I heard once that most of the world’s conflicts are rooted in expectations that are unclear. This would explain why my children are hardly ever able to clean their rooms without very specific instructions. It’s even gotten to the point where, when asked to clean the basement, the children will often reply, “Do you mean neat or really neat?” Clear expectations can save a lot of time and frustration.
I thought of those endless conversations with my children the other day as some colleagues and I were brainstorming about expectations when it comes to our faith communities. We wanted to create a general list that answers the question, “What should be able to expect from my parish community?” Just to be fair, we also wanted to answer the question, “What should my parish expect from me?”
Our initial list is below. Feel free to use the comment section to add to the list. We plan to publish our list as part of a report we are working on as we reimagine faith formation in our diocese. Our hope is that these lists will help parishes become more welcoming and engaging.
What should I expect from my parish community?
- A welcoming, Catholic community, rooted in the Eucharist
- Liturgical experiences that are engaging
- Accompaniment through life’s joys and struggles, celebrations and heartbreak
- Opportunities to use my gifts and talents in service of the parish and wider community
- Opportunities for Reconciliation
- Parish leadership that is well formed for their ministry
- Parish staff that is friendly and knowledgeable
- Opportunities to pray for the needs of others and learn more about my faith
- Opportunities to support the community through prayer and tithing
- Regular, ongoing communication about the life of the parish
What should my parish expect from me?
- Regular, active participation in Sunday Mass
- Ongoing prayers for my parish leadership and community
- A willingness to get involved in the life of the parish
- A willingness to serve in ministry
- A willingness to learn more about my faith
- A willingness to share my faith with others
- A willingness to reach out to others, welcoming them to join our faith community
- A willingness to support the parish financially
What would you add or change?
May your week be blessed!