Catholic Star Herald

When the diocese announced last year that every parish and mission in the six southern counties would engage in parish planning, the reason given was clear: a desire for stronger, more vibrant parish communities.

But vibrancy is surely subjective. Can the hallmarks of a vibrant parish be identified and measured? David DeLambo, Ph.D., assistant director of the Office of Planning for the Diocese of Cleveland, thinks so. In a study for "Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership," a joint project of the Lilly Endowment and six national ministerial organizations, DeLambo found that the best parishes are not necessarily the wealthiest, but tend to be somewhat larger, are experiencing sustained trends of rising Mass attendance and increases in the number of registered parishioners. These parishes also are well organized, have a clearly defined mission, and place a premium on planning.

They also have, he says, active finance and pastoral councils that engage the leadership skills of the laity; they promote stewardship and collaborate as a team to offer a full range of activities that serve the needs of their communities. These activities include programs that energize the spiritual life of the community, including parish missions, programs of evangelization, Bible study, faith sharing, prayer groups and opportunities for growth in the faith for all age groups, as well as comprehensive programs for youth and young adults.

These parishes also have a rich liturgical life, with well-planned and executed liturgies, quality music and good homilies that are relevant to parishioners. The most vibrant parishes are conscious of the needs of the parish community. As such, they tend to offer wellness initiatives, programs related to marriage and family development, as well as outreach to seniors, bereavement ministry, home visitations, and ministry to divorced and separated Catholics. These parishes typically have a "social service" orientation that reaches outside the walls of the church building or parish hall to involve the whole community, especially those most in need.

Those who have studied the characteristics that define the strongest parishes find that the best parishes are those that are active and are central in the lives of the communities they serve. The best parishes are places where men and women, young and old gather at the parish for more than Sunday Mass. They come together every day of the week to celebrate, to socialize, and to support one another along every step of life's journey.

DeLambo is careful to note that it's not just the quantity of programs offered, but the quality of the programs and the qualifications of those engaged in parish ministry. He found that vibrant parishes not only have more activities, but provide formal orientation and training for those who are engaged in parish ministry. As deanery planners consider various recommendations for strengthening parish life in the Camden Diocese, attention will be paid to this question, said Sister Marilyn Vollmer, director of planning for the diocese. "Our deanery planners have been asked to include in their final recommendations provision for paid professionals in key positions that will help advance the pastoral priorities identified through parish Speak Up sessions, including youth ministry, liturgy, lifelong faith formation, and compassionate outreach."

"While volunteers will always be relied on and we are always grateful for this generous gift of service to the church, our parishes also will need qualified, trained professionals who are paid competitive