Introduction: The Temptation of Power and the Invitation to Love

In the trenches of parish life, leadership can feel like an unending uphill climb. We strive to keep ministries afloat, inspire tired volunteers, launch programs, and maintain morale. But in this well-meaning hustle, many of us—pastors, staff, volunteers—begin to feel hollow, burned out, or disconnected from the joy that once animated our call.

We are not alone in this.

Henri Nouwen, once a renowned professor at Harvard and Yale, left the academic elite to serve in a L’Arche community with men and women with intellectual disabilities. In doing so, he underwent a radical transformation. “I had always considered myself a person who could give something to others,” he wrote. “It had never occurred to me that receiving was also important.”

His book In the Name of Jesus is a clarion call to a different kind of leadership—one rooted not in the need to be relevant, spectacular, or powerful, but in the vulnerability of being led by Christ.

If you’ve read my earlier reflections on Why “Motivating” People in Ministry Doesn’t Work and Why People Serve: Creating a Ministry Culture That Lasts, then this article is the natural next step: it is about rediscovering the heart of parish leadership—not through strategies or hype, but through love, relationship, and faithfulness.

From Relevance to Prayer: “Are You in Love with Jesus?”

“The question is not: How many people take you seriously? Can you show some results? But: Are you in love with Jesus?”
—Henri Nouwen

One of the greatest temptations in parish ministry and leadership is to measure our worth by relevance. It hides behind noble goals—reaching people, growing attendance, revitalizing a ministry—but it can very often subtly turn our gaze inward: Am I doing enough? Am I being effective? Are they impressed? Or, it can shift our focus to things that are of secondary importance: How many people are in the pews? How many volunteers signed up? What programs are thriving? Numbers and perceived performance can become subtle idols that lead us to value the image of productivity over the reality of people and the need for authentic transformation.

Nouwen reminds us that the core of Christian leadership is contemplative prayer. “The central question is whether the future ministers are truly men and women of God,” he says. “People who do not depend on their own success, talents, or power but are deeply in love with Jesus.”

If we look at the example of Jesus, he never sought popularity or human recognition. After healing the sick and feeding the multitudes, He withdrew to pray (Luke 5:26). He did not build His mission around attracting crowds but around transforming hearts.

The painful reality that we have to face is that a parish can have a well-oiled system of programs but lack true discipleship. Nouwen warns against becoming overly focused on administration rather than transformation. Jesus did not build an organization in His earthly ministry; He formed disciples who carried His mission forward. He spent three years deeply investing in a small group of people to evangelize the world.

Practical Guidance for Parish Life:

• Schedule prayer time before scheduling meetings. Let intimacy with Jesus shape your decisions.

• Teach staff and volunteers to measure fruit not by numbers, but by fidelity to the Gospel.

• Create sacred spaces—literally and figuratively—where your team can encounter Christ.

• Measure success by faithfulness, not numbers. Ask: Are people growing in holiness? Are we loving those God has placed before us?

• Create a culture where personal encounter with Christ is the priority in all things. Encourage staff and volunteers to see their work as mission, not obligation.

From Popularity to Ministry: From Hero to Servant

“Ministry is not an individual hero’s story but a communal witness.”
—Henri Nouwen

Parish leaders often feel pressure to be “the one.” The indispensable person. The hero. This pressure is deadly. Not only is it unsustainable, but once again, it does not seem to model Christ’s example very closely.

Jesus refused the temptation of spectacle in the desert (Matthew 4). He didn’t build His credibility by impressing crowds but by loving them. Likewise, Nouwen teaches that ministry is not about dazzling others with our gifts. “The Christian leader is called to help people hear the gentle voice of God in the midst of a noisy world.”

When we obsess over how our work in ministry is perceived, or whether we are liked or accepted, or the backlash that may come if we pursue a needed change, we block the beautiful movement of God’s grace. I once worked with an understaffed parish and, when I asked what the parish was doing in terms of evangelization and outreach, the response was that they were polling the surrounding community to get a sense of how the parish was perceived by the public before doing any evangelization. Imagine if the Apostles had done that at Pentecost! They’d still be waiting in that Upper Room. No doubt, there were people in the parish already who would have loved the opportunity to evangelize, if it was presented to them – and likely with little concern for the poll results.

Practical Guidance:

• Stop trying to be impressive. Be present.

• Name and affirm the gifts of others—especially those who serve behind the scenes.

• Encourage team members to work from identity, not insecurity.

• Build a culture of trust. Avoid micromanaging; instead, form and equip others to utilize their gifts for the sake of mission.

• Encourage open communication. Allow parishioners to voice concerns without fear; and do your best not to take it personally when some may disagree.

• Prioritize people over programs. Volunteers and staff should feel valued as individuals, not just as “workers.”

• Invest in mentorship. Both a mentor of your own as well as mentoring others in your parish.

• Move beyond events to transformation. Every ministry should focus on forming disciples, not just filling calendars.

From Leading to Being Led: The Power of Vulnerability

“The way of the Christian leader is not the way of upward mobility but the way of downward mobility.”
—Henri Nouwen

Jesus told Peter, “When you were younger, you fastened your own belt and went where you wanted… but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and be lead where you do not want to go” (John 21:18). Leadership is not about gaining control—it’s about learning to surrender.

This surrender is terrifying. But it’s holy and necessary.

In L’Arche, Nouwen discovered that the greatest gift he had to offer wasn’t his intellect, resume, or eloquence. It was his vulnerable self. “We are not the healers… We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who need as much care as anyone we care for.”

In parish life, leaders must be willing to be led—by Christ, by community, and even by those they serve. This is the crucified path of leadership.

Practical Guidance:

• Don’t hide your struggles—let others see your humanity. There is something to be said for the fact that Jesus’ followers saw him weep, grow tired, bleed and die on the Cross. He made no effort to disguise His suffering. All the more reason we can unite our sufferings to His.

• Ask for help. Let others carry part of the burden. Even Jesus had Simon of Cyrene.

• Trust your team. Empower them not just with tasks, but with trust. Enter Peter and the rest of the Apostles.

From the Catechism:
“Christ's kingship is shown above all in the humble service of his life and death.” (CCC 786)

From Programs to Discipleship: Investing in People More Than Performance

“The mystery of ministry is that we have been chosen to make our own limited and very conditional love the gateway for the unlimited and unconditional love of God.”
—Henri Nouwen

Too many parishes are teeming with activity but starved for encounter.

It’s easy to fall into administrative overload, churning out events and programs with little time for the slow, relational work of disciple-making. But Jesus didn’t build systems—He built people.

And that’s our call too.

Practical Guidance:

• Personally mentor one or two parishioners into deeper discipleship.

• Discern what ministries are bearing real fruit—and have the courage to prune the rest.

• Invest in spiritual formation opportunities for your team.

From Performance to Belovedness: Living from the Father’s Love

“The leaders of the future will be those who dare to claim their irrelevance in the contemporary world as a divine vocation.”
—Henri Nouwen

This is the linchpin of Nouwen’s message—and the Gospel.

You are not the sum of your parish’s success. You are not your title or your accomplishments. You are not your failures or your burnout. You are a beloved son or daughter of God.

Parish leaders who know they are loved—truly loved—lead differently. They serve from fullness, not fear. They sacrifice without resentment. They remain faithful even when fruit is invisible.

You do not need to be spectacular. You just need to be faithful.

“The central question is not ‘What can we do?’ but ‘Who are we called to be?’” –Nouwen

Conclusion: Leading in the Name of Jesus

“Christian leadership must be rooted in the permanent, intimate relationship with the incarnate Word, Jesus.”
—Henri Nouwen

The renewal of the Church will not come from better strategies. It will come from deeper holiness. From men and women who lead not with ego, but with Eucharist. Who carry towels instead of titles. Who sit with Jesus before speaking for Him. Who dare to become irrelevant in the world’s eyes so they might become radiant in God’s.

You were never meant to do this alone. Jesus is with you. The saints are cheering you on. And your small, hidden acts of love are more powerful than you know.

Let us lead in the name of Jesus—with trust, sacrifice, and love.

For Reflection and Prayer

Share this post with someone in ministry you care about. Set aside 10 minutes this week to pray with one of these Scripture passages together (even if remote).

Scripture for Meditation:

• John 21:15-19 – “Do you love me?”

• Matthew 4:1-11 – Jesus’ temptations

• John 13:12-17 – Washing of feet

• Philippians 2:5-11 – The humility of Christ
  

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Catechism References:

• CCC 2567 – God’s invitation to prayer

• CCC 786 – Christ’s kingship expressed in service

• CCC 2447 – Service to the poor and vulnerable

• CCC 875, 918 – Servant nature of ministry

This raises an important question:

What actually inspires people to serve in ministry?
Why do some people joyfully commit while others hesitate? What makes a volunteer stay engaged for years while others burn out? And how can we, as parish leaders, invite people into ministry in a way that truly resonates with them?

The Power of “Why” in Ministry
In his book Start With Why, leadership expert Simon Sinek argues that the most successful organizations and movements don’t just focus on what they do or how they do it—they begin with a clear and compelling “why”. In other words, people don’t commit long-term because of logistics, efficiency, or urgency. They commit because they believe in the mission!

This principle applies just as much to the Church (and the local parish) as it does to businesses and organizations. If we want people to engage in ministry, we need to articulate why ministry exists in the first place—not just what we do and how we do it.

This idea is not new to the Church. From the very beginning, the Apostles preached not just what to do but why we follow Christ; and this teaching is rooted in the words of Christ himself.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…” (John 15:16, RSVCE)

We serve because Christ first loved us. We share in ministry because He has entrusted us with His mission (Matthew 28:19-20). If we communicate this deep sense of purpose with authentic enthusiasm and joy that springs from heartfelt conviction deeply rooted in loving relationship with Christ, people will want to be part of that “something greater than themselves.”

Pope Francis reinforces this in Evangelii Gaudium:
“Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 131)

If our invitation into ministry is about tasks and quotas rather than mission, people will disengage. But if we invite them into something greater than themselves, their hearts will be stirred.

Start With Why: Why Does Your Parish’s Ministry Exist?
Many parishes operate in the “what” and “how” of ministry:

• What do we do? → We run religious education, outreach programs, liturgical ministries, etc.

• How do we do it? → We hold classes, organize volunteers, plan events, recruit people, etc.

But these are not the real reasons why ministry exists.

Instead, we should start by asking: Why does this ministry exist? Why do we do what we do?

• Is it to bring people closer to Christ?

• Is it to help people encounter God’s love in community?

• Is it to form disciples who transform the world?

When the “why” is clear, people are far more likely to say, “Yes, I want to be part of that.”

Once again, we turn to Pope Francis’ vision of the Church as a community of evangelizers:
“In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers. It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a center of constant missionary outreach.” (EG, 28)

When people know why they are serving, their commitment becomes rooted in Christ’s own mission, not merely obligation.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23, RSVCE)

Helping People Find Their Personal “Why” in Ministry
Just as parishes need to define their big-picture purpose, volunteers need to find their personal “why” in serving.

In Find Your Why, Simon Sinek emphasizes that people are most committed when their work aligns with a deep, personal sense of purpose. The same is true in ministry—when someone lacks a clear “why” for serving, burnout becomes much more likely. But even more importantly, if that sense of purpose isn’t rooted in a real relationship with Christ, perseverance becomes much harder when challenges arise. Without Him as the foundation, ministry can feel like just another obligation rather than a joyful response to His call.

Helping Volunteers Discover Their Why
Instead of simply asking for volunteers, what if we helped people discern where God is calling them?

When inviting people into ministry, ask them:

· What brings you joy?

· When have you felt closest to God?

· What are some gifts or talents you feel called to use for others?

· Where do you feel like you can make a difference?

By connecting people’s personal sense of purpose with the larger mission of the Church, we help them to serve not out of obligation, but out of conviction, rooted in their own encounter with Christ and an awareness of the gifts that God has given them.

“And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12, RSVCE)

Encouragement for Overwhelmed Leaders: It Takes Time
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of this, you’re not alone. Many parish leaders already feel stretched thin, and the idea of changing how ministry operates may seem like just one more burden. But take heart—this is not about adding more work to your plate. It’s about approaching ministry in a way that ultimately makes it more sustainable and fruitful.

Even Jesus didn’t form His disciples in a single day—He walked with them, patiently formed them, and trusted them to grow. Change in a parish takes time, and that’s okay. Trust that God is at work in your ministry, and allow yourself the grace to take this process one step at a time. You are not alone in this! The person that knows best how to bring renewal to your parish is already there. He has been there this whole time. This person is, of course, the Holy Spirit, who is moving in the hearts of those He is calling to serve.

“Do not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9, RSVCE)

Final Encouragement: The Church Needs Your Why
Scripture and the history of the Church demonstrate that God always raises up the right people with the right gifts to meet the needs of the time. When we trust God, invite people into mission rather than obligation, and help them discover why their service matters, ministry becomes a place of joy, not just responsibility.

If we want thriving parishes, we must start with ‘why’—not just as a leadership strategy, but as a response to Christ’s call to discipleship. When people encounter Jesus and understand that ministry is not just about tasks but about sharing in His mission of salvation, service becomes an act of love rather than mere obligation. When we help others root their ‘why’ in Christ, ministry is no longer just something they do—it becomes a response to the One who first loved us. And in that response, both individuals and parishes are renewed.

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Or maybe you do get volunteers, but they seem disengaged—just going through the motions, showing up out of obligation – or potentially a feeling of guilt – rather than conviction. You might have even watched good, faithful people completely burn out and quietly step away, never to return. It can leave you wondering, What’s going wrong? Why do people seem so hesitant or uncommitted? Why can’t we get (and keep) volunteers?

Let’s be honest—guilt, obligation, and pressure rarely inspire lasting commitment in ministry. Think about your own life: when was the last time you felt truly joyful or energized to serve because you were pressured into it? While duty and responsibility have their place—especially in the life of faith—people are not deeply motivated by guilt. Instead, true and lasting commitment comes when we recognize that our service is a response to God’s love, not a burden to carry. What if, instead of seemingly pressuring people to fill a role, we invited them to discover how God is calling them to serve with joy? Could we help them to see that serving in such a way will help them to fulfill a longing of their heart through utilizing the gifts God has given them, in a way He just may intend?

Many parish leaders try to motivate people by telling them how badly they are needed. I am guilty of this as much as anyone! We emphasize how the parish “can’t function” without volunteers or remind people that “if we don’t get more help, we’ll have to cancel this ministry.” And while those concerns are real, they don’t inspire people to serve joyfully and wholeheartedly.

Susan Fowler’s book, Why Motivating People Doesn’t Work… and What Does, challenges us to rethink everything we know about motivation—especially in leadership. She explains that external motivators (like rewards, recognition, pressure, or even guilt) don’t create lasting engagement. Instead, people thrive when they experience:

• Autonomy – The freedom to make meaningful choices.

• Relatedness – A sense of belonging and purpose.

• Competence – The confidence that they’re making a difference.

Many Parishes Struggle with Volunteers—But What If the Problem Isn’t People’s Willingness, But the Way We Invite Them?

