In his book Scripture and Discernment: Decision Making in the Church, Luke Timothy Johnson wrote that the community of believers "seeks to discern the Word spoken to the people in the challenges of the present moment. The identity of the church is always being shaped by its response to God's call in the context of its worldly life."

These words serve as inspiration for the planning process underway here at the Catholic Community at Stanford. As we bid farewell to Fr. Patrick and welcome Fr. Nathan as Director, the CCAS Pastoral Council recently conducted a survey gathering comments and suggestions on what draws us to CCAS, and how we might better serve each other. We asked you, our fellow community members, the following questions:

• What aspects of the Catholic Community at Stanford (CCAS) have made it the community with which you choose to worship?
• What experiences, here or elsewhere, have made you feel included in, or supported by, the community?
• Do you have needs, concerns, or challenges that are not being met by CCAS?
• If so, please suggest ways in which CCAS could help you in working through these needs, concerns or overcoming challenges?

Nearly 200 of you replied, not only with words of encouragement but with many constructive suggestions for growth and improvement. While it is impossible to produce precise results with such open-ended questions, your responses tended to cluster in particular areas. You are in general positive about our liturgies; our faith-sharing groups and retreats; the lively, diverse make-up of the congregation; and the wealth of opportunities for community involvement. Many of you would like to see more family programming, year-round morning Masses, and more outreach to the permanent community. There is a great deal of support for our educational efforts, with a clear call for more classes and speakers.

How will we use the results of the survey? Which suggestions are workable and which are not? How might we foster our resources, both human and financial, so as to meet your worthy challenges to us? Luke Timothy Johnson, he of the inspirational words, also cautions that "The process of discernment is risk-filled and never self-validating. The interpretation of the present moment is perilous, prone to error, always in need of renewal and revision."

Accordingly, the Pastoral Council, the Finance Board, and the CCAS staff are reviewing the survey results with great care, in preparation for the next stage in our planning process. We will meet in early April for a retreat where we will pray and consult about our next few years together, how best to respond to the needs of the community, and also how best to draw on the uniquely rich talents of our members. Interpreting our present moment requires us to pause, take stock, express our dreams and concerns, and listen intently to others as we renew and revise our life together. We are in a unique moment in the life of CCAS, having come so far in these thirteen years under Fr. Patrick's leadership, and anticipating many more with Fr. Nathan.