Listening Session Resources
Listening Resources
The Art of Listening
Listening is an important part of pastoral accompaniment. The art of listening requires practice. The following resources have been selected for our members and community as a means to learn about, practice, and implement listening in your pastoral practices.
We were inspired by the Synod on for a Synodal Church that will be launched by the Vatican in 2021. If you would like to learn and follow the Synod, you can visit the website linked below or view the resources from the Synod listed below. We hope that with these resources you will be able to host your own listening sessions.
Listening session resources
- Ways to Adapt the Consultation Questions, and other Official Documents, Synod website
- Process for Facilitating Synodal Conversation guide book, Leadership Roundtable: English | Spanish
- Opening of the Synodal Path, Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis, Vatican 2021
- Preparatory Document, Synod of Bishops, Vatican, 2021
- Synod Toolkit, English, (Google Folder)
- Vademecum for the Synod on Synodality: Official Handbook for Listening and Discernment in Local Churches, Synod of Bishops, Vatican 2021
- Adsumus Sancti Spiritu, Synod of Bishops, Vatican, 2021
- Social Media Toolkit, Published by Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops
- Synod on Synodality, USCCB
- Synod on Synodality- All You Need to Know (through Sketches and images) || Rahai, Youtube, 2021
- Diocese of Lexington Synod 2023, video playlist, YouTube
- Archdiocese of Chicago Synod resource page
- Archdiocese of Los Angeles Resources to Facilitate Listening Sessions
- Diocese of Scranton Resources in Spanish
- Diocese of Little Rock Parish Synod Toolkit
- Archdiocese of Seattle Synod Resources – Pastoral Plan resources
- Archdiocese of San Antonio Living as a Synodal Church
- Archdiocese of Baltimore We Are Listening
- Diocese of Stockton Synod Parish Resources (English, Spanish, and Vietnamese)
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces Synod Resources
- Diocese of Paterson Synod Resources
- Diocese of Knoxville Synod in the Diocese of Knoxville
- Diocese of Rockville Center DRVC Synod
- Diocese of St. Petersburg Vatican Announces Synodal Process (resources and communications)
- The Art of Christian Listening, Thomas Hart, 1980, $
- Listening and Caring Skills: A Guide for Group Leaders, John Savage, 1996, $
- Person-Centered Communication: Theory, Skills & Practice, Renate Motschnig, 2014,
- The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction, Adam Hugh, 2015, $
- Listen Like You Mean It: reclaiming the lost art of true connection, Ximena Vengoechea, 2021, $
- The Lost Art of Listening Third Edition How Learning to Listen Can Improve Relationships, Michael P. Nichols and Martha B Straus, 2021, $
- The Power of Listening Building Skills for Mission and Ministry, Lynne M. Baab, $
- Inclusive Language Guide, OHSU Center for Diversity and Inclusion, PDF, 2021
- Let’s Talk: Facilitating Critical Conversations With Students, Teaching Tolerance, PDF, 2019
- Listening Sessions Project Guide, Breanne Toney M.S, PDF, 2018
- VOICE Listening Session Guide, VOICE – Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement, PDF Document
- Conversation Facilitator Guide, National Dialogue, 2018, PDF Document
- Active Listening, Boston College, PDF Document
- National Dialogue
- Effective Listening, University of Massachusetts
- World Cafe
- Catholic Common Ground, Catholic Theological Union
- Become a Better Listener: Active Listening, John M. Grohol, Psy D., 2016 Webpage Article
- Engaged Listening, Kiely Todd Roska, Webpage Article
- Pastoral listeners / Lay ministers: Training materials, Daniel Harper
- Setting ground rules for productive discussions, Lisa Hinz, University of Minnesota
- 5 Ways to Listen Better, Julian Treasure, TedTalk, 2011
- Brene Brown on Empathy, Brene Brown, 2013
- 3-Steps to turn everyday get-togethers into transformative gatherings, Priya Parker, TedTalk, 2019
- Active Listening Skills, Alex Lyon, 2020
- How Compassion can Save Your Strained Relationships, Betty Hart, TedTalk 2020
- Arquidiocesis de Boston, Guia para Grupos Sinodales
- Leadership Roundtable, Proceso para facilitar las consultas sinodales