Instead of simply asking for help, what if we invited people into mission—helping them see their gifts and how God may be calling them to serve? When people feel personally called and equipped, they are far more likely to step up and remain engaged.

A Note on Secular Leadership Models & Catholic Ministry
Fowler’s research is valuable in understanding how people are wired, but as Catholics, we know that ministry is ultimately driven by grace, not just psychology or even biology.

It is God who calls, sustains, and strengthens people for service. If we rely only on motivational strategies but neglect the action of the Holy Spirit, our ministries will always struggle to bear fruit.

St. Paul reminds us:
“By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:10, RSVCE)

Ministry is not just about filling roles or “getting people involved”—it’s about helping people recognize and respond to God’s call on their lives.

So, what if we stopped trying to “motivate” people with urgency and obligation, and instead invited them into a transformative encounter with Christ through their service? What if we elevated this transformative encounter above simply “getting involved?”

Shift from “Recruiting” to “Discerning”
Our approach to finding volunteers for ministry can, at times, seem more like recruiting for a job rather than inviting someone into their calling.

We make urgent appeals:

• “We desperately need more catechists!”

• If we don’t get enough volunteers, we’ll have to cancel this program.”

• “Come on, can you spare an hour?”

Now, none of these statements are wrong—but they don’t inspire people. Instead, they make ministry sound like a burden, not an invitation.

Imagine if instead, we framed ministry as an opportunity for deeper discipleship and growth in Christ:

• “Where do you feel God calling you to serve in our parish?”

• “Your gifts are needed in the Church. Have you considered how God might want to work through you in ministry?”

• “I see in you a real gift for hospitality. Have you ever considered serving as a greeter?”

Ministry is both a calling and a sacrifice. Just as Christ called His disciples into mission out of love, our service should flow from both obedience to God and the deep joy of knowing we are serving Him.

Biblical & Catechetical Wisdom:

• “As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10, RSVCE)

• · “Lay believers are in the front line of Church life… they ought to have an ever-clearer consciousness not only of belonging to the Church, but of being the Church.” (Christifideles Laici, 9)

The shift from recruiting to discerning recognizes that ministry isn’t just about filling gaps—it’s about helping people respond to God’s call.

Follow Christ’s Example: Call, Empower, and Trust Others
It’s a common challenge in parish life: some leaders try to do everything themselves. Often, this happens not out of a desire to control, but out of a deep love for the Church and a fear that things won’t get done. Perhaps, for some, it may even come from years of experiencing difficulty in finding volunteers.

But the ministry of the Church (and the local parish) was never meant to be carried out alone.

Jesus, the Son of God Himself, did not carry out His mission alone. He called disciples, equipped them, and sent them forth. He could have single-handedly preached the Gospel to every corner of the world, but instead, He entrusted His mission to ordinary men and women.

• · “And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach.” (Mark 3:14, RSVCE)

• · “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.” (John 14:12, RSVCE)

Rather than holding onto every responsibility, Jesus empowered His followers—not because He needed help, but because it was part of forming them as disciples. Certainly, God Himself could be more effective at this ministry. Yet, He calls us to participate. Why? Because He loves us; and there is something to be gained in allowing us to do the great work with Him.

In the same way, pastors, ministry leaders, and volunteers are called not just to do ministry but to raise up others to share in the work of Christ.

• · “And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Eph 4:11-12)

Pope Francis reminds us of this in his first encyclical, The Joy of the Gospel:

• “In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers. It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a center of constant missionary outreach.” (EG 28)

• “I dream of a “missionary option”, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.” (EG 27)

• “Pastoral ministry in a missionary key seeks to abandon the complacent attitude that says: ‘We have always done it this way.’ I invite everyone to be bold and creative in the task of rethinking the goal, structures, style and methods of evangelization in their respective communities.” (EG 33)

And again, in the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “It is necessary to improve pastoral structures in such a way that the co-responsibility of all the members of the People of God in their entirety is gradually promoted, with respect for vocations and for the respective roles of the consecrated and of lay people. This demands a change in mindset, particularly concerning lay people. They must no longer be viewed as "collaborators" of the clergy but truly recognized as "co-responsible", for the Church's being and action, thereby fostering the consolidation of a mature and committed laity.”

Susan Fowler’s analogy is fitting:

“You don’t grow a flower by pulling on its leaves; you create the right conditions for it to flourish.”

Creating Space for Handing On Parish Ministries to the Next Generation
One of the most frequent concerns I hear is that ‘young people’ won’t get involved. Ministries often continue unchanged until they can no longer sustain themselves due to volunteers aging out. This is unfortunate. However, if we return to Fowler’s stated effective motivators, one of the primary challenges I believe becomes clear.

• Are we creating spaces where “young people” (interpret as you wish in your parish setting) can truly get involved?

• Are we creating spaces where they can exercise autonomy? Relatedness? Competence?

• Are we helping them to feel like they are making a difference?

Or are we simply relegating them to the sidelines and telling them, “This is how we have always done it.” This is not to be critical. I would prefer to present this as an “encouraging challenge” for prayerful consideration.

Overcoming Obstacles & Taking the First Steps
Shifting from a recruitment mindset to a discernment culture can feel like a daunting task, especially if your parish has been doing things the same way for years. You might wonder, Where do I even begin? The good news is that even small, intentional changes can have a big impact. You don’t have to overhaul your entire ministry structure overnight. Start with one simple shift—perhaps rewording your next volunteer invitation to focus on calling and mission rather than urgency and obligation. Or take time this week to personally invite just one person into ministry by affirming a gift you see in them. These small steps build momentum, and over time, they can transform the way people engage with ministry in your parish.

Encouragement for Overwhelmed Leaders: It Takes Time
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of this, you’re not alone. Many parish leaders already feel stretched thin, and the idea of changing how ministry operates may seem like just one more burden. But take heart—this is not about adding more work to your plate. It’s about approaching ministry in a way that ultimately makes it more sustainable. Even Jesus didn’t form His disciples in a single day—He walked with them, patiently formed them, and trusted them to grow. Change in a parish takes time, and that’s okay. Trust that God is at work in your ministry, and allow yourself the grace to take this process one step at a time. You are not alone in this—God is with you, and the Holy Spirit is moving in the hearts of those He is calling to serve.

Final Encouragement: Leading Like Christ
At the end of the day, Christ invites us to lead as He led:

• By calling people into mission, not just assigning tasks.

• By trusting and empowering others, even when it feels risky.

• By seeing leadership as a way to form disciples, not just to get things done.

If we survey the history of the Church, and even look at the example of Scripture, one thing becomes abundantly clear: In every time and in every place the Lord raises up the right people with the right gifts to meet the needs of the times.

If we trust the Lord that remains the same yesterday, today, and forever, and if we therefore trust the people God has placed in our parishes, if we call forth their gifts, provide them opportunities to serve and discern those gifts, and if we walk with them as they grow, we will see a transformation in ministry—not just in efficiency, but in discipleship and joy.

What Do You Think?
Have you experienced these challenges in ministry? What strategies have helped you engage volunteers in a meaningful way? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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• Be Rooted. Abide.

  • “Abide in me, as I abide in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” - John 14:4-5
    

  • What does it mean to abide? (Acts 2:42-43)

    • To live; dwell (in Christ; in the Church; rooted in our Faith) (Heb 10:19-25; 1 Tim 3:15)

    • To accept or act in accordance with (Jn 13:34-35; Jn 14:15; Jn 15:12-13; 1 Cor 11:1)

    • To continue in a memory without being lost (Luke 22:18-20; 1 Jn 1:3)

    • To bear patiently; to endure without yielding (1 Cor 13:4; Phil 4:6; Rom 12:12; Rom 8:28; Gal 6:9; Col 3:12; Eph 4:2)

    • To accept without objection (Rom 10:9-10; Jn 3:16-17; Acts 2:38; Gal 2:20)

    • To remain stable or in a fixed state (Eph 6:13; 1 Thes 5:16-17; 1 Cor 15:58; Heb 12:1; 1 Tim 6:12)

    • To conform to (Phil 2:2-11; Rom 12:1-2)
      

  • “Only your personal and profound union with Christ will assure the fruitfulness of your apostolate, whatever it may be.” – Pope St Paul VI

  • We must avoid the trap of becoming so busy doing the works of God that we neglect the God of Works.

  • We can become so busy doing, that we forget to be: to be the beloved child of our Loving Heavenly Father! This is the most important thing. “Be” before “do.” Then “be” and “go do.”

  • So much of our spiritual life is stunted by one thing: not seeing God as the loving Father that he is. Abiding in the Love of the Father, having confidence in His promise, “You will bear fruit!”

• Relationship. Relationship. Relationship. That IS What it is All About.   

  • Seek to encounter Christ daily; or be at least open to letting Him encounter you.

  • Church teaching on catechesis makes it clear. Your task is to help others encounter Christ. This means you need to encounter Him yourself!

  • We tend to judge ourselves by our weaknesses, failures, and faults. Rather, we should examine our lives by our proximity to Jesus. Are we growing closer to him each day? Is that what we are pursuing above all else? It should be!

  • In catechesis you are not just handing on a curriculum. You are handing on Christ Himself. Therefore, you must KNOW HIM.
    

• Relationship. Relationship. Relationship. Yep! There it is again!

  • You cannot approach ministry as a lone ranger. You need help. Moses needed Aaron and Hur to help hold his arms up in battle for Israel to have the victory, so do you! You need others to support you. You will grow weary. The key to your victory will often be the support of others. Be it in encouragement, feedback, advice, prayer, or even (keep a healthy good intentioned limit on this)… but, yes, venting.

  • St Paul tells us to, “Follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). If we look at his example, we see a priority in relationships. Paul invested in others. Others invested in Paul. Paul had those who walked beside him to encourage him and to hold him accountable. He also had those who in the midst of seeming failures, could help him praise the Lord and turn his eyes toward heaven. What was the result? The kingdom of God came; souls were saved. See Acts 16:16-40 to see what I mean.
    

• Know Who You Are

  • What the Church says about you as a catechist?

    • You have received a call from the Holy Spirit: vocation. The Church uses that word, “vocation.” With a little “v” of course; but still! There is a sacredness to this ministry!

    • The Church calls you, “The pride of the missionary Church” and a “praiseworthy army of lay apostles.”

    • The Church says that from the beginning, catechists have provided “a fundamental evangelical service.” In other words, this work is important!

    • You are a mediator between the people of God and the Mysteries of God. That means in many ways you are the bridge the Lord has chosen to help others come to understand Him and His Revelation of Himself, and His love, in a greater way! Don’t worry! He will reveal much of Himself to you as you prepare to teach; while you teach, and speaking from experience, He is going to teach you a lot through your students!

    • You build community. Yep! Relationship. Relationship. Relationship.

    • The authenticity and witness of your lives are indispensable. That’s right! The Church says you are valuable and important. That is why just hitting play on a video or simply reading a textbook will never be enough. The witness of your life is the most important! More on this later.  

    • You are called to deep and intimate communion with Christ. This is what you are handing on after all!

    • You are tasked with handing on the faith; ultimately Christ himself.

By now you may feel intimidated. That is a lot of praise. You should not be! You may feel unworthy of such praise. However, the praise in many ways belongs to the Lord. So, be at peace. You may feel like you don’t have what it takes. You feel there is no way you can do this! That’s okay. It is a good place to be! Nervousness is a gift from God that you can offer up; a struggle to be given up to the Lord as a prayer for your students even while you are teaching them. It is also a gift in that it reminds you just how much you need the Lord’s help in this work. You can do this! You have what it takes! You have what it takes because He has given it to you. By the grace of the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, nourished by Christ, present in the Eucharist! You can do this! Okay, so what else does the Church say about you? Let’s get back to it!

• Keep the Truth Personal

  • Your teaching should be “incarnational:” How is Christ incarnate in you? This should come through in your teaching. As Frank Sheed said, “Teach yourself with the truth adhering.” We see this profound truth even in Scripture. The words are inspired! Yet, John sounds like John. Paul, like Paul; and Peter, most certainly like Peter.

    • The words of St Patrick: Christ in the eye of everyone that sees me. Christ in the ear of everyone that hears me. Christ on the lips of everyone who speaks of me. Christ in the mind of everyone that thinks of me.

  • Your teaching should be relatable. Remember, it’s not a list of doctrinal points to be memorized. It’s the truths of our faith that are to be lived and applied; incarnated into our lives. This is true at every age and stage.
    

• Lesson Plan. Do It. Even if the book has, “Done it for you.” Never, ever, for any reason, “Just press play” either!

  • Questions that can help you “keep the truth personal” and emphasize that Jesus IS the point! Put these at the top of every lesson plan! 

    • What does this doctrine/objective have to do with Jesus? 

      • If you can’t answer this question in a heartfelt way… You may not be ready to teach it. If you are struggling with this one, pray for the Lord to guide and teach you. Ask for the Holy Spirit to be the light on your path of lesson planning. He will show you!

    • What difference does this doctrine/objective make? (Why does it matter?)

    • How can this doctrine/objective bring your listeners closer to Christ? 

    • How have I lived/applied this doctrine/objective in my own life? 

    • How can I help my listeners to live/apply this doctrine/objective to their own lives? 

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• Create the Atmosphere: You Are the Thermostat. NOT THE THERMOMETER!

  • The catechist must help to create the conditions for the possibility of a deepening of God’s word in the hearts of those being served.

  • Those you are teaching need help to withdraw themselves from the world that turns their attention away from Christ. The catechist has a responsibility to help them do this in a loving and caring way.

  • This can be done by perhaps, adjusting the lighting (if possible); greeting students at the door with a warm smile; expressing joy in seeing students; opening with a moving story; a Lectio Divina reflection, or a meditation on sacred art; a well selected video (make sure there is no ads! That will kill the mood quickly); a beautiful song or some music.
    
    Honestly, I typically will arrive early. Pray over the classroom. Pray over each desk (for the student). Often, I will play uplifting music (e.g. praise and worship; Gregorian chant; Christian instrumental; something uplifting). I know someone that taped miraculous medals underneath each seat and sprinkled every seat with holy water. The kids wondered why their seats were always wet! But it worked! The teacher saw the fruit of these extra prayerful steps before class.
    

  • Creating an atmosphere of prayer in your classroom is the most important aspect here! How do you create an atmosphere of prayer? Here are a few tips:

    • Live as a witness: demonstrate a life of prayer and devotion; invite them into that experience (even if you feel like you are not “good at it”, even if you feel like you “don’t know enough”). The Lord delights in our efforts to grow in our life of prayer. Just like a child learning to speak. Do not fear. Trust in Him and have confidence that the Loving Father delights in His children (of all ages).
      

    • Be authentic: sometimes the life of faith can be challenging. It is okay to talk about that. How have those experiences shaped your prayer life? How did you pray during difficult experiences? How did prayer help you overcome? Lived experiences such as these help to demonstrate the power and grace in what you are teaching.
      

    • Apologize and seek forgiveness when it is needed. Demonstrate God’s mercy and the need to both offer and seek forgiveness. Model a life rooted in the Act of Contrition.
      

