listening is central to the synodal process and fundamental to relational conversion. We listen to God and to the marginalized to discern God’s will,” he said. “Listening is more than hearing. It is a reciprocal process that underscores the reality that everyone has something to learn.”

He added: “Listening to the laity as much as to the clergy is a way of acknowledging that they exercise a special charism among Christ’s faithful.”

At the same time, Salihu stressed that “It is, however, important to realize that one must ultimately listen to the Holy Spirit. Some perspectives may be practical, but may not conform to the truth that Jesus reveals.” This is precisely why synodality includes discernment – a discernment that calls for “humility, openness to the Spirit, and ongoing conversion.”

He cited the Synod on Synodality final document, saying: “Discernment comprises a threefold practice: ecclesial discernment, decision-making processes, and a culture of transparency, accountability, and evaluation (FD, 11). The process must be rooted in the principles of the gospel.”

Salihu also expressed the hope that synodality can be the reality of how we are church together. “Synodality is a way of being Church that brings together the fundamental elements of our faith life: communion, the foundation of our spiritual life; participation, the path we are invited to travel; and mission, the goal of our journey.”

Photos

Session one of the Art of Listening Awaken series — entitled “Hearts Unlocked” — was held Jan. 27, 2026, led by Marilyn Jackson, diocesan Director of Ministry Services. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Adult Faith Coordinator Astrid Alas introduces the first session of the Awaken series held at the Catholic Pastoral Centre resource library in Saskatoon. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

An exercise in listening was part of the first session of the Awaken series. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Different Levels of Listening was the second session in the Awaken series, presented by Sr. Marta Piano of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity. (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Fr. Daniel Yasinski presented the third session on listening to God in scripture and prayer, introduced by diocesan Adult Faith Coordinator Astrid Alas (right). (Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

(Photo by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News)

Fr. Joseph Salihu, chair of the Diocesan Synod Committee led the final session of the Adult Faith series, exploring the call to synodality in the Church. (Photo by Astrid Alas)

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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca.

Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa.