By Fr Joshan Rodrigues –
Intro: A summary of the first part of the Instruction on Parish Renewal (chapters 1-6) which offers a broad reflection on pastoral conversion in the contemporary context.
On July 20, 2020, the Vatican issued a new Instruction focusing on the renewal of Parish life. Titled ‘The Pastoral Conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelizing mission of the Church’, it was issued by the Congregation for Clergy, and the over-arching theme is an exhortation to move beyond “outdated” models of the Parish, and move forward on a path that is more relevant to the socio-cultural needs of the time. The two keywords of the document are ‘Mission’ and ‘Evangelisation’, both of which are indispensable to the Body of Christ, if a Parish wants to remain a clear reflection of the “Light of Christ” to the community around her.
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The first half of the document (chapters 1-6) mentions a number of aspects of the traditional Parish set-up which may now be outdated, and points towards new realities. The second part (chapters 7-11) dwells on the sub-divisions of parish communities, various pastoral roles that make them up, and the ways in which the governing norms are applied. I focus only on the first half in this article, which give us points to reflect upon for the renewal of parish life.
From Geographical to Existential Territories
Though canonically, Parishes are defined to be territorial i.e. its pastoral outreach is restricted to a fixed geographical space (Can. 518), peculiar characteristics of our contemporary world, such as increased mobility and a digital culture, have altered the notion of space and expanded the confines of existence. Different members of one family may be spread out in various parts of India or the world today, for reasons of education or employment. A global industry means that a person may spend extended periods of time away from his/her home Parish. This increased mobility also means new languages and behaviour which may not be historically affiliated to that Parish church.
This document couldn’t have been better timed, as we are seeing this exact point being played out at a time when churches have been forced to close doors. This is strikingly evident in the area of spiritual nourishment. Even though many churches are streaming Masses online, people are choosing to go to other sources that suit their interests and personal tastes. A recent survey in the archdiocese of Bombay found that 55 per cent of the respondents whose parish did offer a Sunday service online, choose to watch Mass from another Parish, religious institution or even a Catholic TV channel. This is a distinct example of how Parish territorial boundaries have blurred in the post-COVID world.
The document therefore advises moving away from a mentality of ‘geographical territory’ to ‘existential territory’ which connects better with the context in which people express their lives in terms of service, relationships and ancient traditions. An outdated Parish is one when “the Parish appears more interested in preserving a nostalgia of former times as opposed to looking to the future with courage.”
Missionary Renewal
A second area in which the document calls for renewal is the re-structuring of pastoral priorities. “In the process of renewal and restructuring, the Parish has to avoid the risk of falling into an excessive and bureaucratic organisation of events and an offering of services that do not express the dynamic of evangelisation, but rather the criterion of self-preservation.” Many parishes tend to repeat a fixed pattern of events through the pastoral year that fails to have an impact on the lived realities of people, leading to a general indifference and a tepid response. Moving beyond a mere succession of events, parishes need to rediscover their missionary mandate which is integral to evangelisation. If the Parish does not exude that dynamic of evangelisation, it runs the risk of becoming fossilised, offering experiences that attract only small, limited groups of people. The renewal of evangelical fervour needs a new approach with a diverse set of experiences for different groups of people which is coherent with their own state of life.
“Evangelisation” is thus the cornerstone of all pastoral action. All the baptised must rediscover their vocation as disciples of Jesus and missionaries for the Gospel. The Parish must read the signs of the times and the needs of the faithful. The Parish must encourage and train its members to be evangelisers. The Parish hence becomes a new experience, centred around the Word of God and the Eucharistic Table, priests and the lay faithful together, to become the “salt and light of the world.” (Mt 5:13-14)
Proximity to the Poor
A living sign of the authenticity of parish life is its proximity to the poor. The poor and excluded should always be a priority, and have a special place in the heart of the Parish. The Parish community is quite often the first place where the poor encounter the face of Christ. Thus, the Church evangelises and is evangelised by the poor. In this day and age, the Parish must pay attention to new forms of poverty created by social and economic inequalities. Spiritual drought and solitude are ever more present forms of poverty in our times. Priests, deacons, consecrated men and women are called in a special way to visit the sick and support the unemployed and their families.
An Inclusive Community
The renewal of Parish life is not the sole jurisdiction of the clergy, but must involve the entire People of God. The lay faithful, by virtue of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and infused charisms, becomes a dynamic community and leads to models for a new evangelisation. Pastors have the responsibility of keeping this dynamic alive so that the baptised realise that they are the real protagonists of evangelisation. The clergy must discern how to encourage a growth of the diversities of vocations and ministries, in keeping with the needs of the times. This process requires a significant change in mentality and an interior renewal, especially among those who have been entrusted with the responsibility of pastoral leadership.
Pope Francis warns, though, that this process of conversion of structures and pastoral renewal must be conducted with “flexibility and gradualism”. Gradualism means that the discernment process takes into account historical processes, the passage of time and stages of development in the life of the parish. Decisions should not be taken in haste, based solely on reason, but must be situated within the lived experience of the people, with proper consultation and a progressive implementation and verification.
A Place of Encounter
Pope Francis also rightly points out many people today are living in fear and anxiety, without the strength and hope which comes due to a friendship with Christ. These souls knock at the doors, while the existing parish structure may be closed within itself, with rules and regulations, giving it a false sense of security. The Parish community must master the “art of accompaniment” so that it becomes conducive to solidarity, dialogue and openness to others. The Parish should become a “place of encounter” where those who are thirsty may find a drink of water in the midst of their life’s journey. Thereby, these people must experience a sense of belonging and being loved, which is the antidote to solitude and despair.
Finally, the Parish must be solidly centred on the Word, Sacraments and Eucharistic celebration. The Word of God transforms hearts and gives us the courage to witness to the Gospel in the various circumstances of life. The lay faithful should be instructed on how to listen and meditate on the Word of God. The Christian life is an ongoing journey that goes beyond mere events and celebrations. Catechesis should also therefore be a life-long exercise, corresponding to the individual’s current state of life.
A House among Houses
In conclusion, the Church must choose a decisive ‘missionary option’ capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can suitably be channelled for the evangelisation of today’s world, rather than for her self-preservation. The Parish is a sign of the Incarnation of Christ; just as the Word took flesh and pitched His tent among His people, the Parish is a house among houses, a sign of the permanent presence of the Risen Lord in the midst of His People.
Fr Joshan Rodrigues is currently the Managing Editor of The Examiner, Catholic Newsweekly of the Archdiocese of Bombay. He is an alumnus of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome in Institutional and Social Communications. He has done brief stints with the DeSales Media Group in Brooklyn, New York and Communications Office of the Episcopal Conference of England and Wales, London. He frequently blogs on faith and culture in ‘Musings in Catholic Land’