    • Use every moment as a teaching moment. In or preparation, in our teaching, we should strive for this: Pray as if it all depends on you; but most importantly, work as if it all depends on God. In other words, our first recourse should always be to prayer! Model this!
      

    • Recognize the great faith children have. Allow God to teach you through them and draw near to the Lord through their own example. Often this will happen through their prayers; as you create space for the Lord to speak in and through them.
      

    • Give the reading of Scripture pride of place in your classroom. This is critical to learning to recognize the voice of the Lord and discern His will. It is also critical in helping us to learn the language of prayer; and can make learning to pray spontaneously, more natural, and comfortable.
      

    • Encourage older children to become examples to, and in their own way, teachers of, their younger siblings. 
      

    • Embrace the liturgical calendar and incorporate significant dates into the rhythm of your classroom. 
      

    • In so far as you are able, create a sacred space in your classroom for prayer and devotion. (1 John 1:1)
      

    • Teach your kids how to pray! Make this a part of the classroom! We recommend the ACTS method.

      • (A)doration: Praise the Lord! Worship Him for WHO He is! 

        • Ex: “Lord, we praise you, we adore you!” (or similar)

      • (C)ontrition: What do you need forgiveness for? What do you wish you did better? What do you need his help to overcome? 

        • Ex: “Lord forgive us for how often we forget about you.” (or whatever the acknowledgment may be)

      • (T)hanksgiving: What are you thankful for? 

        • Ex: “Lord, thank you that despite how often we forget about you, that you don’t forget about us. You never stop thinking about us. And your loving thoughts toward us are why we exist.” (or related similar; it could be, “Lord thank you for the gift of a given student, friendship, the Eucharist, anything worthy of praise and thanksgiving).

      • (S)upplication: What are you asking for? 

        • Ex: Simply state the need, the person, the situation you are praying for.
          

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• Pray for Your Students by Name

  • Loving care of a spiritual parent is needed.

  • Do it daily. Don’t let them just be names on a list.

  • If you are experiencing challenges or frustrations with a particular student(s), this person(s) should be the intention of a little extra prayer.

• Know Your Students

  • Know what they like; what interests them. 

  • Follow the example of St John Bosco

  • Find out how they fall in love. The work of catechesis is not merely teaching how to say things doctrinally; it is also understanding how your students fall in love with Christ. You are preparing them for a new union, an embrace. Discovering what motivates them, what inspires them, what they are drawn to is key here!
    

• Use dialogue in your teaching! Yep, let them ask questions… and ask them questions too!

  • To learn from them and discover them. If they are only ever “audience” to you, you will never discover them. You’ve got to walk with them and seek to figure them out. Teachers must seek to know those they teach.
    

• Don’t be afraid of questions. And don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know!”

  • When you don’t know the answer, that provides a great opportunity to demonstrate your care for students. “I don’t know! But I will find the answer to your question. Next week, I will have your answer.” Or, perhaps you could follow up with parents to provide the answer!
    

• Don't Complain About Your Students

  • Complaints have a habit of building walls; walls keep people out and prevent relationships. It is difficult to be a channel of God’s love when you are building those walls. 

  • We should always be asking the Lord, “Who has God given me to love?” Whoever your eyeballs are meeting in that moment, that’s who the Lord has given you to love.
    

• Love Your Students 

  • Demonstrate the loving care of a spiritual parent; show mercy and respect. There is truth in the old saying, “They don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”

  • When you are praying for them, ask the Lord to help you recognize their gifts; how best to reach them; what will help them thrive. “Lord, help me to show them your love! In my words, in my teaching, in my witness, in my teaching!”
    

• Know the Goal. It's NOT JUST to Get Through the Curriculum. 

  • The Church teaches that the mature, faithful adult is the objective of catechesis at all ages & stages! 

    • Goal 1: To empower youth to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today. 

    • Goal 2: To draw youth into responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community. 

    • Goal 3: To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person. 

  • The good news, this is not all dependent upon you. But you do have a part to play. Others will harvest where you have planted; some will water; you may just plant the seeds. But only the Lord provides the increase!

  • It’s important to keep this in mind because it helps you to take the pressure off yourself. You are not anyone’s savior. Jesus loves your students more than you do. Trust in Him. And while you are at it, once again, trust Him in calling you to serve as a catechist!

• If You Are Running Behind, Don’t Stress Prep! PRAY!

  • It’ll happen! That’s okay. Better you come into class prayed up than to come into the class after a fast and furious stress prep. Trust that the Lord will work through your prayers!
    

• If you prayed for the Lord to help you teach, when the class is over, thank Him! Praise Him! Don’t question how good you did. Trust Him with the results.

  • I don’t mean take no feedback, ever! Not at all, we can always improve. But, what I do mean is, don’t beat yourself up over how poorly you think you might have done. What you didnt say, what you did say. Trust that the Good Lord worked just as you prayed. And ask the Loving Father to help you to continue to improve as a teacher. Let his hands mold and shape you into the catechist he has called you to be.
    

• Once again, after saying all of this… If You Are Nervous, Embrace it. Offer it Up for Your Students! Nervousness Reminds You That You Need the Lord. That’s a Good Thing!

That said, I pray all of you have a wonderful start to the new catechetical year! Always, trust Him. When you walk into that classroom, “Come, Holy Spirit.” When you don’t know the answer to the question that seventh grader asks, “Come, Holy Spirit.” When you feel like quitting… “Come, Holy Spirit!” Before you start to teach? “Come, Holy Spirit!”

Finally, I will leave you with the prayer I have shared with catechists for the last decade. I would encourage you to pray this prayer before you prep, and before you teach:

I Believe, Lord.

I believe that each of my students is your child.
I believe that they are a reflection of your love.
I believe that each child possesses special gifts and talents,
that you are entrusting me to help them discover these gifts
and nurture those talents.
I believe that each child is trying to find you,
And that I can be a model of how to look,
How to live, how to pray.
I believe that my job is actually a mission, a ministry;
That you have chosen me in this time and in this place
To be there for these kids.
I believe that there is nothing haphazard about my day,
About my experiences with my students or with their parents.
It is all part of your plan.
I believe that you have chosen me, Lord.
I believe.

St John Bosco, pray for us!

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2.      Some things can’t be left at work. It is a very human tendency to want to leave work at work. However, when your work is the spiritual life, it can also become easy to leave that at work too. “I do that spiritual stuff all day, I don’t need this.” “That message is for other people; I know all of this already.” No… you might not! It seems simple enough. You may say this is not, nor will it ever be a problem. I thought that once too. But I can tell you from personal experience, it is very easy to fall into this trap! If our job is to form Christ in others, he must be formed in us first. This is a daily process. Relationships faulter by a slow fade. You may slip a day here or a day there. Sometimes you are just plain tired. Leading VBS is exhausting. Just about any ministry effort can leave you physically drained and feeling a little burned out. One night of binge watching The Office likely will not do you too much harm. But be careful not to fall into the pattern of substituting your work for your spiritual life. 

3.      Do not neglect the God of Works while doing the works of God. We can get so busy doing, that we forget to be. Our identity is not found in our performance and results. It is found in who we are in Christ. Sometimes the most fruitful and effective thing you can do is to spend your morning on your knees before the Lord in Adoration. Your works must be rooted in prayer and grounded in and flowing out of your relationship with Christ.

4.      Remember the promise of abiding. Jesus tells us, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” The emphasis here is my own… But the promise is yours too! This is a promise! Abide in me and you WILL BEAR FRUIT. He did not promise that you would see it however. This is to keep you humble. But, this promise should give you confidence. You will bear fruit. You will be tempted to think otherwise; that you are not making any difference. That’s when you need to pray like Fr Jean d’Elbee, “I thank you for the souls which You give me simply because I am sure that You give them to me.”

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5.      You may be tempted to change everything at once in your first year(s). DON’T! It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to make small, incremental shifts rather than “bite the bullet,” “burn it all down,” “start from scratch” transformations. The relational harm this approach most often causes rarely (if ever) advances the goal, no matter how noble.

6.      Want to make some changes? Take a measured and patient approach. Be open to discovering how you can build on strengths and reorient and/or repurpose current efforts. This can build early traction and infuse some hope and excitement into efforts that may seem otherwise routine and not noticeably fruitful. This “early traction” can help to win some support from key individuals or groups and help to avoid the initial push back or negativity that comes with a “blowing it up and starting from scratch” approach.

7.      Remember, not every ditch is worth dying in. Also, remember not to spend your spare time digging more ditches. Your spare ditches most likely are not worth dying in either.

8.      Don’t be so quick to isolate “work” relationships. Some may disagree with me on this sharply. I know some want work relationships to be separate from their social life. But I have found that a truly relational approach to ministry (which is what we should be striving for) leads to friendships outside of “work” and some blurring of those lines. I have found these relationships to be a blessing in my life. I have found committee members that have become prayer warriors and my greatest encouragers, colleagues that have become family, and clergy that have confided in me when they just needed someone to listen. In all these instances my faith has been deepened greatly, my life enriched and ministry more fruitful as a result. I am not advocating for a lack of boundaries. You absolutely must have boundaries in place (more on that later). However, if we look to the example of St Paul the Apostle, he clearly demonstrates a life of lived discipleship and relationship that goes beyond the “workplace.”

9.      Prioritize relationships! Pope Francis reminds us that to be in mission is at once, a passion for Christ and a passion for his people. It is to have a hunger for being close to people’s lives. When I was a Protestant, I had a pastor that always used to say, “Never trust a shepherd that doesn’t smell like sheep.” There is much truth to this. You cannot serve well if you do not take the time to get to know those you serve. What is their story? What are they passionate about? What inspires them? Where are they on their journey with Christ? What great work of grace have they seen? Why is it that they care so loudly about the Mass times not changing, the color of the carpet, whether or not we hold hands during the Our Father… Get to know the people you serve. Seek to build bridges and be present to those you serve.

10.  Spend your first year observing, building (see above) and learning (even from those who think differently). Don’t go in and immediately assume you know best and make changes.

11.  Input. Seek it!  Try to avoid regarding those who think differently as enemies. Be intentional about finding common ground and building good relationships with at least a few key people who think differently than you. There is value in a team of rivals. Always have one or two people close who have an opinion different than yours.

12.  In seeking feedback (which you should), remember that not all feedback carries the same weight. Is it good feedback? Is it informed feedback? Is it invested feedback? All these things must be weighed in balance.

13.  Never let the fear of someone’s negative response paralyze you into not doing that new thing! Many wonderful ministry efforts never get started for fear of a small number of people who… care very loudly.

14.  Remember the Ninth Beatitude of Ministry: “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall be flexed.” Realize you are married to the mission, not necessarily your plan. It is the mission that is inspired, not necessarily your to do list. You will have to be okay with the “pivot.” Some ministry efforts will feel like you just began something that you hope you find along the way. That’s okay! Discomfort helps us grow!

15.  Remember, you can’t make everyone happy. You are not pizza!

16.  Try not to take it personally. If you are serving in ministry, most likely you are doing it with passion. You are in it because your heart does not give you a choice. When you are met with a challenge, a criticism, or negative feedback, it can wound you. Don’t let that destroy your heart, your self-confidence, or your goals. Measure your fruitfulness by returning again and again to the Lord in Scripture, in prayer, in Adoration. Who does he say you are? Keep that before you as a reminder. Remember the promise of abiding!

17.  Understand the typical pattern of your first few years in ministry. On a related note, pray the serenity prayer… often.

a.      Year 1: Survival

b.      Year 2: Learning from mistakes

c.       Year 3: Starting to hit your stride. Now you can build!

d.      Serenity Prayer:

O God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time. Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace. Taking, as he did, the sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that he will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever.

18. Always, try to have a good sense of humor about things. Many times I have found that to be the key to remaining positive, coping with unexpected results, and at times… even criticism (whether constructive or not). This does have to be balanced with prudence of course!

19.  Ask questions! ALWAYS ask questions! Seek out answers (and relationships) from (and with) those who serve in similar areas of ministry as you. Ask your pastor, the deacon; ask diocesan staff, ask the catechists, ask the parents. ask those praying grandmothers; but most importantly, ask the HOLY SPIRIT.

20.  After asking questions, DO NOT become overwhelmed with the answers and get pulled in 1,000 different directions. Sort through it. Take what makes sense to YOU. Leave the rest sit (you may want that info later). This process should be accompanied by prayer!

21.  Accept the fact that you are no one’s savior, and the salvation of souls is not solely dependent upon you. All you can do is say “yes” to the Lord allowing you to participate in HIS mission. He is their Savior. He is also the one that ultimately quickens hearts and brings people to salvation. This realization takes the pressure off.

22.  Do NOT try to do EVERYTHING, nor all in one year! In the words of Pope Francis, there is a “patient expectation” and an “apostolic endurance” that is needed.

23.  The curriculum is not your boss! Every parish dynamic is different, every school year is different. The needs of the people in front of you change. What is happening in the news? What is happening in the community? What is happening in homes? The Holy Spirit may need you to… be flexible and pivot. Yep, there it is again! Be able and willing to adapt.

24.  Make sure you have a written job description so that what is expected of you is clear. Boundaries are important! “Other duties as assigned” is an overused prescription for burnout. You may need to be firm. But that’s okay. Your vocation, your health, your family, all these things come first! While there may be seasons and times of the year that require more of your time and do require sacrifices (be okay with that); that should never be the norm!

25.  Strive for good communication with your parish priest; make sure you understand his expectations and vision for your ministry efforts.

26.  Determine to be someone who brings joy to those around you. Smile and be joyful; there are no substitutes for being welcoming and hospitable. The basics of good customer service really do apply. Our actions often speak louder than our words. How will anyone believe that the Gospel is good news for them, if it doesn’t appear to be for you?

27.  Remember, there are no silver bullets. Some publishers, content producers, and influencers may say differently, but the person who knows best how to fix your parish is already there. His name is the Holy Spirit. Will He use programs? Will He use models and approaches? Sure He will! But, just like the Apostles, to be fruitful in ministry, you are going to need to spend some time in the Upper Room.

28.   Actively resist the temptation to be negative with people who are always negative. When we experience something frustrating, we can be tempted toward needing to tell that, "Oh, my God, you'll never believe this" person in our lives. You know, the one that knows all the gossip. The one that relishes in a good put down and is never short of criticisms. We may even find some humorous artistry in their ability to tear others down with the most biting sarcasm. Flee from this temptation! And quite possibly, in so far as you are able, flee from this person! Do not feed the monster. There is a great difference between the need to vent to a trusted friend (who is a good encourager), versus the need to share with those who delight in negativity. One will help you bear your cross. The other will only add more weight.

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However, the majority of those that enter ministry jobs have theology (or church) related degrees and experience. You didn’t necessarily sign up to be an events coordinator.

So, I’d like to share a few tips I’ve learned along the way when it comes to planning events with the purpose of helping to facilitate an encounter with Christ. I’ve made mistakes in my career, experienced events as a volunteer or speaker, and have heard others’ stories of events where the coordination, schedule, or even food hindered the participants’ encounters with Christ.

