means of connecting them to the parish, especially given that
and therefore needs the parish now more than ever (disarray
survey after survey shows the importance young people place on
due to divorce, etc.).
issues of Christian service and justice.
Consequently, the larger Church needs to have a greater
All of this assumes, however, that parishes hire more fully
“awareness context” about the role of the parish as a socializing
trained and educated professionals who can address the needs
and ecclesializing force for families and individuals. Pope Francis
of people throughout the life-cycle. In particular, therefore,
says as much in Evangelii Gaudium:
what is most needed in many parishes are theoThe parish is not an outdated institution;
logically and sociologically astute professional
precisely because it possesses great flexibil“Christian service
ecclesial ministers who can pastorally respond
ity, it can assume quite different contours
projects geared to
to the many needs of families.
depending on the openness and missionI am not advocating for a more therapeuticallyary creativity of the pastor and communichildren, youth, and
oriented
approach to pastoral ministry but a more
ty. . . . It is a community of communities, a
young adults could
ritually dense one. Families are in greater need of
sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink
be a powerful means activities that connect them to the larger parish
in the midst of their journey, and a center
community. For those activities to be implementof constant missionary outreach. We must
of connecting them
ed and catch on in local parishes, these parishes, I
admit, though, that the call to review and
to the parish.”
believe, need full-time competent professional ecrenew our parishes has not yet sufficed to
clesial ministers steeped in appreciation of these “ritual practices,”
bring them nearer to people, to make them environments
especially the Catholic Church’s sacramental system.
of living communion and participation, and to make them
This positon also assumes that parishes are open 24/7 when
completely mission-oriented. (no. 28)
possible, which also assumes there are parish professional
ministers available in order for the parish to be accessible.
More Staffing, More Devotions
This also assumes parishes will have larger parish staffs than
I argue that one of the main reasons parishes have not
many parishes have at present.
“brought people nearer to them” is because many local parishes are understaffed (especially youth and young adult minReservoir of Renewal
isters) and therefore are not able to offer families a host of reFamilies, especially young families, are in need of robust
ligious, spiritual, and social experiences. Parishes need to take
parishes that are filled with Christ’s joy and steeped in
the lead in offering families opportunities for greater connecoccasions for engaging families in ritual practices. In sum, the
tion to the local parish community by offering a whole array
parish needs to be a more prominent agent of ecclesialization
of social ritual practices, such as socials, dinners, breakfasts,
and socialization of the family.
festivals, picnics, youth ministries, Christian service, etc., and
With seminaries such as Sacred Heart Major Seminary
religious ritual practices, especially specific religious devotions
providing the approthat fit this particular
priate professional
community (for extraining for such
ample, certain saints’
ecclesial
ministedevotions).
rial roles and pastors
As for religious rithiring them, the loual practices, popular
cal parish can be a
devotions could be
powerful reservoir
implemented at the
of ritual practices
parish level that foof social connection
cus on the needs of
and, consequently,
children, youth, and
a dominant force
young adults or other
in the formation of
particular needs withfamilies.
in the parish.
Moreover, offering
Dr. Michael McCallion
a host of Christian
is the Fr. William
service projects geared
Parish group activities, devotional and
Cunningham Chair of
to children, youth,
social, provide young people rewarding
Catholic Social Analysis
and young adults
opportunities for interpersonal connection.
at Sacred Heart.
could be a powerful
shms.edu
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