Join Chestnut Hill College’s Institute for Forgiveness and Reconciliation as it hosts “A Conversation that Matters: The World Synod on the Family: Widening the Circle,” on Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m., at the College’s Commonwealth Chateau, SugarLoaf Hill.

“Dioceses have been urged to hold listening sessions throughout each local church to gather people’s responses to some of the pastoral challenges facing families today,” said the College’s Catherine Nerney, SSJ, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Forgiveness and Reconciliation.

Nerney says the College hopes to gather faithful Catholics and others who realize the importance the church plays in supporting and promoting family life and the purpose of the event is to gather feedback to send to Rome for the upcoming synod. Responses from the session will be sent to the National Council of Catholic Bishops (NCCB).

The session will also feature personal stories from “non-traditional” families that include single parents, divorced and remarried Catholics, families with undocumented parents, a gay couple and parents who have a lesbian daughter.

“The ultimate hope of the afternoon is that we all may grow in an appreciative awareness and shared compassion for the multiple expressions of family life and its concerns,” said Nerney.

This panel is free and open to the public and RSVP is appreciated. Contact Catherine Nerney, SSJ, Ph.D., at 215.248.7099 or forgive@chc.edu to register or for more information.