THE NATURE OF PARISH


It is important in parish planning, and particularly parish ministry planning, to understand the nature and definition of parish.  Too many Catholics believe that the parish is only that group of people that attend church with them, their faith community.  But are we to be concerned with only those we know and not seek out those in need around us?  And if we seek out those who are not catholic how do we as “parish” go about ministries planning?

Pastoral councils and commissions need to understand the true meaning of “parish.”  Within canon law we know:“ As a general rule a parish is to be territorial, that is it embraces all the Christian faithful within a certain territory…” Canon law also defines the role of the pastor and that the laity, principally the pastoral council and commissions, are to assist him in his work.  Having knowledge of these two definitions is often an epiphany for council and commission members who, beforehand, had difficulty coming up with goals and focusing their efforts.

This basic understanding of parish and ministry is misunderstood by many pastors, as well as most of the faithful.  Until pastors, priests, religious and laity recognize this basic understanding of parish, pastoral plans will always be weak and we will be in danger of ignoring the needy in our midst.  The pastor also should not think that it is exclusively his mission to try to understand or accomplish all that the canon suggests.  The canon further stipulates “…in accord with the norm of law he carries out for his community the duties of teaching, sanctifying and governing, with the cooperation of other presbyters or deacons and the assistance of lay members of the Christian faithful (emphasis inserted).” While the Church recognizes the pastor as the head of the parish, it also states unequivocally that …the laity have an active part of their own in the life and action of the Church.  Their action within the Church communities is so necessary that without it the apostolate of the pastor will frequently be unable to obtain its full effect.