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Some real life examples:

I remember hearing a story from a speaker we brought in; as I was apologizing for some technical difficulties with his microphone during his talk, he shared the greatest experience he ever had of a talk being disrupted. During one of his talks with youth, you could hear those working in the kitchen and preparing the meal very loudly behind the accordion window in the kitchen. And right when he was at the moment of the talk that was meant to challenge the youth and facilitate an encounter, a volunteer swung open the accordion window. And… with a voice like that of Roz from Monster’s Inc. she shouted, “Pizza’s ready!”

I had a similar experience at an event I was speaking at. Everything for the event was being held in one room, which normally would be fine! But the schedule had lunch immediately after Mass, so during the celebration of Mass (which is the BEST moment for an encounter with Christ), several volunteers were off to the side loudly getting lunch ready: making sandwiches, opening plastic containers, pouring drinks. The entire room filled with the smell of onions right as the priest said, “Behold the lamb of God,” and raised Jesus to the heavens. Let’s just say… It set the tone for the day.

Finally, these mistakes are human and happen!! I’ve had many… from trying to get 500 students through a lunch line of tacos in 30 minutes (yea right…), to setting a talk up in a room next door to a loud game (poor speaker… never had a chance), to forgetting to plan integral parts of the mass… like having a Lector! It happens! So, while I hope this article provides a little amusement, in no way is it meant to cast judgment.

Because, while these examples are both funny and outrageous, I can’t say they “hindered” an encounter… because God can bring about good no matter the situation. God is the one who truly encounters. With that said, our role is still to create a holy atmosphere as best we can in order to make room for him throughout the day. Planning an event is one thing… but creating a space where God can be present in the hearts and minds of others is another.

So, here are just a few practical tips to consider that help create space and receptivity for God to move. (I’ll try to keep them short and sweet)

1. The spiritual is the practical

We can do all the practical work for an event, but if there has been no prayer, then where is God? Shroud the event in prayer!! Pray during the planning of an event, pray for all those who will attend the event, pray when you reach a hiccup, pray all the time. Set up an intercessory prayer team to be praying before and during the day’s event. You could even designate volunteers to be in Adoration for each hour during the event.

It’s easy to get lost in the pre-planning and coordinating the day-of. However, God can do more with one hour in prayer than months of planning.

2. You can’t move mountains alone

Of course, we can’t move mountains without God!1 However, it also means you need help… you need a team. It’s easy to think it all rests on us, but it shouldn’t. What are some tasks that could be delegated? Can the location of the event provide volunteers for the day? Relinquish liturgical responsibilities to a trusted sacristan or the chaplain for the day. Make sure you have a speaker who is flexible and adds to the event (not to your headache). Good volunteers who share your passion for bringing others to Christ can make all the difference!!

(Side note: volunteers can also be hard to come by. If possible, have one “volunteer coordinator” at the location of the event who has connections or pull with parents/parishioners and can recruit help for you.)

3. The schedule can make or break an event

How you choose to order the day can have a big impact on others’ receptivity. For example, if you want the talks to have an impact, it is important not to have back to back talks (especially for young people). Give participants an outlet/break in order to receive both talks well. Otherwise, there is a chance they may be receptive during the first talk, but the subsequent ones are met with exhaustion and yawns.

(this section may be a little longer, but I want to offer practicals)

Start with the question, “What does God want them to get from the day?”... and begin there when thinking of the schedule!

I always hear people wanting the students to have an encounter, but 80% of the day is dedicated to games and activities. The reality of the schedule contradicts the goal. Of course, we want to offer physical outlets for people like games or discussion (depending on that age of participants), but if the desired impact is also to welcome God in, be sure to provide moments in the schedule where this is possible, like prayer and Adoration. Sometimes, when a spiritual atmosphere is disrupted with things like games or surveys, it can be harder to re-establish it later on.

It’s always good to build in time for participants to reflect, pray, and/or discuss. We can never control how engaged they are, but we can offer a level of accountability for the day to pay attention and consider applying the faith through prayer and discussion with others.

Finally, just like the ecclesial method of teaching ends with “celebration” (which is prayer), it is always great to close the day with some form of prayer. This helps participants give everything they have received throughout the day to God, and GOD will transform it. Adoration or Lectio Divina with Worship/meditation are great examples. Remember, God can do more in one hour of prayer than all the work of the day.

4. You are not the mover of hearts!

It is so easy to put pressure on ourselves, as the coordinator, or on the day or the event itself… but only God can change hearts and transform lives. Pope John XXIII would always end his day with this prayer, “Lord, I’ve done all I can. It’s your Church; I’m going to bed.” If we change our mentality from “This is my event and it has to go well” to “I’ve done all I can. God, help me get out of the way today so that you can do all you have planned,” imagine what fruit would be born. Event planning in ministry is a true act of surrender. Do all you can, and then get out of the way.

(I will share more practical pre-planning and day-of planning tips in a later post!)

Please share! It is always important that a team is on the same page and of a similar mentality when it comes to an event’s approach and goals.

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We aspire to be like the Saints not because of the things that they did throughout their life but because of the way (and the reason) that they did them. We learn best when we come know why people are doing the things they are doing. We begin to see the world and see reality in a new way.

As leaders in the faith, we have an opportunity to lead not merely through the things we say or do, but by modeling a way of doing things that is formative in and of itself. In this video, Eric Gallagher shares four ways that we can form a deeper culture of receptivity through the ways that we lead.

They include;

Leaving Space for True Discernment

Consider offering programs and opportunities that ‘end’ and have a space where a true and ongoing discernment can inform what is going to happen next. Create a culture where you and those around you are remaining consistently open to what’s next!

Ask More Questions, Give Less Answers

Truly a methodology that exemplifies humility. Striving to become aware of growing in the wonder and awe of the working of God in and through things is an effective method of teaching.

Be More Responsive Than Proactive

Becoming a person of prayer is becoming a person who is responsive to the work of God and a consistent ‘yes” to God’s invitation to in the present moment. As a leader, strive to be more engaged in the work of responding to the needs of those you are serving as opposed to striving to find ways individuals can help fulfill the needs of the things that you are in charge of.

Never Do Anything for Everyone

Being intentional includes an element of exclusivity. Exclusivity is attractive and inviting because it more specifically draws those who you are specifically responding to. Strive to not waste time on things that lack intentionality.

Eric explains these more in the video above. Please comment below with your thoughts!

Let me start right out of the gate with the main point, because we will come back to it again and again. In a digital age, hospitality begins with the website (and your social media). While there are of course many downsides and negative consequences tied to social media, it remains true that technology is also a great gift to the Church. In many ways, not since the invention of the printing press has such an opportunity to share the Gospel and advance the kingdom of God been given to the Church. As Jesus reminds us, “To whom much is given, much is required” (Lk 12:48). This means, once again, a bit of an honest reflection and examination of conscience is in order!

Considering all that we have talked about so far, especially in part one of our discussion, take some time to honestly reflect on these questions. In that reflection, do not be too hard on yourselves! Make room for what you believe you are doing well. Consider how this could be improved!

Parish Website/Social Media Examination of Conscience

• Does our website/social media accurately reflect what we believe?

• Does it demonstrate what makes our parish unique?

• Does it illustrate a sanctuary where the thirsty can come and drink?

• Does it make clear that we are a community of faith, action, and hope? A place where the Gospel is proclaimed, celebrated, and lived?

• From our website/social media, is it clear that we are a welcoming family home?

• Is it clear that we are a place where believers are equipped and sent forth to renew the world around them?

• Is it clear that we are adding value to people’s lives? Not just our parishioners, but also the wider community?

Rarely anymore does anyone go anywhere (especially those of us in the millennial and under demographics) without first checking out the website, checking out the landscape if you will, maybe even looking at reviews or scrolling through social media accounts. That’s precisely the reason the questions above become so important! If we must “think like a visitor” to become a more hospitable parish when visitors are on campus, we also must “think like a visitor” when others visit our website or view our social media!

What is being communicated? Do we use our social media to promote the occasional parish dinner/fundraiser? The fish fry? The giving appeal? As I have said previously, hospitality is about encounter! Who do we need to encounter first? CHRIST! The most hospitable thing we can do is help visitors (and parishioners of course) encounter Christ! That is possible in some ways through our website and even more, through our social media! But it takes intentionality.  How is Christ incarnate in our parish community? What makes this a “home”? Now, how can we make that come through on our website and in our social media posts?

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A few things to consider doing differently:

Canned Social Media Content: While I do believe that services that provide social media support for parishes are absolutely a good thing, it’s much better when the local parish can let their own unique “incarnational” touch come through even on canned posts. That’s the key to getting the most out of these services. Again, this is purely my opinion, but I am leaning on Church teaching and Scripture, and experience when I say that.

If there is a lack in skill or knowledge to create digital content, then of course utilize these services! But I would invite you to add your own local flavor! Make it unique! That said, there are so many resources and YouTube channels out there designed to help individuals, ministry volunteers, and church staff learn to use social media more effectively! Take advantage of these resources! A few that come to mind:

For social media posts:

• Canva (A pretty user-friendly platform to help you design. Endless YouTube tutorials are available to help you learn).

For tips on social media strategy:

• Pro Church Tools (Although this is a Protestant group, I have learned a lot from Brady Shearer over the years; consider what could be applied in your own local parish setting).

Repetitive Posts: Many times, I have encountered social media posts by parishes that clearly just are not working. No “likes”, no comments, no shares… The next day I discovered an identical post with the same result. And the next day and so on. A visit to the parish social accounts reveals nothing but a string of repetitive posts with no engagement. That does not look good! It does not actually help the cause! The way to fix an ill-performing post is not simply to do the same post even harder!

I have also seen parishes, that with the best of intentions, have the same two or three people pray daily on their social media. While, this is a good thing, if that is all that is on our social media, it influences how the parish is viewed. Do they look happy to be praying? Are they representative of the parish as a whole? Is the wider parish community involved in some way? Think like a visitor, does this inspire them to come and pray in person? Again, this is not a criticism, but rather an invitation to simply add something more! Keep praying, but what more can we add? How can we do this more effectively?

The same goes for online services. Post-Covid, so many parishes are still streaming their Masses. Again, I am not saying that this is a bad thing. But in streaming those online services we must ask the questions:

• What is the perception of online services? What is the experience for those watching?

• Does a zoomed-out view of empty pews allow the parish to be seen as that welcoming home? If not, how could we do this better? If yes, why do you believe this to be true?

• Is the mix of sound good for streaming? Is the video of good quality? Is there anything of any value in the posted text with the streaming video? Or is it merely the music copyright information?

• Is it personal? Am I just watching something unfold from afar or does Fr (and those present for Mass) seem aware of my presence? Is Fr addressing the online audience as well?  

• Would it be more effective to record and post the homily recorded in a more personal manner and invite parishioners to share online?

Pay Attention to Your Analytics: What kind of posts perform well? And what times of day (and what days) are the best to post? What kind of posts (and what times of day) seem to not do well? What can you learn from that? Again, when looking at analytics it could become tempting to give in to discouragement and/or miss the point! Social media is a means for you to extend the community of the parish to an online space; to transform the world around through the joy of the Gospel via digital outreach. Your social media is a means of providing not only evidence of a fraternal and welcoming home, where Christ dwells, but also an online community space where that can be found, as an extension of parish life. For some parishes, that means 24 “likes” on a post is a great victory! Rejoice in it! For others, it may be smaller. That’s okay! Analytics help you to have a good measurement for whether you are accomplishing the goal; and what may be needed to better serve the community.

Posting Too Much and Posting Too Little: Generally speaking, every post after the first one of the day (and you should try to post daily) will perform half as well as the one before it. That means, if you are going to post more than once a day, they better be good! Too many posts in one day, especially when they are posts that do not land well, are a good way to get “unfollowed” or “unliked.” The good news is, analytics will tell you exactly what posts led to that! But still, the goal is not to simply clog feeds; but rather renew hearts through encounter! Becoming a hospitable parish means we have prayerfully gotten to know our audience and how to stop the scroll!

Well Then… What Works? After years of engagement on social media in ministry settings, I can tell you with certainty that there are some additional kinds of posts to consider that can help your parish become more hospitable in its use of social media. Here are some suggestions:

Real People: We have found over the years that the posts that get the most engagement are the ones with faces; with real people in real life. For our apostolate, that tends to be showing our family life. In the life of the parish that might mean:

• Monday Volunteer Spotlight

• “Why Are You a Catechist” testimonies (choose those that are the most passionate and enthusiastic)

• RCIA Testimonies: “Why did you become Catholic?” (again, passion and enthusiasm)

• Five Minutes with Father

• Lay Spotlight (how lay people are living out the “Thanks Be to God” of Mass by living the mission in the world. You guessed it! Passion and enthusiasm is a major plus).

Top Fives

o   People love lists… What are the favorite books? Favorite movies? Favorite songs? This may seem hokey… But it actually does help! It is an important aspect of community life and naturally, sparks engagement.

Question Posts

• Similar to above, some questions lend themselves well to engagement. Some we have used:

  • If you could have coffee with a saint, who would it be and why?

  • What is one book that changed your life? Why? How?

Funny posts

• One of the best performing posts I ever saw for our diocesan ministry account at the time was very humbling… A Scooby Doo meme… (pictured below) that I did not make. As St John Bosco said, “Following the Lord and obeying his commands does not mean being miserable and never having any fun.” There is a joy that should come through in a hospitable parish! After all, if what we believe is true (and it is), then we should be joyful!

  

So, what about the website!?

Honestly, hands down the best resource I have ever found on what a parish website should be, is this article written by Brandon Vogt.

There is one thing however I would like to touch on. Once again, I will draw from personal experience to illustrate the point. Hospitality begins with the website. If the mission of the Church is the Great Commission (which it is), then the importance of RCIA should be obvious. However, on most parish websites that does not seem to be the case. I remember when I first began to explore becoming Catholic, I landed on a parish website only to find something that sounded like this:

The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), also called the Catechumenate, is a process of initiation into the Catholic Community of Faith for persons who are experiencing a conversion in their lives and seeking either Christian baptism in the Catholic Church or full Communion with the Catholic tradition of Eucharist and Confirmation.

What usually follows is a lengthy description of all of the stages of the RCIA process. The problem with this? It is essentially a catechesis on RCIA in language that is not really all that accessible to the average person who may be considering becoming Catholic. For my part, I had a degree in theology and was working in ministry. Yet even I, did not quite understand what I was reading.

What would be a more hospitable approach? Maybe a simple “Becoming Catholic” tab. Simple language, where to begin. All the details can come later. Invite the person! Share the love of Christ. Encourage! Demonstrate that the parish is the fraternal and welcoming home the person is looking for. Even better, maybe a testimony, or even a few testimonies from those who have come into the Church. What difference has it made in their life? I know for my part, my coming into the Catholic Church felt like the end of a life-long journey where I finally found what I had been looking for; and at the same time, it felt like a commissioning for the purpose for which I was created. In becoming Catholic, my life found meaning in the truest sense. That is precisely the kind of thing that I likely would have responded to had I found it when I first began considering becoming Catholic.

