Bishop David Zubik to Host Listening Sessions

Bishop David Zubik will host four listening sessions in late November and early December, and is asking parishioners and others to attend to express their thoughts and concerns, and to offer suggestions following the release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report.

The listening sessions will take place in the context of prayer and will be led by a team of lay professionals who seek to provide a structured format for the faithful to be heard concerning the current challenges in the Church and to express viewpoints for moving forward. Survivors of child sexual abuse by clergy and their family members, as well as parishioners are invited to share their feelings and struggles.

Bishop Zubik will be present to listen to the faithful and will rely on the skill of lay leaders to facilitate the evening. Once all of the sessions have been held, Bishop Zubik will prepare a pastoral response with the help of the facilitators.

“Over the course of the last weeks I have received many e-mails, text messages and letters from folks,” Bishop Zubik said. “I look forward to these opportunities to hear directly from people about what they expect of the Church so that I can best respond to their needs. Survivors of abuse and their families need not be silent about what they suffer and the faithful need an opportunity to express their feelings, concerns and questions.”

The sessions will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be held as follows:

 Thursday, November 29, 2018
Saint Paul Cathedral,
Oakland 108 N. Dithridge Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

 Monday, December 3, 2018
Saint Thomas à Becket Church, Jefferson Hills
139 Gill Hall Road, Jefferson Hills, PA 15025

 Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Our Lady of Fatima Church, Hopewell Township
2270 Brodhead Road, Aliquippa, PA 15001

 Thursday, December 6, 2018
Saint Ferdinand Church, Cranberry Township
2535 Rochester Road,
Cranberry Township, PA 16066

“Child sexual abuse by clergy has caused great suffering in the lives of survivors of abuse and concern among the faithful,” Bishop Zubik said. “These listening sessions are intended to be another way that we can support their continued healing.”