Ideal parish

Parish MissionResearch to make a difference to your work

Last weekSome considerations of ParishMission Parish MissionResearch projects Small research project More onThe Ideal Parish?Research MethodsWhat precisely you are being asked to do Beginning the process of doing it!This week

What is your mission?What do you aim to do for the evangelising mission of the Church through the work you do?Write a concise (max three sentence) “Mission Statement” for your own ministry

It is essentially the parish which gives the Church concrete life, so that she may be open to all. Whatever its size, it is not merely an association. It must be a home where members of the Body of Christ gather together, open to meeting God…The parish institution is meant to provide the church’s great services: prayer in common and the reading of God’s Word, celebrations, especially that of the Eucharist, catechesis for children and the adult catachumenate, the ongoing formation of the faithful, communications designed to make the Christian message known, services of charity and solidarity and the local work of movements.25th January 1997 Ad Liminavisit of French Bishops

Parish is where:Principles become practices;Body of Christ is open to God, the Holy Trinity;The Churches services are provided:PrayerSacramentsCatechesisEvangelisationService of Neighbour (Charity and Solidarity)A Community where God’s gifts are received, and where the baptised generously make their response of faith, hope and love to the call of the Gospel

A Philosophical/theological interludeThe ‘Ideal’Ethics: Universal principles or values which one pursues as goalsPlato: The non-material abstract true forms which the things we directly perceive are but shadows

A Philosophical/theological inerludeThe ‘Ideal Parish’Ethics: Universal principles or values which one pursues as parish goals?The general vision which inspires specific actionPlato: The non-material abstract true forms of Parish? That eschatological culmination of Christian Community

No SacramentsConstant Presence of the LambNo committeesNo social problemsNo CatechesisNo Parishes!

No Parish is ideal: living as an alien: temporary dwelling in exile, PilgrimAll Parishes are local not universalAll Parishes are specific not generalSpecific geographical territoriesSpecific collective of peoples, community of faithSpecific location in time and historySpecific needs, possibilities and prioritiesPlay the hand you are dealt

One Non-ideal ParishShadows of the idealPriest (Bishop) celebrates Mass (nearly) daily, visits sick, hears confessions, contacts with schools, teaches, represents the Church at Public events, etc., etc.SITS ON TOO MANY COMMITTEESNo deacon(s), no ‘Parish Sister’, no Lay Pastoral WorkerFinance Committee and Parish Pastoral Council Trained Catechists and helpers: Children’s Liturgy, First Communion. Confirmation, RCIANo one except PP for Baptism, Marriage PrepExtraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, SacristansParish secretary/parish officeCleaners, flower arrangers, handymen etc. SVP and parish visitors/befriendersNO PARISH CLUB

One Non-ideal ParishShadows of the idealJustice and Peace: FairTrade, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Eco-CongregationPrayer Groups: Meditation, Rosary, Charismatic No Liturgy group or faithful preparing prayers of the faithfulRegular Small faith sharing groups and adult formationEcumenical and Inter-faithChurches Together in Hatfield folded 2009Local Community Forums and VolunteersAPF Local Secretary and International Solidarity No Evangelisation team.Limited number of people willing and able to do important thingsYouth Provision Difficulty in Parking

Parish in Canon LawCIC 515 §1 Certain portion of the Christian faithfulStably establishedentrusted to a Pastor Can. 517 §1. When circumstances require it, the pastoral care of a parish or of different parishes together can be entrusted to several priests in solidumCIC 518 General rule is to be territorialCan. 526 §1. A pastor is to have the parochial care of only one parish; nevertheless, because of a lack of priests or other circumstances, the care of several neighbouring parishes can be entrusted to the same pastor.CIC 528 §2. The pastor is to see to it that the Most Holy Eucharist is the centre of the parish assembly of the faithful.

Parish in Canon LawCan. 529 §1. … a pastor is to strive to know the faithful entrusted to his care.Therefore he is:to visit families, to help the sick, particularly those close to death,to seek out the poor, the afflicted, the lonely, those exiled from their country, and similarly those weighed down by special difficulties. He is to work so that spouses and parents are supported in fulfilling their proper duties and is to foster growth of Christian life in the family.

Parish in Canon LawCIC 529 §2. A pastor is to recognize and promote the proper part which the lay members of the Christian faithful have in the mission of the Church, He is to cooperate with his own bishop and the presbyterium of the diocese, also working so that the faithful have concern for parochial communion, consider themselves members of the diocese and of the universal Church, and participate in and sustain efforts to promote this same communion.

Parish in Canon LawCan. 535 §1. Each parish is to have parochial registersCan. 536 §1. If the diocesan bishop judges it opportune … a pastoral council is to be established in each parishCan. 537 In each parish there is to be a finance councilCan. 781 Since the whole Church is by its nature missionary and the work of evangelization must be held as a fundamental duty of the people of God, all the Christian faithful, conscious of their responsibility, are to assume their part in missionary work.

A Parish:Is a Community of Christ’s faithfulIn a particular territoryWith a PastorWho celebrates sacramentsVisitsConnects to wider Diocese and World ChurchEncourages lay ministries and supports Bishops and other priestsHas Finance Committee (and Parish Council)Keeps recordsIs missionaryParish in Canon Law

Some New Testament ConceptsKoinoniaCommunionParticipation in Divine and human CommunityFellowshipLiturgyDiakoniaServiceof neighbourof churchof worldKerygmaProclamation of the Good NewsMaking new Christians

What do you want from your research?What context/situation needs examining?What is the background in existing thinking (literature review etc.)What information do you want to find out?What learning are you seeking?What questions do you need to ask?How do you need to ask them?

Some useful toolsThere are many organisations and businesses offering online surveysMany will offer a limited free basic service (and hope customers will be so impressed they subscribe)www.surveymonkey.comwww.smart-survey.co.ukwww.surveymethods.comwww.thesistools.comAnd others

Ideal parish

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