When I was first invited to the project with Annunciation and Our Lady of Providence, I wasn’t quite sure how it was all going to pan out. Though these two parishes were not being consolidated into one, it was a unique project. Here we had two stand alone parishes under one pastor.
But when I met Fr. Esswein, the pastor of both parishes– I realized that his vision of discipleship was going to make a huge difference in this process of unification. Fr. Esswein is immediately disarming, warm, and dedicated. He began every meeting with prayer, and I could tell he had a personal relationship with everyone who was going to work on this project. Getting to know Father, his vision, and his pastoral love for his parishioners made me realize: this was going to work, and not only that, flourish.
As more parishes unite under one pastor, it can seem daunting. However it’s important to remember that integration doesn’t have to be overwhelming! At KP Consulting, we see it as an opportunity to strengthen community, enhance communication, and deepen the mission and parish desires of discipleship.
What Unites All Parishes?
Every parish shares the same mission: to baptize, teach, and proclaim the faith. This is consoling. While each parish has its own unique identity, we are all united in the same mission and guided by the same living Holy Spirit. At the same time, Pope Benedict said, “How many ways are there to pray? As many ways as there are people!” Hence, we should be cognizant of the culture and charism of the parishes we are working with alongside this journey of integration. It is good to ask: where are we beginning and where are we going?
Parish Journeys of Integration
Through working with two parishes under one pastor in St. Louis, Missouri, we learned that integration strengthens unity and culture.
Here are some highlights from our journey with them:
Our Key Steps for Successful Integration
Establish a Clear Vision: Pray, reflect, and consult with your parish leaders and Pastor to create a shared mission. This is the most important step, the cornerstone on which everything else is going to be built.
Build a Unified Communication Strategy: Use a shared calendar, combine digital platforms for ease, and establish clear communication processes across both parishes. Some good questions to consider are: Who is writing this communication? Who is it for? What do we want to say? How is this message going out?
Strengthen the Sense of Community: Host joint events, encourage personal invitations, and emphasize unity through pastoral leadership. In our most recent case study, there were many opportunities to integrate this new vision in previously established events (parish fairs, trivia nights, and donuts and coffee).
Strengthen Leadership: Define roles clearly, promote collaboration, and regularly assess leadership structures to support integration. During our last “Christ, Coffee, and Communications”, we talked about how writing out clear roles and responsibilities and processes are time consuming but extremely effective in helping communication run smoothly.
Final Encouragement for Pastors and Leadership
Integration may seem challenging, but with prayer, realistic time planning, and clear communication work-flow and processes, it’s possible to create a thriving, unified community. At KPC, we’re here to help you on this journey. By focusing on your parish mission(s), simplifying your communication process, and fostering community outreach, multiple parishes can flourish together as one.
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