What Parish for the 21st Century? Parish Renewal Guidelines in the Context of Current Cultural Changes in Europe

Abstract

: On the 29th of June 2020 the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy released a new pastoral instruction on the parish: “The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelizing mission of the Church.” The organizational structure of the Church, well-established over previous epo-chs, is currently undergoing a certain crisis – a consequence of a wider crisis of the Church and even a wider crisis of the Christian faith in the countries of Western civilization. It is not only the declining number of priests but also the dec-reasing number of Catholics that has led to a weakening of the parish status. Bishops in Germany, Switzerland and other countries in Western Europe have probably already accepted this phenomenon and are focusing on the development of pastoral care in supra-parish organizations, such as unions (com-munities) of several parishes or large regional pastoral centers. Unfortunately, these organisms resemble religious services and Church administration stations rather than former parish communities bustling with religious life. The aim of this study is to determine the chances of survival for the parish under the current circumstances of the Church in Europe. If a parish is to survive the current cultural changes, it is necessary to answer the following questions: munity of communities, and the parish as a community of co-responsible service.