Father Mike Snyder, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Davenport, speaks to the congregation during a Teaching Mass event earlier this year.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
Just hours after watching her longtime friend “Father Bob” make his first public appearance as Pope Leo XIV on May 8, Chicago-based speaker and educator Denise Utter logged onto Zoom to lead the Diocese of Davenport’s final Youth and Family Engagement webinar. She hadn’t planned to travel to Rome to await the announcement of a new pope, but had a strong feeling before the conclave that she needed to go and support her fellow Augustinian. “It still feels surreal. I’m still shaking,” the Augustinian affiliate told webinar participants. “I’m excited, I’m excited for all of us.”
The Davenport Diocese is on a three-year journey to explore priorities identified in the Diocesan Synod listening sessions in 2022. The focus of year two, which began last summer, is youth and family engagement. Utter spoke at the year two kick-off summit and led four follow-up sessions via Zoom.
Transitioning to the final follow-up session topic, “From Concept to Reality: Impacting Engagement,” Utter acknowledged the work of parishes in listening and responding to the needs of families over the past year. “(You) have been active in working to engage youths and families in new ways.”
John Cooper of St. Anthony Parish-Davenport said he is grateful for the success of the parish’s new monthly program for parents. New lay leaders have emerged to speak on various topics. He had planned to offer separate presentations for English- and Spanish-speakers, but instead offered a bilingual program, which worked out well. Utter affirmed the decision, observing that communities appreciate being able to do things together.
Jammie Jamison of Our Lady of Victory Parish-Davenport said it was a challenge to get parents to open up about their concerns and needs but those who did offered valuable insights. Parents shared that they felt their knowledge of the faith was lacking. In response, the parish began hosting guest speakers on a variety of topics after Mass, with good attendance.
Several parishes expressed challenges with listening session participation, including St. Joseph Parish in DeWitt. However, the parish is seeing efforts pay off pertaining to the first year’s synod focus, Welcoming and Belonging, catechist Blake Hasenmiller said. The gathering space used to empty quickly after Mass but now people stick around and spend time in conversation. Utter encouraged webinar participants to celebrate the short-term victories and to stay focused on the “long game.”
Ana de la Torre, religious education director for St. Patrick and St. Mary of the Visitation parishes in Ottumwa, said Hispanic families tend to prioritize sacramental prep and are less likely to register their children for religious education in the years between first Communion and confirmation. The parish, which has a large, Spanish-speaking population, is working to change that trend through family formation nights and encouragement from Pastor Father Joseph Sia.
Kelley Tansey said her parish, St. Alphonsus in Mount Pleasant, is experimenting with a family faith formation program and making tweaks based on feedback. She believes a pastor’s support is vital to the success of a new approach, “not just giving you permission to do it but encouraging the whole parish to participate and be part of it.” Utter replied, “When we realize that it is the entire parish that is responsible for raising the children of faith, and raising each other up in faith, that’s an amazing thing. You have to have your pastor’s support and energy behind something like this.”
Now the Davenport Diocese is meeting with clergy from each deanery for input in implementing the synod’s year 3 focus: Church Teaching and Tradition. Watch for details in future editions of The Catholic Messenger.
Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Coordinator Marianne Agnoli encourages schools and parishes to continue prioritizing youth and family engagement, even as the focus shifts to the year 3 theme. The Office of Faith Formation is eager to offer support, accompaniment and resources “for all these great things you are doing.”
Links to the Youth and Family Engagement Zoom sessions, newsletters, and additional resources are available at https://www.davenportdiocese.org/youth-family-engagement.
A papal connection
Denise Utter, top, shares personal photos from her friendship with Pope Leo XIV.
Denise Utter, an Augustinian affiliate, got to know then-Father Robert Prevost during his time as general prior of the religious order. “He’s a good man,” she told webinar participants while sharing “selfies” and other photos from their 12-plus years of friendship. The most recent selfie was taken last summer when Utter and other Chicago-based Augustinians treated the future pope to pizza (his choice). Utter assured him of her prayers in an email exchange just before the conclave started: “I wouldn’t wish (papacy) on you for all the money in the world, but thy will be done if it’s God’s will, and I know you will be good for the Church,” she wrote.
Utter was in St. Peter Square for Pope Leo XIV’s first public appearance, and her Midwest Augustinian companions, Lisa and Rich Solova, flew to Rome shortly after. They became the focus of media coverage for their connection to the new pope. The trio had an emotional reunion with Pope Leo May 11, three days after his election, and took a new selfie at the pope’s request.
