The Office for the Welcoming Parish

Bishop's Letter

Returning Catholics

Orientation Booklet

Steps in the Process

Episcopal Visits

Contact

• Extending the welcome beyond parish boundaries to seek out and invite those who have been away from the Church and those who have not yet been evangelized.
• Making certain all our parishes are actively reaching out to the poor in our community.

The Office for the Welcoming Parish was created to help parishes undertake this self-study process using the criteria set forth in the Welcoming Parish document. The office provides resources to help parishes:

1. determine effective ways of engaging parishioners in a discussion as to whether they are meeting Jesus in Word and Sacrament;
2. identify areas of strengths and challenge for future spiritual and ministry growth;
3. create a written parish pastoral plan of action to address the challenges;
4. present their story to the bishop during the Episcopal visitation;
5. link to diocesan and community resources available to assist them with implementation of areas for growth;
6. develop or renew pastoral councils to be more effective with the task of implementation, ongoing planning and evaluation.

To help parishes begin this second study following documents are available online:

• The Welcoming Parish document,
• A guidebook for the parish self-study, including the steps in the process, and
• A list of Bishop’s available weekends in 2007 for the Episcopal visit at the end of your study. This second phase should begin with a review of the response to the challenges identified in your parish’s first study which was completed in September 2000. Copies of those reports are available through the Office for the Welcoming Parish.

Sharon Chiarucci will meet with pastors and pastoral councils to assist parishes to complete this process. If you have questions about the self-study, or if you would like to reach her for more information call or email.