Once again, hospitality begins with the website and with social media. If we must think like a visitor on campus, so must we in our approach to our website and our social media. How is Christ incarnate in our parish community? What makes this a home”? Now, the task is to make that come through on our website and in our social media posts.

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In this, admittedly shorter section, we will dive into what I believe really are the five steps to becoming a hospitable parish. At first glance, they may not seem that way; perhaps because they are still a bit lofty. But I have every confidence, these are the most important initial steps!

Step 1
Pray! Let me start with the first step, which there again, is THE MOST critical. To put it plainly, if a parish is not a parish of prayer, it will never be a parish of hospitality! Let me say that again… But in all caps so I can shout it to those in the back: IF A PARISH IS NOT A PARISH OF PRAYER, IT WILL NEVER BE A PARISH OF HOSPITALITY! That is the first step! But what is next?

Step 2
Plan! We have explored the “why” of parish hospitality, and in part 2 we even offered a survey tool for evaluating your hospitality efforts. Hopefully, time has been spent evaluating the campus, reflecting on the Sunday experience, and even discussing the needs, desires, and gifts of the parish community. It is not enough just to have that information.

Bring this all before the Lord in prayer! Establish a team to assist in this effort; ideally of individuals who seem to be by nature, very welcoming, and begin to prayerfully make a plan of action. Make sure this plan is not too much at once. When it comes to changing the culture of a parish, most overestimate what can be accomplished in one year, and grossly underestimate what can be accomplished in five years. Choose one to three areas/tasks to focus on. Start small. Start with the lowest hanging fruit. Early victories will do much to boost morale and establish early support and buy in among parishioners.

In forthcoming segments in this series, I will provide more concrete and practical action items to consider. But here are a few that come to mind:

·         A dedicated welcome team for new members. The welcome team may do some of the following (for example):

• Home visits to new parishioners with a gift basket of some sort

• Greets those newcomers with information about Mass times, Confession, Faith Formation opportunities, etc.

• Offers prayers for the new members and their families (meaning, those doing the home visit pray with the new parishioners).

Change your welcome letter!

• Many parishes use a generic form letter which is mailed out to new parishioners. Generally, the following format is used:

1. Welcome to our parish.

2. Here is how you can give online.

3. Here is how you can get involved (usher, greeter, lector, kids can be server)
   

• The problem with these sorts of letters is they are not actually welcoming. There is no consideration for the person/family that is joining! Where are they in their journey? What are their needs? It is very impersonal. Worse, what it communicates is, “Thank you for coming. Here is what you can do for us!”

• I have known people personally who have had bad experiences with the Church and various scandals. One such person was sparked by a very similar letter. The letter came at the worst time. They walked away. For some who might even be exploring coming back, this letter could push them away. That’s where a welcome team comes in!

Create a Welcome Team

• I know, I know… I have heard it a thousand times… “That doesn’t match the reality on the ground… We can’t even get people to sign up for such and such…” Yes. I get it. But this does not need to be a big group. It could even be two couples! The only requirement is that you be a person of prayer and be genuinely given to hospitality! These are your home visitors (depending on the size and demographics of your parish of course).

• If you follow this plan, and cast the vision (Step 3), I promise! People will be inspired to be a part of this effort! They just need to see the value!

Create a Welcome Reception

• Depending on how often you take in new members, it can be a great experience to have a reception for new members periodically! I would recommend at minimum quarterly. Have a nice dinner and a meet and greet with Fr. Make it personal. Make it fun. Share a brief testimony. But really make them feel welcome.

Step 3
Cast the Vision! This is where you share all that you have learned thus far, and all that has been born of your time in prayer with others! Why does it matter? Why should we want to be a hospitable parish? How can we all help? Why should we not ask someone to move from “our pew?” Why are dedicated parking spots for veterans, first responders, pregnant mothers, a good thing? Why should we not all file into the end of the pews? Why do ushers and greeters need to demonstrate enthusiasm and joy? Why does this matter? These are the things that in the routine of Mass attendance can be easily forgotten and taken for granted. So many of us need gentle reminders; again, and again!

If you are in parish leadership, or if you are a key volunteer, or even someone just desiring to see change, becoming a hospitable parish begins with YOU! By being an example in words and in deeds, you are in many ways, casting the vision as well! Now, inspire and equip others to do the same. Clergy will need to offer gentle reminders from the pulpit with regularity.

Step 4
Put it into practice! No plan will ever do any good unless it is put into practice. Remember, changing the culture of a parish is like pushing a boulder up hill. That means… You cannot stop pushing. It is going to take a lot of intentionality and of course, work! There will be many who disagree. There may be others who will not be concerned with being “welcoming” or “hospitable.” I have never forgotten a meeting I attended where a parish director referred to those who do not attend Mass regularly as “free loaders.” That of course, is the wrong approach, and will not bring about renewal or positive change. Do not let yourself get discouraged though! Keep pressing on! You’ve prayed. You have a plan. You have cast the vision. Now it is time to get to it!

Your plan for improving hospitality will need to be reflected (and built into) all that the parish does. But start small. Be patient. Again, once you have established a few places to start, do so! In this process of doing, help other parishioners to understand the vision and embrace their role in making this all possible. Part of putting your plan into practice will be not losing focus on what matters most. External things and best practices (that will follow in upcoming articles in this series) are good things; but first and foremost, there is a spirituality of hospitality.

In many ways, true hospitality is incarnational. It is all about encounter! Who do we need to encounter first? CHRIST! The most hospitable thing we can do is help parishioners encounter Christ and inspire them to want to do the same for others! To do the “how” and “what” of hospitality, we have to understand that first! The truest hospitality will be centered on the words of St Patrick: “Christ in the eyes of everyone who sees me; Christ in the ears of everyone who hears me; Christ on the lips of everyone who speaks of me; Christ in the mind of everyone who thinks of me.”

Step 5
Evaluate! How are we doing? Are we making progress? Is there evidence of our new efforts bearing fruit (hint: this will take time)? What can we do better? What is working? What is not working? How can we build on our efforts so far? What are areas of needed growth or change? These are just some of the questions to consider before you return again to Step 1. Yes, it is a cycle! You will need to continually work through this process if you intend to bring about a change for the better.

Alright, so far, we have spent the first three articles in this series somewhat abstract and ideal? How do we DO this? Well, that will be the subject of the remaining articles! So, be sure to subscribe to stay up to date on the latest posts!

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Today, we’re going to tackle another one of those questions that I am frequently asked: large group or discipleship groups? It’s not usually framed like this, though; it runs more along the lines of, “I’m interested in beginning discipleship groups, but we really have something good going with our large group” (or “youth group,” as many would say). First, I want to be clear that Discipleship Focused Ministry (Amazon) is NOT simply about establishing small/discipleship groups. Forming small groups is one common and effective way of helping young people grow through discipleship, but small groups are only helpful insofar as they are a means to making that happen (i.e. the goal is NOT small groups, the goal is discipleship). It is very much possible to “do discipleship” outside of a small group model. Thank you for letting me clarify that from the start!

In my experience, when someone is wrestling with the question of large group vs. small groups, I find that they are usually struggling more with the time commitment of managing both or the availability of resources to pull one or the other off. In short, if they could have both, they would. So my answer to the question “large group or discipleship groups?” is YES!

Another thing I need to make clear is that when I speak of small groups, I mean small groups that are independent of one another and independent of the large group. I don’t encourage small group discipleship that requires involvement in the large group for several reasons that I will not get into in this post. I truly believe that if a youth wants to just be a part of one or the other (or both!), they should have that option. What this also means is that, for the purposes of this post, if you are holding a large group gathering that includes time for breaking up into smaller groups, this is not what I am referring to as “small groups.” If your large group breaks into smaller groups, there is likely nothing wrong with that; I would just argue that it’s still “large group.”

Ok, all of that to set up the answer to this question: how does a parish youth ministry have time to manage both a large group program and discipleship groups? Utilizing the model of Discipleship Focused Ministry (Amazon), this is absolutely possible, and I would argue that parish youth ministers who adopt these simple mindsets actually find themselves with less anxiety and less “work.”

1. Let discipleship groups form organically

Forming discipleship groups organically takes time. Don’t think it’s solely your job as a youth minister to get discipleship groups going. Once there is a small group of people that could clearly benefit from simply being together more regularly, encourage them to do so. Now you have a discipleship group. Your responsibility is to help that group leader follow whatever it is the Lord is desiring to do through that group.

2. Make large group a supplement to discipleship groups

This is backwards compared to how I’ve seen discipleship encouraged through many publishers and resources. The norm (as I’ve seen it, anyway) is that everyone needs to come to the large group, and if they want more, they should be a part of a discipleship group as well. Strive to make intentional discipleship the primary model for formation, which takes pressure off of the large group and allows it to simply be a time for community, sharing, and fellowship.

3. Don’t get defensive about large group

The fear for many in making discipleship groups primary is that large group attendance will take a hit. This fear comes from the understanding that if youth had a choice, some would rather not come to large group. What I have seen over and over again is that when discipleship is going well, people will look forward to coming together in large group simply because those closest to them (those they are in discipleship with) will be there as well.

4. Consider simplifying large group

If discipleship becomes the primary method of formation, large group can look different. It doesn’t have to be the vehicle for delivering heavy content and teaching, but can instead simply provide an opportunity for basic evangelization, prayer and community, especially in ways that can’t be done in a small group or one-on-one setting. Many parishes do a large group gathering monthly rather than weekly, which allows them to give it the attention it needs but also creates margin for both the youth minister and those in discipleship to enter more fully into discipleship.

5. Understand the purpose of the different offerings

It is extremely important to understand the difference of the various offerings in your parish and to communicate those differences to the leaders and youth in your parish. If you have five discipleship groups, and they know that large group is the time to invite their friends for something focused on community and sharing, it will be an easier invitation for them to make.

6. Let the shift begin!

Finally, if you are very heavily focused on running a large group right now, please know that you don’t have to shift overnight. What I have found is that by simply being open to allowing small discipleship groups to start on their own and even encouraging it to happen (again without being defensive about your large group participation), you will begin to see the shift happen in your parish. Over time, this will actually produce a more rightly-ordered method of doing youth ministry, as well as ensure that you are truly doing youth ministry as opposed to just running a youth group.

If you are interested in learning more about transitioning your parish in this way, please check out our book on Discipleship Focused Ministry (Amazon) or shoot me a message on social media or at www.ericgallagher.me.

Every parish has visitors, but not every visit is the same. Nor is every visitor. The reality: Many of our parishioners don’t attend Mass regularly and are not really all that involved (whatever that means) in the life of the parish. 75% of the “members” of the parish – maybe even higher – would fall into this category (at least in the United States). Are most of our parish members really… “visitors?” It’s worth considering! It may be an uncomfortable question to face, but it is an important one, and will influence the way hospitality is approached.

Becoming a hospitable parish requires a bit of an at times difficult examination of conscience and honest self-reflection. I have often found myself critical of “re-membering” efforts (I hear this term often used to describe efforts aimed at getting pre-covid attendance levels back in the pews). Why? Because it can be very short sighted. At times, these efforts seem to attempt to short cut the bigger questions… “Why weren’t more coming in the first place?” “Why was it so easy to simply not come back?” The Covid-19 pandemic did not cause a crisis of faith and decline in the life of many local parishes in and of itself. It did, however, accelerate what was already a problem. Many have come through the pandemic feeling lonelier, more isolated and more anxious than ever. If what we said about the local parish in part one of this hospitality series is true (because it is), then the local parish should be a place where answers to these hurts can be found!

The answer is not simply a matter of “hospitality.” It is, of course, not that simple. At the same time, what are people coming back to? Never mind those “coming back.” In general, what is the culture of the local parish? What are those who do not regularly attend liturgies and parish functions finding? What are they experiencing?

When we are among the “regulars” on any given Sunday at our local parish, it can be easy to get used to things as they are; to overlook what may be obstacles for “visitors” (again, including those who do not attend Mass regularly). Is there clutter in the sanctuary? Is there toilet paper in the bathroom? Where is the bathroom? Is there a sign as soon as visitors walk in that reads (true story):

“Parents with small children, please sit in the last two pews of the church.”

Are there greeters? And are they friendly? Do parishioners take notice (and action) when they see a new face they do not recognize? Is there an overall attention to those who need a place to sit? Or do parishioners camp out on the ends of the pews and avoid moving to the center. I like the end of the pew too! But, for a different reason. As a family with six children, I can say that many times we have traveled and found it quite difficult to find a place to sit at Mass due to this. Our family needs space. But with so many camped out on the ends of the pews, it can make something as simple as finding a place to sit before Mass difficult.  We usually try to go as early as possible when traveling, for that very reason. But even then, it can be a challenge. If we don’t want to hear those crying babies during Mass… Perhaps we should let mom and dad have the end of the pew. I’ve had to dash out with a crying baby more than once. It’s a lot easier, and less distracting when I do not have to climb over anyone.

I absolutely say all this not to be disparaging; and, not to complain. But really, to help demonstrate what can be common in many places; and how the simplest things can make a big difference.

These are just a few simple questions but the answers matter because of what they communicate! These are areas that are easy to overlook! How we answer these questions communicates:

This is something special. Something sacred. Something beautiful. Something we care very deeply about. Something that we cannot find anywhere else. Or… it communicates the opposite.

In the case of that horrifying sign about small children, it communicated that families with small children are not welcome in this parish; and, with the help of the congregation, it communicated that very loudly. Thankfully, we were “visitors” in the usual sense that day. But we never went back to that parish again; even when it was the most convenient location for us while traveling.  

Let me just say that when it comes to parish hospitality, signs are indeed important. We will talk about this more concretely in an upcoming post. However, the right kind of signs are what is needed! Where do I find the bathroom? Where do I park? Which building on this campus do I go to for Mass?

Too often I have seen the ALL CAPS, frowny face, exclamation point signs hanging around the parish.

You know the ones! Maybe you have even made one a time or two! “Do not this…” “Do not that.” In fact, one parish I recall visiting during a retreat seemed to have one of those kinds of signs literally everywhere and on everything. In one small ten-foot section of wall in the parish center, I counted seven such signs! Seven! The funniest one, “If you don’t like how cool it is here, move somewhere else.” This was in response to the air conditioner vent nearby. I say funny… But it’s sad. By its nature, unwelcoming. Is a sign like that even necessary?

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Now, back to who “visitors” are. I do think to become a hospitable parish, one necessary step (and there will be many more), is to think like a visitor yourself. This is especially true if you have any role in your parish for this ministry, or if you desire such a change. Again, the things you are used to, you will often overlook. You go to Mass, no one greets you or talks to you. But you are used to that. Someone who is not used to coming on a regular basis, or visiting for the first time, not so much! They may have a fair amount of nervousness about coming! If they have a crying baby, every eye is a stink eye. At least, that is what they are expecting. Even if it is not true. So, give them a smile! If you can’t do that, then don’t turn to look.

Think about times you have visited a parish for the first time, maybe it was while traveling. Maybe it was in searching for a parish home. Whatever the reason, what was that experience like for you?

