Todays Parish

Principled ministry: be comfortable with conflict

Thu, 17 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

If your actions inspire others to dream more, to learn more, to do more and to be more than they are, then you are a leader. —John Quincy Adams

Effective leadership is similar to being a good chef...

Practical pastoral planning builds community

Thu, 03 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

As parishioners, nothing makes us feel more a part of the parish community than when we can help the parish do good work. Not surprisingly, if we know specifically what things the parish needs us to do, we are more likely to do them. By setting re...

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

“I fought with my sister.” “I forgot to feed my dog.” “My brother picks on me.” “Um … um … I don’t remember.&rd...

Realism Gives Power To Pastoral Planning

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

When we begin a pastoral planning process, it is natural to dream of all the good things that our parish could do and it can be exhilarating to imagine all the possibilities. Unfortunately, no matter how noble or beautiful, parish plans and goals ...

Case study: Preaching preferential option for the poor

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The case
Many of the gospel readings lend themselves to preaching about the social teaching of the church. But every time I even touch on this topic, several of the parishioners get upset. They tel...

Three keys to a successful church renovation

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Are your parishioners tripping over a worn carpet in your worship space? Is your worship space cramping the way you would really like to celebrate the sacraments...

Case study: Master the parish budget process

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The case: How do I get the budget under control so I can do what I was ordained for?
I don’t have much financial expertise. But now I have to manage a large parish budget, and I&rs...

Reeling in free-form worship

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

I can’t blame people for not knowing what’s appropriate for liturgy when they see so many instances of free-form worship in our culture (some, alas, in Catholic churches). This leaves me in a tough spot when I’m asked...

Create compassionate congregations

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Is your parish considering becoming more involved in social outreach? If not, perhaps it should. A recent study by the Hartford Institute for Religious Research found that congregations emphasizing social justice and offering a variety of outreach...

From part-time coordinator to full-time director

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Twenty-five years ago, Donna Erickson Couch was hired as a part-time confirmation coordinator for a parish of 1,500 families. Today she is the director of faith formation, and oversees a staff of six in a parish composed of 6,500 families at St. E...

Good buy guide: The Roman Missal

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:00:00 GMT

With the new Roman Missal launching November 27^th,here is a list of many of the publishers offering altar, chapel, and study editions.

Catholic Book Publishing
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The three-fold ministry of the deacon

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:00:00 GMT

In the October 2010 issue of Today’s Parish, I wrote about the various reasons the bishops of the United States decided to implement a permanent diaconate. In particular, I focused on the last reason given. That is, ...

Save souls by saving yourself

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 05:00:00 GMT

“All I ever wanted to do was save souls!”

Rev. Richard J. O’Brien, SJ, a linguistics professor, spoke these words as he sat swamped by piles of manuscripts, student papers, and...

Deacons on the parish team

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 05:00:00 GMT

In 1968, the United States bishops requested approval from Rome to ordain permanent deacons. In order to understand how deacons model a new way of ordained ministry, let’s look at the reasons the bishops gave for their request:
...

Seven ways for the parish to live more justly

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Sometimes the gospel can feel overwhelming and unrealistic. So the church gave us Lent to try new things that bring us closer to the gospel vision. It’s a time to take a step forward in our walk toward sanctity. It is also a time for par...

The Next Lay Minister

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Imagine you are kicking back on a Thursday night with the remote in hand, a snack on side table, and a full slate of reality TV ahead of you. American Idol or Survivor? The Amazing Race

Are you committed to winning?

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:00:00 GMT

It’s the end of another week, and I’ve still not started. I promised myself I would make some progress on that big project. But, it happened again! Work, interruptions, and other priorities keep getting in the way. Ho...

Going beyond time, talent, and treasure

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The mystagogical process always begins with human experience. A mystagogical reflection on stewardship might begin with the question: "Since God has given us so much, what is God asking us to give back in response to this generous love?"...

Discover the hope of Christian formation

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 GMT

“Mystagogy.” It is a paradoxical word. It prompts an all-too-common sigh from the average parishioner (“There they go again using jargon only they understand!”). At the same time, mystagogy is a word that ha...