The July of 2020 document from the Congregation for Clergy in Rome which issued a new instruction on parish reform refers to the current model of parish as “no longer measuring up to most people’s expectations” and “outdated.”\u00a0 To become a more missionary and evangelizing parish, the document states, will involve restructuring.\u00a0 The new model is that of a missionary parish.\u00a0 Rather than remaining focused on preserving the existing community, the missionary parish is “called to reach out to everyone, without exception, particularly the poor.”\u00a0 Think of the Gospel story of the Good Shepherd.<\/p>\n
Most energy in a parish today is focused on self-preservation.\u00a0 Parishes in demographically changing areas work to keep the people they have registered rather than reaching out to those who are moving into the area.\u00a0 Parishes with declining memberships and revenues cut staff and ministries in order to keep the doors open for those who remain.\u00a0 Parishes struggle to reach young adults because they are designed to serve and communicate with older populations.\u00a0 As long as the budget balances, parishes have a tendency to feel they are doing what a non-profit organization should be doing.\u00a0 In reality, the current parish model emphasizes people “joining” rather than the parish community “reaching out.”\u00a0 If someone does not join the parish, there is little interest in him or her.<\/p>\n
Any restructuring of parishes should not focus on self-preservation.\u00a0 For that reason, the document recommends that, rather than closing parishes, groups of parishes should be organized under a single pastor.\u00a0 Parishes should cooperate on mission rather than compete in a form of ecclesiastical “survival of the fittest.”\u00a0 Some parishes have simply become too small and too financially challenged to carry out mission effectively by themselves.<\/p>\n
In the vision from the document, a missionary parish is likely to have a number of church sites.\u00a0 This will allow the parish to witness not to the uniformity of Catholicism but to the diversity and universality of the faith.\u00a0 Parishes can become more culturally and age specific in worship and ministry.\u00a0 In most dioceses, suburban parishes were built with greater territory to serve and so may not be impacted as much, although demographics are indicating that poverty levels in the suburbs are on the rise.<\/p>\n
Restructuring is not just about the way parishes are organized.\u00a0 Ministries themselves will need to be rethought and restructured for a new model.\u00a0\u00a0 In these key areas of ministry, here are a few ideas.<\/p>\n
Right now, what can be said about the parish of the future is that it is still under construction or, perhaps, restructure.\u00a0 What can be safely said is that parishes will look differently than they do now and will not revert back to the way they once were.\u00a0\u00a0 Dream for a while about the future parish and then roll up your sleeves and get to work on bringing about the missionary parish.<\/p>\n
If you have ideas about or successes in restructuring, let us know.\u00a0 We would love to hear from you and give you a forum to share your good news to people around the country.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The July of 2020 document from the Congregation for Clergy in Rome which issued a new instruction on parish reform refers to the current model of parish as “no longer measuring up to most people’s expectations” and “outdated.”\u00a0 To become a more missionary and evangelizing parish, the document states, will involve restructuring.\u00a0 The new model […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1696,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n