New! Save Our Parish Community Organizing Packet
This comprehensive resource contains proactive strategies for promoting canonically approved ways of keeping parishes open with parish administrators, deacons and lay ministers.
Includes a 2003 national study conducted by the Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development showing that 40% of merged parishes lost parishioners, while parishes with parish directors were more likely to increase parishioners.
Our Do Not Stifle the Spirit! statement lists eight “best practices” for preserving vibrant parishes in a time of fewer priests, and is a good way to stimulate discussion in parish councils and diocesan leadership organizations.Strategies for resisting unjust closure are also identified including how to seek canonical and civil redress; the experiences of parishes who resisted closure; a sample parish constitution; prayers to use for parish vigils; prayers to use if your parish is closed and other organizing and media tools.
Order the Save Our Parish Community Organizing Packet
PACKET CONTENTS
ESSAYS, STUDIES AND STATEMENTS
| A Story of Three Parishes |
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| Boston: Must a Parish Perish? |
Peter Borre |
| St. Louis: St. Stanislaus |
Fr. Marek Bozek and Roger Krasnicki |
| Toledo: St. James, Kansas |
Ginny Hull |
Some Key Findings about Parish Reconfiguration
2003 National Study of Parish Reorganization
|
Conference of Pastoral Planning and Council Development |
| Understanding the Ministry and Experience: Parish Life Coordinators in the United States |
Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, Georgetown University |
| Study of the Impact of Fewer Priests on the Pastoral Ministry | U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Study |
| Letter from the Congregation of The Clergy |
Cardinal Darios Castrillon Hoyos |
| Pursuing Civil Redress To Keep Your Viable Parish Open |
Sharon M. Harrington, JD |
| A Parish Life Coordinator's Story |
Carol Karnitsky, sscm |
| The Deacon in our Future Parish |
Deacon Norman Carroll |
Do Not Stifle the Spirit!
Best Practices for Preserving Vibrant Parishes in a Time of Fewer Priests | FutureChurch and Endorsing Organizations and Individuals |
DISCERNMENT AND PRAYER RESOURCES
BROCHURES
| Lay Ecclesial Ministers in the Catholic Church |
Christine Schenk csj |
Parish Rights and Obligations and
How to Claim Parish Rights |
Summaries of Fr. James
Coriden’s writings
in
The Parish in Catholic Tradition
(Paulist 1997). |
| Reflections On the Theology and Authority of the Parish |
Christine Schenk csj |
ORGANIZING MATERIALS
| How To Preserve Vibrant Parishes in Your Diocese |
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| Outline of a Parish Education Program |
Christine Schenk csj |
| Sample Parish Constitution |
Dr. Leonard Swidler |
| Crisis Kit: For Parishes Unexpectedly Faced with Closing or Merging (Includes bibliography and where to get immediate assistance) |
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| Media Kit (Includes sample press release, talking points and media pointers) |
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