[Opinion] The parish today : The reality and the way forward – Part 1

Beloved in Christ, Casting our minds back to the early beginnings of our home parishes as priests, religious, and Christ’s faithful, each of us recalls fond memories of our parish priests—especially the expatriates.

From those who chased us away for writing on church, mission house, and school walls, to those who nurtured our faith, identified and built our talents in our formative years, to those who sacrificed everything to build a solid foundation for the Church by channeling their inheritance toward the construction of schools, mission houses, and church buildings.

Many even turned their mission houses into true family homes where, after every Sunday Mass, the faithful were welcomed for refreshment and fellowship. I remember very well the fish pond we had in the parish. Today, most of the stations that were once missionary outposts have become dioceses—a clear sign of growth in the pastoral life of the Church.

As more parishes are created and new pastors appointed, it becomes pastorally strategic to consider the present reality of parish life: the appointment of parish priests, parish administration and management, the basic canonical knowledge needed for parish leadership, the parish structures, commissions and councils and their functions, the canonical definition and role of a pastor, his powers of governance and limits, pastoral oversight, lapses, excesses, negligence, and pastoral supervision.

WHAT IS A PARISH AND WHO IS A PASTOR?

Canon 515 §1 states: “A parish is a certain community of the Christian faithful stably constituted in a particular Church, whose pastoral care is entrusted to a pastor as its proper pastor under the authority of the diocesan bishop.”

A parish, therefore, is a stable community of the faithful established by competent authority—usually the diocesan bishop—and entrusted to a competent priest who has been nominated, vetted, and appointed as its proper pastor under the bishop’s pastoral supervision.

By Church law, the parish priest’s administrative role is to provide pastoral care primarily through preaching the Word of God and celebrating the Sacraments—especially the Holy Eucharist, the center of parish life by way of caring for the souls entrusted to his care. Other para-liturgical acts such as the blessing of homes and vehicles also fall within his ministry.

As the proper pastor, his office is threefold: teaching (sound doctrine and morals), sanctifying (through the Sacraments), and governing (servant leadership exercised with ordinary power).
As administrator, he must diligently safeguard the temporal goods (parish properties) and the spiritual goods (the Sacraments) of the Church.

MUST EVERY PRIEST BE A PASTOR?

Not every priest may end up as a chaplain or pastor, just as not every cassava is suitable for preparing fufu; some are better for frying gari. The person could be good in another area for takes good administrative and leadership skills, sound morals, and the ability to teach the faith with pastoral creativity and dynamism to shepherd a parish effectively.

Sometimes priests who lack familiarity with certain parish traditions—such as a non-Legionary priest assigned to a deeply Marian parish—struggle if they do not quickly adapt. The same applies to renewal-oriented priests sent to traditional parishes. Without balance, the parish’s vibrancy may suffer. A pastor’s spiritual life directly affects the parish; therefore, he must remain spiritually aflame.

THE PARISH STRUCTURES AND SYSTEM

In many advanced countries, parish structures are well organized. The administration includes the Office of the Parish Priest, the Parish Accountant, the Catechist’s Office, and the Parish Archives. There are also the Caritas Office, the Oratory, and a Recreation Centre with a football pitch for the youth.

Parish commissions include the Catechetical & Education Commission, Finance & Welfare Committee, Laity Commission, Transport & Logistics Commission, and the Sunday School & Youth Commission. All work with the parish priest, offering wise counsel. These councils and committees are consultative, while the parish priest makes the final decisions. If he errs, he is answerable to the diocesan bishop.

THE SAD REALITY OF OUR PARISHES

Unfortunately, many parishes struggle to grow for several reasons:

1. Lack of Parish Planning

Pastors should work with diocesan offices to create long-term pastoral and infrastructural plans renewed every ten years. This prevents inconsistency—such as building an Adoration Chapel on land designated for a car park or erecting stores where a clinic was planned.

By Church law, pastors cannot build or renovate any parish building without the diocesan bishop’s written approval. They must ensure plans align with Catholic architectural norms and available parish funds. No pastor should demolish structures without written permission.

2. The “Jack-of-All-Trades” Pastor

Vatican II encourages pastors to utilize the expertise of lay professionals. However, the Church often expects free services, which is unsustainable. In other cases, hired workers exploit parishes through inflated costs, forcing pastors to manage projects with limited funds.

3. Lack of Pastoral Creativity

Many city parishes lack weekly teachings or Bible study. A Sunday homily is not enough. Pastors must intensify catechesis and tailor it to different groups. They should also move beyond the office—into slums, marketplaces, homes, and workplaces—to evangelize, rekindle faith, and attract new members.

It may be time for the Church to train priests and laypeople in organizing mega crusades, rallies, dawn broadcasts, and Christian community programs.

4. Lack of Love and Unity

Conflicts between societies, guilds, choirs, or even between the parish priest and the council hinder spiritual growth. Parish life has often turned into an unhealthy competition of wealth during harvests, neglecting the poor who give little financially but much in service.

Pastors sometimes ignore the poor—unconsciously or otherwise—while gravitating toward the wealthy. This contradicts the Gospel.

TO BE CONTINUED

By: Rev. Fr. Albert Kyei Danso
Chaplain, Holy Family Ghanaian Catholic Community Church, Italy.