Once we visited a parish on a road trip. It was not a big parish, but the campus had the church, the rectory, the parish office, a large garage and a school. All of this in a very large parking lot. Nothing was labeled. We walked around for like ten to fifteen minutes trying to figure out where the church was. The church didn’t look like a church, it looked like a garage! We were early for Mass (so we thought), but still barely made it on time after wandering around the parking lot and exploring the buildings.

We travel a lot; both as a family and with my work. Often, we pass through the same places. On one such instance, we desired to also go to Confession. We found a time that would work well, thanks to what looked like an up-to-date website. There, we learned that Mass was at 9AM, and that Confession started at 8AM. We got there at 8:00… and waited for 30 minutes for Confession… Only, someone (who had just walked in) cut in front of me (literally) as I was about to go into the confessional. She gave me another thing to confess, so that was fine. I also tried to think, surely she just committed some terrible sin and was more in need of mercy than I was in that moment…

Still, becoming a hospitable parish takes the work of everyone, as I said right at the start.  What made this worse? As Mass was starting one man asked our family of 8 to move because we were sitting in his (unreserved) pew. We moved, then were asked to move once again because we were in someone else’s pew. We spent the Mass in the cry room where we could barely hear… Most cry rooms are not what they are supposed to be… Often, they can feel like chaotic storage rooms. It felt like a punishment… We felt like we merely checked the box on our Sunday obligation. I’d like to say this happened only once… Sadly, it all happened again on our next visit. The very same sequence of events. Once again, becoming a hospitable parish takes the work of everyone!

If we have any concern for real and genuine hospitality, we do have to be able to put ourselves in the place of the visitor.

View the situation from their perspective. Even things as “ordinary” as how the communion line works can be cause for confusion if not accounted for intentionally. I remember visiting a parish once with some missionaries from Africa. We were at a church with a very unusual design. The pews were arranged in an odd fashion. We sat in the front because they wanted to be closer to Jesus (I love that). When it came time to receive, there was a long delay. Some were going up… But it was not immediately evident how or when we were supposed to go up! We were greeted by an angry shout from behind about how we were “holding up the line.” Again, becoming a hospitable parish takes the work of everyone!

Not all of my experiences have been negative though! With all sincerity, my point is not to complain. These are examples given for the sake of encouraging that examination of conscience and honest self-reflection that I talked about earlier! Could these (or similar) things happen in your parish?

That said, I wanted to highlight two examples of positive experiences! Recently, we were traveling in the Wisconsin Dells area. We attended Mass at St Joseph Catholic Church in Baraboo, WI. What a beautiful old church! But what stood out to me the most (beyond the vibrancy that was evident in the celebration of the Mass itself, and yes, there were many, many young families with children), was the hospitality. We were greeted; we were welcomed. Even Fr, who I am sure had a busy day, took time to talk with us. We were invited to the root beer float party that was happening after Mass and the children had a blast playing with other kids on the playground. We had many great conversations over root bear floats. We felt welcomed. If we lived there, no doubt this would be our parish! Bonus, that one of the best board game stores I have ever stepped foot in, is also in Baraboo. This is how it should be! The Mass was packed full! Many young families with children. Yet, we were noticed and intentionally welcomed. Once again, becoming a hospitable parish takes the work of everyone!

On another occasion, we stopped in Waterloo, IA to attend Mass. Sadly, I do not remember the name of the church. So, every parish in Waterloo can take a bow I suppose! But, once again, we were welcomed. This was a large parish. I am certain that Fr did not have the time to spend with us. But he, himself, walked us around the campus, sharing from his heart with us, welcoming us, telling us all that he had planned for the parish, and how happy he was to have visitors. But the parishioners were just as welcoming! Once again, becoming a hospitable parish takes the work of everyone!

I use these stories as examples also because when I think about hospitality, I also think about where I am in my own relationship with Christ. In the case of negative experiences, what if I had been someone trying to return to faith after a lifetime of bad experiences? What if I was someone just looking for meaning? Curious? What if I was not rooted in Christ and had no real lived faith? These experiences would only drive me away! Those positive experiences though, would draw me in.

That is the precise reason I say any discussion on hospitality must begin with the “Why.” Because, ultimately, hearts and souls are at stake. It’s not merely about physical things; best practices, the ambiance, the thermostat setting, the tidiness, signs... It’s about helping others to find the oasis amid the desert, the sanctuary where they can find rest, the welcoming family home, where we sit before the table of our Lord and partake of the bread of good doctrine, and the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.

Once again, becoming a hospitable parish takes the work of everyone! But it starts with you reading this! Can you see the bigger picture? Can you see the importance of a smile? Can you see the importance of complimenting the parents of the fussy children, of (in the words of Pope Francis) not looking like we just came from a funeral? If what we believe as Catholics is true (which it is), then we ought to have great joy! It is possible to be reverent and full of joy! That is in fact the greatest hospitality!

I asked you to consider and remember times that you have attended a parish you were unfamiliar with, and what that experience was like. Now consider your own “visitors” (with the broad definition). How would they define their experiences? Are they having a positive experience? Are they inclined to come back? Do they feel welcome? Do they feel like they belong?

As we continue this series, we will come down from 30,000 feet, to 15,000, to 7,500 and we will begin to land this plane. Meaning, we will gradually get more and more into the practical concrete details of hospitality. We are still laying the foundation.

If you would like to spend a little more time with that, “examination of conscience and honest self-reflection” about parish hospitality, I invite to consider the following questions:

Answer each statement according to a 4-point scale.

1 = Strongly Disagree 

2 = Disagree      

3 = Agree 

4 = Strongly Agree

1. From the time people enter our parking lot, to the time they sit down for Mass to begin, to receiving Communion and leaving for the rest of their day, parishioners and visitors alike are left with a good impression of our parish.

2. We believe that hospitality begins with our online presence. Therefore, parishioners and visitors alike will find what they are looking for easily. Our website is well designed and updated regularly. This is also true of our social media.

3. Our greeters make parishioners and visitors alike feel welcome; they take being a minister of hospitality seriously and it shows. Smiles, handshakes, whatever reasonable assistance is needed.

4. (If we have) Our cry room is easy to find, well-marked, clean, and safe. We ensure it is well kept, that parishioners and visitors can hear and participate, and do not feel like they are in a storage room.

5. We have a hospitality minister who is easy to find, stationed at a prominent place, to answer questions, give literature, make recommendations, etc. 

6. Our bathrooms are well-marked, clean, and easy to find. 

7. We have appropriate signage around the parish to help direct visitors and parishioners who may be less familiar. Visitors will easily find where to park (and who can park where), the church, the confessional, the restroom etc.

8. We minimize announcements at the end of Mass to ensure that a good Sunday experience is the priority, and the thing people are left with (welcoming, good liturgy, effective homily, reverent celebration/reception of the Eucharist, etc.).

9. Our parishioners do not mind parking further away for the sake of visitors and those in greater need of a short walk to the door.

10. We have dedicated parking spaces for visitors, those with special needs, veterans, and pregnant mothers.

11. Our parishioners who are able-bodied and don’t have small children willingly sit in the middle of the pew to save room for late comers, families with small children, visitors, and those with greater need.

12. We have provided intentional formation and training to greeters and hospitality ministers to better equip them to begin conversations with others they may not know and how to make others feel welcome.

13. It’s not uncommon for our parishioners to embrace and welcome visitors and help them feel right at home.

14. We have a clear distinction between ushers and greeters/hospitality ministers. They do not serve the same purpose.

15. Our ushers are welcoming and attentive to the needs of those who are trying to find a space to sit. Even if they are late to Mass.

Not long ago I was in a meeting where a Pastor was offering his perspective on the health of the parish just before he introduced the new initiative that they were hoping to launch. From what I understood of the parish, I felt he had a good read on things as he shared his perspective of the various groupings, demographics, level of involvement, etc. While everything he said seemed to make sense, I couldn’t help but notice one thing…his assessment of the health of the parish (or at least his presentation of it) was viewed through only one lens…how involved individuals or groups were in the various programs and volunteer opportunities in the parish. Not long after the initial presentation, the discussion digressed quickly as we discussed the various realities of those not consistently involved in the programs offered specifically by parish staff or the Pastor himself.

We discussed the Catholic School families who seemed to be consumed by the commitments that the school system had in place with sports, fundraising events, etc. and how many of those involved in the school often acted as if the school was “its own parish.” We discussed the Knights of Columbus who, sure, did a lot of things, but were these men actually helping to make disciples? We talked about how the majority of the public school families are rarely committed to parish programs, including the staple religious education program for young people. In short, the conversation seemed to have one goal in mind, to put the various demographics into their own boxes and hold them to a standard solely based on participants level of engagement (or lack thereof) in the “life of the parish.” And by “life of the parish,” I mean involvement in the various programs and service opportunities coordinated by the parish staff.

Conversations like this can be really frustrating because it stirs up all kinds of thoughts, questions, feelings, etc. Even the individuals in the room started to question whether or not their current volunteer efforts were “enough” and/or whether or not the programs they were helping to lead were doing the “right things.” Very quickly, the people there started to get frustrated. But why? In short, this is an incredibly disordered way of approaching “success” through a pastoral mindset. If we want to assess programs and/or demographics and their role in the work of evangelization we can do that, but to make judgements on them solely based their “distraction” to individuals and their volunteerism in the parish is incredibly unhealthy. Unfortunately, it’s all too common to have this very consumeristic mindset when it comes to church life and participation in it. Many desire their parish to be “successful” which typically means many programs, lots of activity, and many people involved. Though it may not be talked about as directly as it did in the example above, it is a common way of viewing success to the average Catholic.

What if, instead, we discussed these questions;

• What does it mean to be holy and are our parishioners growing in holiness? Which ones are growing in holiness? Which ones aren’t? How can we know?

• What does it mean to be a “good” parishioner? Is involvement in the parishes programming a good measurement? If not, what is? Is it healthy for us to make being a “good parishioner” the goal?

• Is it healthy to look at certain groupings of people and assume that because an individual is a part of that group, demographic, community, that they are succeeding or lacking in any way in their faith?

• When looking at specific programs or offerings, is it healthy to view them as sufficient or insufficient? Should we, instead, discuss the ways it assists in the work of evangelization and tendencies one might have if they are making that program a big part of their life?

• How might we lead someone who is striving to navigate the many opportunities available to them within the parish, community life, hobbies, and commitments. What priorities should be encouraged by parish leadership as parents, families, and our young people look to our priests and parish staff for guidance?

• What is the role of a Pastor to be engaged with the various “non parish led” efforts in order to care for them, guide them, and form them? Does it make sense to focus more energies on supporting and forming these “other groups” as opposed to developing more programs in house? If so, when and how?

To be clear, I’m not advocating that parish programs go away or that individuals not be encouraged to be a part of them (I am involved in my own parishes programming). I’m mostly advocating 1) that we not make presumptions of individuals because they are or are not actively involved in parish programs and/or service opportunities happening through the parish, and 2) that we strive to build culture in a parish that is focused on individuals’ pursuit of holiness and offer a vision for holiness that is far more diverse, creative and more of an adventure than merely volunteering for the parish.

I’ll end with an analogy. Though not a perfect analogy, I believe it makes the point. If we view the parish as a family and/or a home that provides security, formation, and care for those involved in it, at some point the children in the home are called to “grow up,” leave the home and go contribute to a world and a cause that extends beyond the home itself. It bears fruit and evangelizes! Sure, some children are often called to stick around just as someone who grows up in a family that runs a business or on a farm might feel called to take on leadership within the “business” they grew up in. I’m afraid though that we’ve made “sticking around” the end goal to some degree which is perhaps one of the reasons the Church is hemorrhaging members and they aren’t coming back.

What would it look like if our questions and concerns about individuals were primarily focused on the pursuit of holiness? I’d love to know your thoughts!

A disclaimer for what follows… This is a topic I am quite passionate about, offer presentations and training on, and have lots of experiences to pull from… So… This will be a long post. In fact, it will be two parts (this being the first). But, stay with me! My prayer and hope for this post is that it will be well worth your time!

“Welcoming” especially is a word that comes with so much baggage. What “welcoming” means is often debated. For example,  does it mean we need to have jumbo screens in the sanctuary to attract young people? I have met some who would passionately argue that, yes, it does.  Let me set the record straight on this question right out of the gate: NO! It does not mean that. Coming from someone who left the fog machine, stage lights, jumbo screens, and sweeping and inspiring camera work of the television crew… No matter how much these things can be aesthetically pleasing, that is NOT actually what young people necessarily want from the local church.

What do they want? To be “fed.” NOT ENTERTAINED WITH A ROCK BAND AND COFFEE! This is an accusation and generalization that angers me. I hear it all the time. That is an all too common dismissal of evangelical churches, that I can also tell you from personal experience, is an unfair and inaccurate characterization. If you want to become a hospitable parish, if you want to become a person that practices hospitality in your local parish, ridding yourself of generalizations such as these is an important first step! It can be helpful to prayerfully look at those opinions we hold toward others, and weigh the intentions in light of the Gospel (there are some Scripture passages below that may help). This is no codemnation or judgment. It is easy to do. But a look at becoming a hospitable parish, does require an examination of conscience of sorts.

For my part, I came to faith as a young adult in such an evangelical church. I am grateful for this experience. I can tell you our awesome band and our equally awesome coffee shop had not one thing to do with it. Formerly, I tried to convince Catholics to join “our team” and leave the Catholic faith and come find what they are looking for at our church.  Later, I found myself joining theirs. “Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done. Lord, where else shall we go. You alone have the words of life!” I was not looking for stage lighting and a good double Americano with room for creamer.

So, what do I mean by, “They want to be fed”? First, they are looking for a home. They are looking for a refuge; a haven among their difficulties. They are looking for a place where they feel like they belong. They are looking for meaningful relationships and life changing friendships that add value to their lives. They are looking for something they can’t get anywhere else; something that adds meaning and value to their lives. Yes! They are looking for meaning; but not meaning in isolation; but rather, in community! They are looking for an encounter with Christ rooted in Scripture and lived in relationship with others. Even if they cannot articulate it, that is what they are looking for. Often, they do find this in places that have those big jumbo screens, the killer band, and the dynamic preacher. Yes. But it is not the screens, not necessarily the music, nor exclusively the preaching (though good preaching definitely helps). Trust me. I have been there. That was me; and so many I have known along the way.

Of course, this is not a post about young adults exclusively. It is about hospitality and “welcoming” in general. I offer this only as an example. But I do believe these basic truths are really applicable to the human experience in general. We all want to feel like we belong. To be welcome. We all need meaningful relationships to really thrive and live the Christian experience.

So, what can we learn about being “welcoming”? What is true hospitality? Let’s first look at what Scripture has to say. Then, we will hear what a few recent popes have said about the local parish and hospitality. It’s always helpful to have the 30,000-foot, big picture in mind first. “Why?” When it comes to hospitality, what is our “why”? Let’s take a look!

What Scripture tells us (a non-exhaustive list):
Scripture actually has a lot to say about hospitality… Too much to cover completely in this post. However, here are a few passages that stand out for this discussion.

Hebrews 13:1-3
Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body.

1 Peter 4:8-9
Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another.

Romans 12:10-13 (12:9-21)
Love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.

