Parish social ministry : strategies for success

Meeting the social needs of their communities-the elderly, teen moms, poor schools, blighted neighborhoods-is essential to the life of the parish. Whether looking to build upon, or simply start, a concerted social ministry outreach, this guidebook poses all the questions (and provides direction and answers) to help your parish move forward. Questions Posed and Answered: -What does a fully functioning parish social ministry effort look like? What is its vision? -What does a parish social ministry effort attempt to accomplish? How does it attempt to accomplish it? -What is the foundation of parish social ministry? -What are the characteristics of direct service and social action ministry? -What are the scriptural foundations for parish social ministry? -What are the key elements of successful parish social ministry? -How does one assess to what extent parish social ministry is being fully developed in the parish? -What exactly is a parish social ministry leader? How do we identify potential leaders? -How is a team of leaders organized to be the conduit for parish social ministry efforts? -How do you effectively recruit parishioners to lead social ministry work? -Is it important for social ministry to be integrated into the life of the parish? How is that accomplished? -How can diocesan offices and parishes create a partnership to do parish social ministry? -What are the main considerations and skills for being a successful meeting facilitator?… (more)