Parish Vitality May 2024

MAY 2024

A Jubilee Year

Pope Francis has declared 2025 to be a jubilee year with the theme of hope. It will begin on December 29th and end on Epiphany 2026. Special events will take place in Rome and at cathedrals and parish churches around the world. In the papal bull Spes nonconfundit, Pope Francis writes: “Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future will bring.”

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Names of Families of Parishes and Vision Statements

One unifying activity for a Family of Parishes is to take a name for the Family. Most Families of Parishes have already submitted their chosen name, and others are working on it. You can find a listing of the names of Families of Parishes along with their vision statement for their Family (once created in Phase 2 of Beacons of Light) on the Pastoral Planning Pathway. If your Family has not yet submitted your completed vision statement, please email Deacon Mike Lippman.

Names and Vision

9 Facts about Catholics

New Research Published

The Pew Research Center released a new fact sheet that contains nine demographic and statistical facts about the Catholic population in the United States, based on the center’s numerous surveys. Learn more about the Church in the U.S. in this interesting article from Catholic News Agency.

Bits and Bytes

Catholic Leadership Institute has some best practices for parish communicators as part of their Quintessentials series. Read More >

Interested in more formation for parish ministry? Mt. St. Mary's Seminary/Athenaeum of Ohio has launched new "endorsements" in fields like worship, catechesis, pastoral accompaniment, and more. Read More >

As part of the Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis convened a World Meeting of Parish Priests, bringing over 300 parish priests together to dialogue about building a more synodal and missionary Church. Read More >

Community Unites Around Soup Kitchen

Noticing the great temporal and spiritual needs of their local community, parishioners at Holy Angels Parish in Sidney, Ohio, joined together to kickstart Holy Angels Soup Kitchen around 25 years ago. Today, this ministry continues to put love into action. The kitchen not only serves the community, but it also fosters unity as a ministry of not only Holy Angels Parish, but a ministry of the entire Family of Parishes. Between 60 and 70 people enter their doors every day, and each is greeted with loving friendship and delicious food, satisfying both heart and stomach and leaving a memorable impact for years to come.

"The food just keeps coming by the grace of God."

- Judy Smith, Holy Angels Parish, Sidney

Upcoming Events

International Catholic Stewardship Conference

Sept 15-18
New Orleans, LA

Join parish stewardship leaders, pastors, and international experts for the annual conference.
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HR Training for Managers & Supervisors

June 11 or 13 | Mt. Washington or Monroe

“How do I hire the best candidate for my Family of Parishes? How do I grow and develop my employees to their greatest potential for service in our Family of Parishes? How do I help them move gracefully from our Family when that time has come?” These are the principal questions and topics that our archdiocesan Human Resources team will address at our next workshop for pastors and Family of Parish directors. Choose a location nearest you and register all managers and supervisors from your Family of Parishes for $24 TOTAL.

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Our Eucharistic Mission in a Polarized World

Summer & Fall 2024

This powerful series with Fr. Aaron Wessman, GHM will consist of six distinct talks – each focusing on a different challenge with polarization and how the Eucharist can address it.
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Center for Parish Vitality

Department for Pastoral Vitality

513.263.6692

vitality@catholicaoc.org

JEREMY HELMES | DIRECTOR

100 East Eighth Street | Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 | CatholicAOC.org