Discovering Leadership Models for Catholic Parishes Home :: Contact Us :: Site Map

Listening to the Spirit: Bishops and Parish Life Coordinators

by Mary Bendyna, RSM, Ph.D., Tricia C. Bruce, Ph.D., Mary L. Gautier, Ph.D.
March 17, 2008

Bishop focus groups discussed the use of Canon 517.2 and the use of parish life coordinators and sacramental minsters. "Overall, bishops report a positive assessment of their experience with PLCs. Most, however, identify this as a less-than-ideal solution to the priest shortage, describing PLCs as a 'temporary' measure until priests can be assigned as pastors." An in-depth study of Canon 517.2 is one of a number of research initiatives conducted on different emerging models of pastoral leadership.

Download this Article

As one of a number of research initiatives, the Emerging Models Project studied the role of parish life coordinators and sacramental ministers under Canon 517.2. Part of the study focused on the reponse of bishops and their insights into the use and theology of utilizing this canon. This report, conducted for the Project by the Center for Applied Research in the Apsotolate (CARA) indicates some of the gifts, challenges, and questions about Canon 517.2.

The purpose of these focus groups was to learn from bishops the theological issues related to appointing parish life coordinators. The focus group protocol was designed to explore the following:

  • the theology of ministry that informs the decision to appoint parish life coordinators and the evolution of thought about this area of ministry among bishops,
  • the selection, formation, support, and evaluation of parish life coordinators
  • advice and recommendations from bishops who have experience with parish life coordinators
  • implications of this model for parish ministry
  • the connection between a parish community and the bishop, and
  • the process of assessing parish vitality and how that factors into the decision to appoint parish life coordinators.

CARA conducted six focus groups between October 2006 and April 2007 in the following five locations:

Santa Fe Province, Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 3, 2006

Milwaukee Province, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 12, 2006

Region II, New York, New York (two groups), January 29, 2007

Louisville Province, Louisville, Kentucky, March 1, 2007

Region VIII, St. Paul, Minnesota, April 25, 2007

Each focus group included between five and twelve bishops from the province or region. All were facilitated by the same CARA researcher, with the exception of New York, where one of the two focus groups was conducted by a second CARA researcher. The Emerging Models project also invited the participation of priest theologians who were present for for all but two of the focus groups. This report analyzes the responses of the 45 participating bishops.