Sample Projects

These samples are intended as illustrations to stimulate creativity for what is possible in your parish on the pathway to parish vitality.  The illustrations include urban, suburban and rural parishes.

RURAL SETTING - Holy Sabbath Parish

Just 3 years after the closing of their school, Holy Sabbath Parish, in a rural community, is still seeking to fill the void that seems to have been left behind.  Membership continues to decline even after both the initial loss of the school and challenges related to the Journey of Faith and Grace.  Recently attendance at the week-night religious education classes has dropped off, and even the participation in a few of the parish social events traditionally held on week nights has also fallen off.  Some parishioners travel a long distance to attend Mass on Sunday and are unlikely to make the trip during the week or in the evening.  The pastor and staff are overworked and the congregation seems uninspired...  The parish devised a plan to increase attendance, parishioner investment and plenty of energy staying true to the unique needs of its community.  Read more...
 

URBAN SETTING - St. Teresa of the Streets and St. Vincent de Paul Parishes

St. Teresa and St. Vincent Parishes are linked city parishes that survived two rounds of diocesan consolidation on the East Side.  The church buildings are majestic but aging.  Most of the parishioners can recall belonging to two or three other parishes over the last ten or more years.  Some drive in on Sunday from homes in the suburbs.  The large empty buildings on the property serve as regular reminders of ‘what once was’.  At the same time the neighborhood is beginning to experience signs of resurgence.  Young professionals are purchasing the larger elegant homes in the area and many immigrants and refugees are renting in the neighborhoods around these two churches which are less than three miles apart.   Occasionally a young Catholic might check out the church but there is little to sustain their interest...  The parishes in a cluster achieve unimagined success and raise the reputation of the Catholic Church for miles around in this global village.  See how...
 

SUBURBAN SETTING - St. Suburban Parish

This parish is busy.  It is sustained by a core of parishioners who run a great many events but who share a feeling that the parish is still losing ground.  There is a parish school but school families demonstrate little interest in parish life.  Collections are stagnant despite a recent stewardship campaign.  The congregation is aging and leaders are tiring.  Young families seem to attend intermittently at best and a quick survey of envelop usage confirms that young families do not seem to stay for very long.  This concerns the pastor deeply.  After staff level meetings and consultation with the pastoral council, the pastor decides to ask all parish leaders to review programs and activities in light of their impact on young families.  A parish 'at-risk' is transformed into a response-able church.  As easy as...

Contact:

Office of Parish Life - Dennis Mahaney

795 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203

Phone: 716-847-5531

Fax: 716-847-2206

Department of Lifelong Faith Formation - Mary Beth Coates

795 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203

Phone: 716-847-5505

Fax: 716-847-5593