While the world seems somewhat obsessed with Washington, D.C., albeit for understandable reasons — we’re missing what a powerhouse a nation of parishes could be.
That’s what California businessman William E. Simon Jr. has set his focus on, with a group he’s founded called Parish Catalyst and with a book called Great Catholic Parishes: How Four Essential Practices Make Them Thrive.
Having surveyed 244 parishes, he’s in the business now of sharing what works. “This is one of the most important things I’ve ever done,” Simon tells me. “It was Rick Warren who pointed this out to me, and he’s right: The local church is the greatest engine for good in history. It’s got the biggest distribution system. It’s got the longest track record. It’s got the most committed people. It’s better than any government, any bureaucracy, any agency. It’s been around for 2,000 years, and there’s no sign that it’s not going to be around for another 2,000 years. You can’t say that about any other entity.”
Focusing on the Catholic piece of the engine, Simon points out that there are roughly 80 million Catholics in the United States, about 80 percent of them affiliated with a parish. “About 64 million Catholics are affiliated somehow or another with a parish. So if only 10 percent of them are paying attention, that’s 6.4 million. If you could double that number, that’d be another 6.4 million. That’s a hell of an opportunity.”
The highway to heaven affects not just the souls of individuals but potentially every aspect of American culture and life. So how to renew and expand the reach of churches, whatever your religious persuasion? Instead of just dropping by for an hour or so on Good Friday or Easter, inquire about making church more a part of your life every Sunday and beyond.
It should be more than just by trying to get there in time for a seat. Consider the different ministries or suggest one yourself. Or start a small group discussion on prayer during the week, perhaps reading the Bible, or organizing around tools that already exist, such as videos at Formed.org. Gather for Eucharistic adoration or some ministry, not just on Sunday. And maybe especially at this time of year, when new people do naturally show up, heed the words of Pope Francis. “We need to remember that churches are field hospitals,” Simon says. “And when the wounded come in, your first question is: ‘Welcome. How can I help? How can I minister you? How can I help?’”
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Unfortunately, the parish is “owned” by the corporate sole—-the bishop, and he appoints the parish priest.
Many a priest has slowly corrupted a good parish.
We have a good pastor but the assessments from the Diociese are financially strangeling us.
The biggest concern is that the parishes are separate organizations with only the Catholic Faith as a unifying factor. As I* see it, there is little or no organization for laity in several parishes to present a single point of view. Only in a crisis — such as the child abuse scandal — was the laity reaction so strong and vehement that the hierarchy could not ignore the laity or the situation.
Each parish should have a Pastoral Council that represents the lay people, and a Finance Council in charge of the money. You can report problems to them. If that doesn’t work, the Diocese has the same groups that can help. In the case of Child abuse, there are the local police.