Multiple Parish Pastoring
The Multiple Parish Pastoring Project was designed to gather the best minds, data and information on multiple parish pastoring currently available from researchers, diocean leaders, and pastors of multiple parish situations to share information and begin to formulate practical resources and materials for use by pastors of multiple parish situations.
An invitational symposium was hosted in 2006. The purpose of the Symposium was:
- To bring together pastors, parish life coordinators, persons with expertise and/or research data on staffing multiple parishes in the United States
- To share data and best practices in an effort to identify strengths and training elements needed for successful pastoring multiple parishes
- To design a training program and resource materials for pastors who serve multiple parishes.
Pilot training workshops were hosted by the dioceses of Rochester and Belleville. Over 450 people attended the pilot gatherings to learn about pastoring multiple parishes. The response of dioceses to the request to host these workshops was quite large. As few dioceses are currently providing any formal training for this ministry, the need is extensive.
Best practices and learnings were developed and are available on this website.
This initiative is being conducted by the Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development (CPPCD) in collaboration with the National Federation of Priests’ Councils (NFPC) and the National Association of Diaconate Directors (NADD).
Related Reports & Articles
Pastoring Multiple Parishes
by
Mark Mogilka,
Kate Wiskus, D.Min.
February 4, 2010
The priest shortage is resulting in changes in the Church in the United States. The most common solution is multiple-parish pastoring. In Multiple Parish Pastoring, readers learn what works and what doesn’t when parishes must turn to multiple-parish pastoring as a pastoral solution.
Short Summary of Major Findings of Phase I
by
Marti Jewell, D.Min.
April 25, 2009
After five years of study and conversation with lay and ordained pastoral leaders across the country, the extensive findings, an in-depth study, can be summarized as representing a paradigmatic shift in how parish life is structured and served.
Linking Parishes: 6 Strategies for the Future
by
Marti Jewell, D.Min.
April 7, 2009
With the diminishing number of clergy available to pastor parishes and the movement of Catholics from the Northeast to the South and West, the need to reorganize parishes is becoming increasingly acute. Providing leadership for parishes is one of the greatest challenges facing dioceses, today.
Shaping Catholic Parishes
by
Carole Ganim, Ph.D., Editor
June 2, 2008
First in the Emerging Models of Catholic Leadership Series, "Shaping Catholic Parishes" published by Loyola Press is a "must read'" and can be purchased now from any of the Project Partners or from Loyola Press.
Inter-Parochial Pastoral Councils
by
Robert Miller, Ph.D.
June 20, 2007
Inter-Parochial Councils is n exploratory, qualitative study intended to investigate the development of multi-parish pastoral councils among Catholic parishes. These councils are made up of representatives from two or more separate parishes all sharing the same pastor.
Multiple Parish Pastoring
October 10, 2006
One of the significant changes in leadership in American parishes is the movement toward asking priests to pastor multiple parishes. This has an impact on pastors, lay ecclesial ministers, and parishioners alike. The results of a symposium designed to study this reality is available on this website. Please read the full report.
Related News
"Roamin' Collar: Multi-parish Pastoring"
April 30, 2010
Emerging Models leaders Mark Mogilka and former director Marti Jewell weigh in on the challenges and opportunities of multi-parish pastoring. With valuable data from research Sr. Katarina Schuth, as well.
Parish Closing Trauma
February 2, 2009
NCR is beginning a series of articles on changing parish structures and leadership. This article, the first in a planned year-long series, focuses on parishes merging and/or closing and how the Church is responding to difficult situations.