Galatians 6:9-10
And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Leviticus 19:34
The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Matthew 25:34-36
Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

What the Church tells us:
“In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers. It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a center of constant missionary outreach.” – Pope Francis (EG 28)

"The parish is where the Church lives. Parishes are communities of faith, of action, and of hope. They are where the Gospel is proclaimed and celebrated, where believers are formed and sent to renew the earth. Parishes are the home of the Christian community; they are the heart of our Church. Parishes are the place where God's people meet Jesus in word and sacrament and come in touch with the source of the Church's life.“ (USCCB, Communities of Salt and Light)

“The parish remains, as I have said, the pre-eminent place for catechesis. It must rediscover its vocation, which is to be a fraternal and welcoming family home, where those who have been baptized and confirmed become aware of forming the People of God. In that home, the bread of good doctrine and the Eucharistic Bread are broken for them in abundance, in the setting of the one act of worship; from that home they are sent out day by day to their apostolic mission in all the centers of activity of the life of the world.” - Pope St John Paul II (CT 67)

What we can conclude:
Before I continue, there is one thing I would like to point out. Because it touches on what we began with in the first place. The confusion over the words, “hospitality” and “welcoming.” All too common today is a tendency to redefine these words and root that redefinition in an at times well intentioned, but albeit misguided, desire for “evangelization.” It is easy to point to the Church’s teaching on being a “fraternal and welcoming home,” the “sanctuary” or “oasis” where the thirsty come to drink, but completely miss what follows. “In that home, the bread of good doctrine and the Eucharistic Bread are broken for them in abundance, in the setting of the one act of worship; from that home they are sent out day by day to their apostolic mission in all the centers of activity of the life of the world.”

As Pope St Paul VI reminds us, however, “There is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed” (EN 22).  A big part of that teaching, the mystery, the kingdom, is the Deposit of Faith, and the Liturgy we celebrate. So, we have to understand that watering down the teachings of the Church, minimizing Tradition, downplaying devotion(s), taking a priority off of the need for repentance and our reliance upon God’s grace, and even reshaping the Liturgy in the name of being “welcoming” and so as not to offend… is NOT hospitality in the truest sense. Smiles and handshakes are important! So is quality music. But there is more to hospitality than just that!  Like all things Catholic, hospitality is in many ways, a “both/and” situation. Awesome worship through a Liturgy celebrated well (and by “well” I mean joyful, reverent, not haphazard and sloppy, that points our attention to the Lord) and fellowship that demonstrates the fraternal and welcoming home we read about above. Meeting people where they are, welcoming them in, and with great love, patient expectation and apostolic endurance walking with them on their journey of faith… THAT is hospitality. Like the Good Samaritan, we meet people where they are. But in great love, we do not just leave them there. We care for their wounds. We help them. We are all wounded. We all need care. We all need true hospitality!

So… How do we DO hospitality? 
Becoming a truly hospitable parish will take work and diligence. It is not the job of one person alone. No pastor can do it by himself; though his leadership is critical. Being a hospitable parish requires the participation of the WHOLE parish. But, it can begin with just a few. All of us need hospitality. It's not just for visitors. Furthermore, what does “visitors” and “strangers” even mean in the context of the average Catholic parish in the United States which sees, on average, only about 17% - 25% of parishioners regularly attending Mass?

In the next part of this discussion, we will dive into the nuts and bolts of just how to build a parish known for its hospitality. So, be sure to subscribe to get alerts when it posts! In the meantime, if you see someone new at Mass, say hello. If you hear a crying baby in Mass, give mom and dad a smile. If you see parents with some rowdy little ones during Mass, make it a point to tell them how good they did with their children and compliment their patience. They need to hear that.

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Eric offers a follow-up to his first video A Case Against Parish Programming by sharing his proposal for a parish program, a program that seeks first to inspire, form, and encourage disciples to engage in their unique apostolic work.

You can find Eric’s first video here:

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What do you think? How might we start advocating for a “program” or a parish vision that is primarily focused on spiritual multiplication? Please comment below.

Well, there was one particular parish visit I can recall where we were invited to visit in order to consult on “next steps” for youth ministry. After the meeting, she asked if we could stick around to help her go through all the mail she was receiving from publishers. This may seem like a job a leader should be able to do on his or her own, but we were honestly happy to help! (Insert a lesson on the simple ways we can build trust with those we minister to… going through their junk mail with them could just be a way haha!) 

The pile of mail was massive, and honestly, it was mostly junk mail from mediocre publishers promoting inferior programs. How would she have known this? How can someone know a good publisher from sub-par? How can a leader recognize a quality curriculum compared to one that might look interesting but lacks the elements of an excellent curriculum (or in this case… recommendable). 

Rather than recommending curricula, I think it would be most beneficial to give others tools to identify good ones on their own. What’s that old saying? If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach him to fish, he eats for life. So, I would like to offer a couple elements to look for to identify a superior curriculum (or book study) worth the investment and effort to implement into parish life. 

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1. Follows a pedagogy

The word pedagogy comes from a Greek word meaning “to lead the child.” You may have heard this word in relation to the “Divine Pedagogy,” which is the way that God chooses to reveal himself (or truth) to us. Simple put, a pedagogy would be a method of teaching and the order to which a topic is taught. Many curricula claim to follow an order in the lessons, but not every order lends itself to conversion and receptivity to the content. 

For example, an order that follows the readings of the mass may at first glance appear helpful because it lines up with what the students hear at mass. However, the readings of mass were not ordered with a long term teaching pedagogy in mind. The readings relate to the other readings from that day or season, but do not lend themselves to bring the student (learner) to a place of conversion. The readings also are not topical, so this kind of order would become quite repetitive as readings throughout the year present themes that past readings already covered. 

In my personal opinion, an impressive pedagogy is one that begins with Jesus Christ. Now, many begin at the beginning–Creation. This is okay, too, but what I find to set curricula apart and above others is when they begin with the person of Jesus. 

“People today need to turn to Christ once again in order to receive from him the answer to their questions about what is good and what is evil. Christ is the Teacher, the Risen One who has life in himself and who is always present in his Church and in the world. It is he who opens up to the faithful the book of the Scriptures and, by fully revealing the Father's will, teaches the truth about moral action. At the source and summit of the economy of salvation, as the Alpha and the Omega of human history, Christ sheds light on man's condition and his integral vocation.”1

St. Paul writes in the second letter to the Corinthians of the veil that is over our understanding, but he says, “when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed.”2 Jesus enlightens our minds to what we will learn, so look for curricula that begin with Jesus and the Gospel message. Bonus points if the following lessons directly tie in Jesus or the Gospel message as a common thread. 

Not only should the lesson topics themselves have a long-term pedagogy, but each lesson should follow an order. One of my favorite methods for a lesson is the ecclesial method. There are actually some programs that use this name for their method, and others that follow it but call the steps of the lesson something different. Essentially, this order begins with a preparation of the heart, leads into a proclamation, and then teaches in the presentation. This order would then end with an application and finally a celebration of the material (which would usually be the prayer). 

2. Scripture!

This is actually a soapbox element for me! We live in a culture of the Church where so many are ignorant of the Scriptures. St. Jerome is known for saying “ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” So many people long for the truth and search for the truth that is found in the Catholic Church. However, so few know that truth is found in Jesus’ Church because doctrines have largely been taught apart from Scripture. This is speaking to the formation that I, and many I have met, grew up with. Where were all the bibles?!

Everything the Church teaches can be found in Scripture, even if just in “embryo” form, so it must be a part of teaching! If a curriculum does not bring in Scripture or encourage the catechist/student to open the Bible, I often will not recommend it. (I say “often”, because if everything else is of high quality, this element can be made up for by the catechist, however that assumes all catechists have the formation and know-how to supplement this lack in the text… and it is a severe disparity if it lacks.)

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3. Elements that promote prayer

The Church teaches that prayer is a "vital and personal relationship with the living and true God"3 and a “communion with Christ.”4 If one’s goal is to help others become disciples this means they are followers of Jesus and in relationship with Jesus. This relationship is impossible without prayer. Prayer should not just be something to start or end a lesson; it should be emphasized throughout the topic. 

A few ways curricula may incorporate prayer into a lesson would be Lectio Divina or Visio Divina, Sacred Art throughout the pages, recommended hymns to sing, and the traditional Catholic prayers. Bonus points given to programs that use prayer to prepare hearts for the lesson and celebrate the conclusion of the lesson through prayer.

4. Elements that promote real life application or reflection

If the curriculum can’t help students answer the question, “how does what you just learned change your life?” then it is simply average and not yet excellent, in my opinion. An excellent resource does not tell others why this material is important, but guides the user/receiver to identify its importance on their own. It would then give opportunities or activities to apply the material. 

For example, Saint stories are a great way to show the material lived through the lives of saints. I have seen saint stories that are followed with discussions for students to meditate on in their own lives. This is great! Small group discussion, or even simple examination of conscience activities, are other great ways to apply the lesson to one’s life. 

5. Additional resources

Something that sets one curriculum apart from others is if there are additional resources available. These may be optional or may come at an extra cost, but extra resources are always a plus in my book. Examples could include catechist resources or print outs, an online student portal, or optional short videos or audio files. I was even able to review a curriculum that offered the catechist a short audio recording that taught the material for each week. This helped the catechist feel more prepared to teach others. I’ve also come across online parent resources or catechist portals that have more resources than available in the books. 

6. Publisher support

Finally, this one is an added bonus that goes a long way in my book! If the publisher is easy to get a hold of and shows a willingness to help, I am more likely to look over the curriculum and potentially choose it. I have encountered both spectrums of this. The one that set her company apart from all the rest was the representative who was always willing to meet over video calls, to offer feedback and implementation tips from other parishes that worked with the materials, and to even join for a formation call to parish leaders! I appreciate having that person-to-person relationship with those far more knowledgeable than myself! 

Comment below: What are some things you look for when choosing a curriculum or resource for ministry?

I have the great joy of meeting in a book study every week with a group of women who work in ministry (or used to… we’ve been meeting for years so stages of life change). I LOVE our time together! As usual, we started our recent meeting catching up on life, work, and family. And one of the members' work updates led to a 45 minute discussion (out of a 60 minute meeting) all about how ministry workers are, at times, treated.

Now, I do not want this post to be viewed as venting on common Church and ministry environments; instead I’d like to share some insight from friends’ experiences, Church teaching, along with my own two-cents suggestions. Perhaps, as a Church, we can learn a few things about renewing work environments to become places that truly respect the human person. Don’t put up that wall of defense just yet. I know the Church respects the human person! This is not about beliefs and doctrines… it is about – even for just a moment – looking honestly at how those that serve the Church are too often treated. 

Maybe the Church could be a place where those passionate for sharing the faith WANT to work. Where burnout or turnover is not the norm but the exception! After all, if we truly believe what the Church teaches about the human person, the Church should be paving the way for how to treat people in the workplace! Is that happening? Are we paving the way as an example for the secular world? (*cough* NO *cough*)

In my book study, the conversation started by one of my friends, who now works in the secular world for an insurance company, sharing how her office finished their yearly evaluations and she was excited because she got a raise. She shared that over the course of her merely 2 years working there, she had already increased pay by $10,000. Sadly, when she worked in ministry, she never knew raises were common in a workplace; she didn’t know they could be expected. 

This led to a needed conversation about how undervalued we all felt!

I say “a needed conversation” because so few people share their struggles with money (which sparked feeling unappreciated). So few people share their salary with others. So few in ministry know what is common vs. what is actually fair. So few are justly compensated. 

This same friend shared a recent experience she had. She said, “when I was working in ministry, I spoke with a friend of mine. This friend is in a high-up leadership position for a very well-known Catholic organization. I told him I was struggling to live off what I was making in ministry. His response was simply, “yea, that’s pretty common.”

Why is this common?! Why can’t this be a conversation we feel comfortable having? What is fair; what is liveable? Why can’t this “norm” of ministry be challenged so it isn’t common?

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Well, we all had the conversation! Many of us started our positions barely making a liveable wage… as SINGLE unmarried people! A few of us had received raises, but they were too small to cover inflation and cost of living increase–so they weren’t really noticeable. Several had NEVER gotten a raise in their ministry positions. 

To show how common it is, another friend of mine once told me that he gave a hoped-for salary range in a job interview. Let’s note, it was a very fair range. The interviewer told him, “Well, you can’t expect to get rich working for the Church.” No… but you should be able to expect pay that matches the level of work you do. Pay that is competitive to a similar secular position. Pay that is at least at the base level for any entry-level job. Pay that supports a family! “The laborer deserves his wages.”1 His response to his interviewer: “I am not asking to get rich. I am asking for enough to support the basic needs of my family.” He did not get the job. This very issue was the stated reason.

The Church teaches extensively on the value of the human person! Should this value that is written about extensively and preached not also be modeled in the workplace? This can and should be modeled in wages, but also in care for others!

I have a friend who was advocating for “compensatory days” at work. If you work in ministry, you know it is never a 9-5 kind of job. We work weekend events; we plan evening formation; we take work home with us; we lead studies on the weekends; we write talks on our days off; we link our emails to our phone and constantly answer them; the list goes on! It's a 90 hour a week job! This friend asked for a “comp day” policy that would make it so if she worked a weekend day then she got to take a day off the following work week. If she had to work late into the evening then she could begin that day a little later than usual. The propellant to advocate for this policy was because these extra events and hours were taking time away from her kids. She was told, “You spend enough time with your kids,” and that was the end of the conversation. 

Ummm… WHAT?!?!?!?! (sorry for the outrage. This is a sensitive one for me…)

Is the Church not pro-life? We have offices of “Marriage and Family Life” and yet our policies are often not all that kind to the “FRUIT OF MARRIAGE” which is family life! The Church writes that the fruit of marriage is children and raising children. 

“Fecundity is the fruit and the sign of conjugal love, the living testimony of the full reciprocal self giving of the spouses: "While not making the other purposes of matrimony of less account, the true practice of conjugal love, and the whole meaning of the family life which results from it, have this aim: that the couple be ready with stout hearts to cooperate with the love of the Creator and the Savior, who through them will enlarge and enrich His own family day by day."2

The Church should be a model of care for others in the world. We are in so many other areas; care for the dying and infirm, care for the elderly and home-bound, care for the spiritually deprived, or care for the prisoners. The Church serves as a light in this way. Can we not carry that light to care for the laborers in the vineyard; for the servants of God giving their lives to his mission? It should be modeled in pay, in attitudes, in policies, and in benefits!! 

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When it comes to benefits, let me hop on my soapbox for a moment… 

I cannot begin to count how many ministry leaders I have spoken to who do not have maternity leave plans. If they do have maternity leave, for many, it is less than 6 weeks. That’s less time, in some cases, that it takes for a mother to heal from the birth, not even considering the time to bond with the child and begin the “raising” of children the Church teaches is the fruit of family life! For many, the “maternity leave” is Short Term Disability or Paid Time Off. This is NOT a plan. Having to use PTO means for years (speaking from experience) a woman cannot take time off for a doctor’s appointment, for a sick child, for a vacation, etc., because that PTO needs to be banked for the next baby. We “support,” and encourage large families and yet someone has to save up PTO or disability for years in order to have another child. This is so contrary to what the church teaches!

Not that my vote matters here… haha… but I propose not only having fair and generous maternity leave plans, but also having paternity leave plans! After all, the husband is the head of the home, right? The husband helps to raise the children, right? My husband, who works for a secular non-profit, got five weeks of paid paternity leave after each child. It was such a gift to him and our family. Why can’t the Church be a model for other companies in this way? 

We can show care through pay and policies, but also through intentionally knowing the life situations and struggles of our employees.

I have witnessed so many environments simply out of touch with the realities of employees today. For example, daycare costs are a huge burden on families with small children who work in ministry; for many, a large portion of one’s paycheck goes to paying for someone else to raise their children. This leads to more ministry positions going unfilled because it is cheaper… yes CHEAPER… to just not work. If the amount of disposable income (after daycare) is so small that 1-2 days of work elsewhere can bring in the same amount… then secular jobs will win over ministry jobs 10/10 times! Perhaps this is a cause of fast turnover… of burnout… of unfilled positions? 

In continuing my unsolicited advice for “care of the human person” policies, is it unreasonable to advocate for a daycare stipend! Before my HR rockstars and parish leadership says, “yes, that is unreasonable,” many parishes, schools, and dioceses help cover Catholic school costs for employees. Why couldn’t a daycare stipend/scholarship be reasonable in this same light?  

These are just small examples of ways the Church can model what it teaches! After all, we are meant to be witnesses, first.

“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”3

“Feisty Kara” as my friends call me when I get extremely passionate has definitely made an appearance in this article. And perhaps the response to this article might be: “Yea right!” “We don’t have the budget for this.” “Our HR department would never go for this.” And so on… I have two things to say to that:

1. Your budget is your theological statement. 

If you say you value something or are aiming to make a difference in a particular area at your organization and the budget does not reflect that… then that isn’t really your priority. For example, a workplace cannot say they are working towards the mission of the Church which is evangelization, while the yearly evangelization budget is $10,000 and the school/finance/building maintenance/you-name-it budget is $100,000. The Church cannot say we value the human person if the budget does not reflect that. 

2. This does not have to be “the way it has always been done.” 

A common saying among ministry workers tends to be, “This is just the way it has always been done.” If we want to see any renewal in the Church, stop using this phrase! We live in a time when the culture, people, formation techniques, and needs are always changing. John Paul II writes of “new ardor, new methods, and new expressions.” Church doctrine isn’t changing, but our zeal for it should; our approach to teaching the faith should, and our witness and expression of what we believe should! If you want to see change in your organization, be the first to speak up on it; be the first to make a change in your policies; be the first to care for your employees in a different way.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below. 

What has been your experience of work in the Church? 

Are you a leader in the Church; do you see any of these suggestions working in your organization? 

If anything suggested could be implemented, how do you think it might change the Church’s workplace environment? 

In this video I share a little sample of an area of conflict that can occur when lay apostolate work collides with parish led ministry efforts.

What do you think about this scenario? What is one to do? What does the story that I share mean for parish ministry? What does it mean for parents and other adults who desire to have a more active (and very human) role in the work of evangelization?

Please discuss in the comments section below.

More to come! Be sure to subscribe to stay up-to-date on the conversation.

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As catechists, preparing for this new catechetical year, we should be mindful of the example the Blessed Mother provides us. She was, after all, the most supremely Christ-centered person. By following her example, we too, can become more Christ-centered.

This “Christ-centeredness” is essential to the mission of the Church and catechesis itself. What is handed on in catechesis (at least if it’s done faithfully) is not only the teaching of Jesus, but also Christ Himself! He is the Word of God after all! Christ is the “one teacher” whose message is identical with Himself.

Here we see more clearly the Blessed Mother’s role as the “model catechist.” The entirety of her mission is to bring man to Christ, and Christ to man. That is our mission too! But looking at her example, we see that the Blessed Virgin conceived the Word in her mind in faith before conceiving him in her womb in the flesh. This is the goal of catechesis!

As Pope St. John Paul II reminds us, “Catechesis aims… at developing understanding of the mystery of Christ in the light of God’s Word, so that the whole of a person’s humanity is impregnated by that Word.”[2]

Following the example of the Blessed Mother in handing on Christ through catechesis, we must faithfully proclaim the Word of God and nothing but that Word. The goal is to better allow those we encounter to cooperate with the grace and plan of God; that they also may be led to the place of declaring, “Let it be to me according to your word.” Only then can Christ be “conceived” in the womb of their hearts and His incarnational presence be manifest.

Mary is the supreme example of the “obedience of faith” that the catechist desires to achieve in his or her listeners. Of course, catechists cannot give what they do not have, and therefore, we must also make these same words, indeed, this very same experience, our own.

As catechists we seek, like the Blessed Mother, to bring Christ to the world and the world to Christ so that they may encounter the love of Christ and discover the joy of the Gospel. Much like Mary, this requires us to encounter the love of Christ for ourselves. We must receive the Word of God in our hearts and in humility say, “Be it unto me.” Only then can we become bearers of Christ in the world.

As Pope Francis reminds us, “I invite all Christians… to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day.”

Let us look to the Blessed Mother as the model for this personal encounter, that the word of the Lord would bear fruit in the wombs of our hearts; let us look to her as our model catechist, and like her declare, “Be it unto me according to thy word, oh, Lord.”

[1] Matt 4:18-22; Matt 11:29-30; John 15:4-5

[2] Catechesi Tradendae, 20

Within this backdrop, it can be easy to miss the profound meaning and purpose at the root of serving as a catechist. For example, why are you a catechist? Is it simply because no one else could be found? Maybe it is because your heart was breaking at the thought of such an important need going unmet? Maybe you just love to pour your heart out to those children and watch them grow in faith? Maybe your heart has been moved to serve the Lord and His Church in some way and you are just not sure how? I invite you to reflect on the answers to these questions!

To all catechists, I’d say, no matter where you find yourselves, it can be easy to forget who you are as catechists; that is, who the Church says you are. We live in a time when “identity” is the buzz word. It shapes our politics, our laws and all facets of our lives. Yet so many of us suffer from an “identity crisis,” which in turn causes us to be nervous, to be anxious and yes, even to be frightened. Realizing your identity and walking in that reality are essential to overcoming this crisis. Who does the Church say you are as catechists?

First, the Church proclaims, “Catechists are truly the pride of the missionary Church;” a “praiseworthy army of lay apostles.”[1] Pope St. John Paul II affirms that the endeavors of catechists constitute a “fundamental evangelical service.” Indeed, “from the very beginning of Christianity and wherever there has been missionary activity, catechists have made, and continue to make, “an outstanding and indispensable contribution to the spread of the faith and of the Church.” Now, you are either feeling very intimidated at the moment or you are feeling very good about yourself. A “praiseworthy army of lay apostles.” Wow!

At the heart of this is the fundamental truth: every baptized person shares in the mission and call to advance the kingdom of God, but Catechists participate in this mission and call in an additional and unique way. At the origin of the catechist’s vocation, there is a specific call from the Holy Spirit, a mandate. It is important for the catechist to recognize the supernatural and ecclesial significance of this call. To be clear, I am using the language of the Church. Notice, “vocation.” You thought it was the overworked DRE looking for someone, anyone, to fill a spot; or Father doing the same! Nope! It just may be the Lord is inviting you to discern and cultivate some gifts you never knew you had!

We live in an age when there is an endless variety of catechetical programs and resources, especially here in the United States. Every publisher and content creator makes big promises for their programs. Some catechetical leaders reaffirm these promises without necessarily observing tangible fruit. I remember hosting a formation day for youth ministers. To my shock and horror, a youth minister stood up, touted a video-based program, and said: “It’s great! All you have to do is just press play.” Let me be clear: Catechesis is about making disciples. Pouring your life into your students, teaching them by your words, showing them the doctrine by your life, creating opportunities for them to apply what you have handed on to them. Ultimately, catechesis is allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through you so that Christ may be formed in your students by first allowing Him to be formed in you. That does not leave room for “just press play.”

Programs are tools. Every carpenter needs good tools. But a tool by itself cannot accomplish anything. Programs do not make disciples. People do. That said, the catechist is so important that the Church declares, “No method, no matter how well tested, can dispense with the person of the catechist in every phase of the catechetical process.”[2] This is because the catechist is essentially a mediator. The catechist facilitates communication between the people and the mystery of God as well as within the community.

St. John Paul II declared that the goal of all catechesis is to put people into deep and intimate communion, a meaningful personal relationship with Christ.[3] The catechist is an essential part of bringing those catechized into an intentional, genuine, and intimate life-long relationship with Christ. The catechist is handing on Christ Himself. In so far as the catechist is united to Him, the catechist extends an invitation to profound relationship with Christ by their words, their deeds, and their witness.

As Pope Francis says so perfectly, “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day.”[4] The catechist cannot give what he (or she) does not have. But neither can a video program or streaming platform. Yes, if you really want to help form Christ in the hearts and minds of those you teach, you are going to need this daily encounter. Otherwise, you might as well “just press play.”

Finally, in the hearts and minds of children (and even adults), the catechist will often be the model of Catholic faith and life; the guide who ushers them into the communal life of the Church; the person they will turn to not only to learn to pray, but also the person they will turn to when they stand in need of prayer. To be a catechist is a beautiful and noble thing. Is it challenging? Yes. Or maybe, YES! But how great is the reward! To lead just one person to life-long communion with Christ is worth even a lifetime of effort. Indeed, to be a catechist is something profound, something incredible; to truly catechize is to be Christ’s instrument – yes, He is teaching through you! Not just in the classroom, but beyond!

If after all of this, you feel that you cannot do this great task, that is a great place to be in! Because you are right. You cannot. But He can! He wants to do it through you! By the power of the Holy Spirit; through the work of His grace. You are not alone! Seek Him in prayer. Pray for your students. For your lessons. Take the time to prepare. Make an effort to really know your students. But above all, pray!

I promise! You can do this!

St John Bosco, pray for us!

[1] General Directory for Catechesis, 1

[2] GDC, 156

[3] Catechesi Tradendae, 5

[4] Evangelium Gaudium, 3

God had a plan for the salvation of the world. There were clearly action steps! Hello, salvation history!

However, action steps without prayer, without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; action steps that are not rooted in helping others to encounter Christ in Scripture, in prayer, in the Sacraments, and in one another… Well, that’s not renewal. Renewal is rooted in the Person of the Holy Spirit. It is also rooted in the heart of each person moved by grace.

By virtue of our Baptism and all the more by the grace of Confirmation, we are all apostles. We each have an apostolate.  Whether or not we bear fruit in this work is dependent upon the life of prayer. The person that knows best how to bring about the renewal of our parishes and our dioceses, even our homes… He is already there! He has been there waiting the whole time. His name is the Holy Spirit.

In ministry efforts, we can become so busy doing the works of God, that we neglect the God of works. The demands of administrative tasks, maintaining programs and the like can make it seem difficult to put first things first. This is true even in our daily lives. For example, the kids’ activities and schedules take priority even over the things that matter most. However, sometimes what we need can only be discovered through the battle of prayer and fasting; in sacrifice. It is often not easy. Many demands tug on us. At times prayer can seem as though it wars against our usual pragmatic and utilitarian tendencies; certainly our desire to be entertained. Many crosses we must bear and struggles we must offer up. However, that is the key. Embracing the cross, like Christ, for the joy that is set before us. What is that joy? The salvation of souls. Making disciples. Living to accomplish the very thing for which we were created.

In all sincerity, I believe one of the biggest obstacles to the renewal of the Church is one that I seldom hear anyone talking about: an unwillingness to sacrifice or suffer. Be it wounds to our pride, concern for what others think of us, unwillingness to change, fear of stepping out into the unknown, or whatever it may be; to approach things differently is for us, at least in some ways, suffering. This is hard to accept. I am guilty of this; more than anyone I know. The remedy for this is, and only ever will be, prayer.

We also have to recognize that sometimes the most fruitful ministry cannot be measured quantitatively. It can’t be reduced to check boxes, stewardship campaigns, curriculum standards or data entry. It is time spent, for example, in the coffee shop. More than a big-name speaker, a new program, video series, or book by this publisher or that one, the world needs more coffee shop missionaries open to the work of grace, open to life’s interruptions, willing to pray with and pray for others in the moment, willing to see as primary the salvation of souls; and more specifically, the making of disciples.

The call to make disciples is one we all share. This is much more than simply saying, "Jesus loves you." It is much more than saying, “I will pray for you.” Making disciples is saying by our lives, "Jesus loves you. And I am so compelled by his great love for you, and for me, that I will be here by your side on our shared journey toward eternity with him." For every individual believer, every program, if a lifetime of effort only leads to one person enjoying eternal intimacy with God in heaven, it is worth it. What price can we put on a soul? How much value is salvation and eternal union with Christ? St. Augustine declared, “God loves each one of us as if we were the only one to love.” Indeed, were you, dear reader, the only one who would have come to salvation through Christ’s Passion and Death, he would have done it anyway!

Still, there is more good news! We have the promise of bearing fruit… if we abide in Him! It does not mean we will necessarily see the fruit always, but it is a promise nonetheless! Not seeing the fruit no doubt is for the sake of keeping us humble! We just have to abide. “To be an apostle is to give Jesus to souls and souls to Jesus by making Him known in order to make Him loved, by filling yourself with Him in order to give Him… ‘An apostle is a chalice full of Jesus which overflows onto souls.”’[1] What are we being filled with? What is it that is overflowing out of us into (or onto) those around us?

It can be helpful to reflect further on the words of Christ in John 15:5, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you the branches. He that abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.” Fr Jean d’Elbee writes in the beautiful book, I Believe in Love:

“It is beautiful to pray in this way: instead of saying to Jesus, ‘Give me souls,’ say to Him, ‘I thank You for the souls which You give me simply because I am sure that You give them to me, relying on His own words: ‘All things, whatsoever you ask when you pray, believe that you have already received them, and they shall come unto you…’ Know how to unite yourself with the miracles He works in you continually, even when you do not realize and are not aware of it. ‘Jesus, I unite myself to the wonders You work in me. I know for certain that I love You today more than yesterday and that tomorrow I shall love You more than today, because I have opened my heart to Your grace, which is a torrent which ceaselessly engulfs me and continually transforms me into Yourself and spread out to others.’”[2]

This is the kind of paradigm shift that is needed in every diocese, in every parish, in the heart of every believer. We must never doubt that we are apostles; gifted and strengthened by the Holy Spirit to do this work. We were created for such a time as this. With the right gifts, in the right places, to meet the needs of the time. In our quest to renew the Church, we must not forget the God of works is present, stirring in our hearts, pouring out his gifts so that we might truly do the works of God. Renewal begins within our hearts as we are filled up with Jesus, so that we can pour Him out into the hearts of others. A well that never runs dry.

[1] Fr Jean C. J. d’Elbee, I Believe in Love (Manchester: Sophia Institute Press, 2001), 165

[2] IBIL, 175