Courtney McGrailA new book aims to help people navigate parish ministry, writes Fr Bernard Cotter
Fr Bernard Cotter
Nearly every parish in Ireland has a parish pastoral council at this stage. But how many council members know what their function is? Opinions about the scope of this ministry run from the sublime to the ridiculous — from re-writing the teachings of the Church to deciding on the variety of biscuit to be bought for the annual graveyard Mass.
And yet you cannot survive working in a Catholic parish without understanding the key role of the parish pastoral council, and the parish liturgy group, and the finance committee.
Dioceses provide guidelines from time to time to parishes embarking on setting up these and similar bodies, but often the guidelines get lost in translation (or get disposed of in the parochial house shredder) so that members have to work out for themselves what their proper role is.
Pastoral council members were certainly in mind when this book was written —not only by providing guidance as to what membership of such bodies entails, but also so that priests encouraging parishioners to become members might have a book to refer to. What is parish life about? What is its scope: this book should tell you.
For some parishioners, parish means Sunday Mass, the odd funeral, and not much more. Parents with school-going children might add First Communion and Confirmation to the list, but this also leaves out many aspects of parish life: church maintenance, lapsed Catholics, recruiting volunteers, parish employees, etc.
Perhaps the best way to give a sense of the book is to offer a guide to its chapters, with an indication of their contents.
The book begins with a kind foreword by Dr Bernard Longley, the Archbishop of Birmingham, which is followed by a short account of my life in ministry (‘A Priest’s Story’), with over 30 years spent in various parishes. This account is complemented by a reflection by my gifted co-author, Diana Klein, on her work in catechesis and pastoral (applied) theology.
After these, the introduction to the book offers a summary of those for whom the book is intended: priests, volunteers and paid parish workers. Clarifying that the book is not only for experienced parish workers nor for ‘holy people’, it offers a positive list of potential readers: newly-ordained deacons and priests, priests recently appointed to a parish, Catholics (non-practising and practising), seminarians and religious and even non-Catholics with questions about parish life. Basically, it’s for everyone who is part of a Catholic parish:
“Most of us are not experts; none of us knows everything. A sign of intelligence is being aware of the questions you need to ask. The book aims to be real and to deal with issues in a down-to-earth way. We have been careful to use ‘non-churchy’ language – especially when we refer to Church teaching and canon law.
“The theology underlying the book will be what we call ‘applied’ or ‘practical’ theology. This is a theology that attempts to deal with issues that are part of life in the world, not trying to discuss or solve abstract theories. Think of this book as a practical guide to surviving (and we hope thriving!) in a Catholic parish.”
An area or community
Is the parish the area from which a GAA Club can draw players (i.e. a territory) or a group of people who gather for Sunday Mass (i.e. a community of believers). We all have ideas in our head as to what a parish entails, so it’s as well to start by understanding what the Church thinks a parish is, where it has evolved from, and who the parish consists of.
THE PARISH: Is it an area or a community?
Ministries have become common in Irish parishes in recent years, though people are not always clear what ministry means. Ministers of the Eucharist and the Word (Readers) are visible in nearly every parish, and some have Ministry of Music (choirs), Youth Ministry etc. Are ministers extra-holy or committed people in a parish, or are they there simply to help ‘Father’ — or has everyone a ministry as a result of their baptism? The co-authors incline to the latter view, and invite readers to be active ministers in their parishes
VOLUNTEERS: Wanted and needed in parish life.
Events like the Special Olympics held in Ireland in 2003 or the Eucharistic Congress of 2012 are reminders of the value of volunteers, and show the impact on the volunteers themselves.
The ways of involvement of volunteers in the life of the parish are listed and described, and necessary supports suggested, with a listing of what a parish expects from its volunteers, as well as what volunteers should expect from the parish. (There’s a section on conflict resolution here too.)
PARISH EMPLOYEES: Co-workers with priests.
Most Irish parishes employ at least one or two people, at least on a part-time basis (sacristans, gardeners, parish secretary etc.). Some parishes may take on pastoral assistants also, or youth ministry people, or musicians.
This chapter has advice for those seeking such positions, and for parishes thinking of employing them. Templates for advertisments are offered also.
LITURGIES: They don’t just fall into place
Anyone who has prepared a unique parish liturgy knows the truth of the subtitle of this chapter. But often those who help in planning a liturgy are hazy about details. This section offers an overview of the Church’s year and its liturgies and ministries, and some practical ideas for anyone helping to prepare liturgies.
CATECHESIS I: What it means
Transmitting the Faith is one of our biggest challenges in Ireland, as a new relationship is negotiated between home, school and parish.
Understanding what catechesis is and the process by which Christians stay connected with Christ at the different phases of life is thus hugely important. This part of the book proposes the RCIA as the model of all catechesis and shows how this is borne out in preparations for infant baptism, First Communion and Confirmation. The role of catechists also features, and their formation.
CATECHESIS II: How liturgies can teach
Understanding catechesis is the first step: people see it in action in sacraments like Adult baptism, CICCA (initiation for older children), Infant baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage and funerals.
Those who prepare these liturgies may find it helpful to see how they work within Mass – and outside it (plans are given for both options).
COMMUNICATION: It’s more than just good microphones
In an era devoted to communication, parishes struggle to be heard. Everything to do with communication is found here, from the provision of good microphones to newsletters, magazines and websites. There are a few thoughts for hard-pressed preachers — and ideas for making people welcome in church also.
MAINTENANCE: Don’t let the church fall down!
In ways, this is the most significant chapter for parish survival, as old buildings take more clergy time, and as money gets scarcer. Sharing the burden and finding competent helpers is suggested, with thoughts on the care of the priest added here too, and care of coeliacs also.
OUTREACH: The Church exists for those who don’t belong
The Catholic parish must be a community, but never narrowly parochial. The whole world is its concern. Parishioners know what’s happening globally, so the parish has to help parishioners deal with it, and take part in outreach programmes too (within the framework of Catholic Social teaching).
AND FINALLY…
Don’t miss the appendices. Parish secretaries may find the first one handy, on “addressing the clergy” (how to write to a cleric, how to address him on an envelope etc). The glossary of Catholic terms would be useful for any Catholic who feels bombarded with churchy terms and needs to clarify what some of them mean. Naturally, there is a reference guide suggesting additional reading material and websites, as well as the book’s general index.
Fr Bernard Cotter is a priest in Cork & Ross diocese, currently parish priest of Newcestown in West Cork. With Diana Klein, London-based lay woman and catechist, he has co-authored a book entitled How to Survive Working in a Catholic Parish, now published by Redemptorist Publications (with the imprimatur of Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster).