In a very real way, parishes are the backbone of the Catholic Church. It is in our parishes that Catholics worship, are formed in the faith, receive sacraments, and learn how to participate in the life of the Church. They serve as the fundamental unit of Church structure and are vital for community building and spiritual growth.
Since he started his Petrine ministry in May of this year, Pope Leo XIV has spoken and written about his vision for parish life. Parishes, according to Pope Leo are the locus for building community, fostering genuine human connections and for shared faith experiences. He has described parish life as a wellspring of healing, hope, support and as a vital place where Catholics can gather, grow together, and experience the presence of God.
Pope Leo has also stressed that parish life is not a solitary enterprise but rather is a collective experience where Catholics support one another in their faith journey. He further connects parish life to the broader mission of the Church, stating that in the parish Christians grow in their love of God and then go out into the world to be credible witnesses to God’s love. In order to do this successfully, parishes need to be tuned in to the signs of the times so they may respond effectively and expeditiously.
For many years, The Basilica parish has successfully operated under the Liturgy, Learning, and Christian Life paradigm. However, our world and our church have changed drastically since we first developed this paradigm. To best fulfill our parish mission as outlined by Pope Leo, Fr. Daniel Griffith and our staff have looked at new ways to minister to our community. New wine indeed needs to be stored in new wineskins. (Mark 2:22)
To do this important work we identified the following objectives: the integration of ministries, the reduction of compartmentalization, greater clarity in terms of responsibilities, and above all the alignment of our staff structure with evolving ministry goals, particularly around pastoral care, engagement, hospitality, and formation. After much input, prayer, and thought, some important changes have been made to our ministry team structure.
What was previously known as the Learning Department has been reimagined and was renamed the Department for Engagement and Family Life. This reorganization stems from a desire to create a more unified, holistic approach to faith formation while engaging entire families in the journey of faith as envisioned by Pope Leo. Our goal is to address the ever-changing needs of children and youth in our demanding world, support their development within the context of family life, provide catechesis that is responsive to today’s challenges, encourage broader community involvement and most importantly, foster a meaningful relationship with God.
The new Department for Engagement and Family Life will be led by Melissa Streit. Building on her very successful work with our young families, Melissa has been asked to work with staff and volunteers to develop a new and comprehensive whole family approach to our catechetical efforts. The department will have two other team members. A part-time Assistant Coordinator of Family Life will focus their talents and efforts directly on Sunday morning catechesis for children and youth, as well as on youth confirmation. A full-time Administrative Assistant will support the administrative needs of the department.
In the liturgy department two previously existing positions were combined into one new position. The Coordinator of Adult Sacramental Preparation and Celebration will prepare adults for initiation into the Catholic Church and will accompany engaged couples through marriage preparation and celebration.
These new roles have been posted, both internally and externally. We hope to fill the roles with efficiency, knowing that the new program year is coming quickly, but also taking the time necessary to fill the positions with the best candidates.
May the Holy Spirit, who is our trusted guide, lead all our efforts as we endeavor to faithfully fulfill the mission of our Church and our Basilica parish.