FROM ARCHBISHOP SCHNURR
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
In this Jubilee Year 2025, we are called to journey together in the hope of Christ and share that hope with others as witnesses of the Good News of the Lord. Much has transpired since we introduced Beacons of Light in June 2021. Together we have studied population and parish trends, organized parishes into Families, and launched a significant pastoral planning process designed to strengthen our archdiocese to live out Christ’s great commission of evangelization into the future. Now, at the midpoint of that process, it is good to see glimpses of the vitality envisioned in Beacons of Light developing in our Families of Parishes.
It is evident that our priests, deacons, lay staff and parishioner leaders are finding new ways to lead and serve in this time; for this and the many sacrifices they have made to do so, I am deeply grateful. This report highlights the significant progress toward unity and greater vitality in most of our Families of Parishes: Family leaders, both clergy and laity, are taking clear steps to identify a Family vision, build Family culture, and create plans for a more vital community of evangelization centered on the Eucharist.
When we announced Beacons of Light in 2021, I noted that if we are to be the Church as Christ intends, we must understand that “status quo” can have no place in our vocabulary. We must always ask ourselves, “What in God’s plan must we do next?” This is the challenge for all of us now and will continue to be. As I have said previously, Beacons of Light is not simply a process of reorganization of our parishes in response to changing demographics, diminished religious practice and fewer priests. Beacons of Light is a process of pastoral planning to best arrange all the resources of the archdiocese to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples in this particular time and place. Its goal, therefore, is to foster parish communities full of disciples who live out Christ’s evangelizing mission. This is a call, a responsibility, for each one of us.
Please read this report in its entirety and respond to the survey linked below. It takes all of us working together and growing in discipleship to bring the Gospel to life in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
As we celebrate this Jubilee Year, we pray for the continued success of Beacons of Light with great hope for the future of our local Church. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church and our Mother, may our Lord continue to bless us with His presence and His love.
Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr
Archbishop of Cincinnati
Introduction
This 2025 Parish Vitality Report marks the midpoint for Beacons of Light, a significant milestone in the comprehensive pastoral planning process implemented in June 2021. While most have experienced Beacons of Light as the reason their parishes are now part of Families of Parishes, the earnest hope and goal of Beacons is greater parish vitality — spiritual, physical and financial health in the parishes of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Such transformation will result in parishes that are more fully alive and filled with people who are followers of Jesus and sharing their faith through the witness of their lives.
Read More
I am pleased to share this report with you, as it gives evidence that many Families of Parishes are addressing the phases, principles and parameters of Beacons of Light and seeing signs of new life as a result. There are challenges now, and there will certainly be more in the coming year, as Family leaders take steps toward lasting change. We know priests, deacons and lay leaders are stretched thin as they maintain current aspects of parish life while envisioning a new, more vital future. I am often reminded of Pope Francis’ pastoral vision stated in the Joy of the Gospel, “I hope that all communities will devote the necessary effort to advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are (EG #25).” Conversion requires change, and I am encouraged to see Families of Parishes changing to proclaim the hope of Christ more fully in our time and place, even when doing so is difficult.
I ask you to read this Parish Vitality Report in its entirety. Ask yourself what you can do to grow as a person of faith and contribute to the new life and vitality of your Family of Parishes. We are, and will be, better if we do this all together! This is why the Leadership principle of Beacons of Light states, “Pastors, in collaboration with parochial vicars, deacons and lay ministers, according to their proper roles and charisms, share responsibility for pastoral leadership. The spiritual, physical and mental health and ongoing support of ordained and lay leaders is vital for Families of Parishes.” I am particularly encouraged that most Families are addressing that principle through the establishment of Family Leadership Teams and Family Pastoral Councils. Such co-responsible leadership is key to greater parish vitality as leaders pray, listen to one another and discern together as they plan for the future.
After you have read the 2025 Parish Vitality Report, please click the Take Survey button below to take a survey, sharing your thoughts, insights and experiences. Responses to last year’s survey helped shape the resources, opportunities and support the archdiocese offered to pastors and Family leaders in 2024. Your responses will help inform future offerings as we continue to foster greater vitality in the parishes of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Very Reverend Jan K. Schmidt
Director, Department of Pastoral Vitality
Take The Survey
The Parish Vitality Report highlights progress and challenges of Beacons of Light. Share your experience in your Family of Parishes by responding to the Parish Vitality Survey.
What is Parish Vitality?
Vital parishes are spiritually, physically and financially healthy. They are filled with life that is evangelizing — leading people to Christ and sending members out with the Good News of the Gospel in word and in deed. Vital parishes order their resources toward this evangelizing mission so that they will be full, joyful and centered on the Eucharist, nurturing an ever-closer relationship with Jesus and spreading the love of the Lord through charitable outreach.
This Parish Vitality Report shares the progress Families of Parishes are making toward the goal of greater vitality, guided by the phases, principles, parameters and milestones of Beacons of Light.
While Beacons of Light has a distinct timeline, with Families of Parishes creating plans toward unification by June 30, 2027, the ultimate goal of the process is for parishes to be healthy, vital communities filled with missionary disciples. The Beacons of Light phases, principles and parameters are designed as a framework for Families to move from maintenance to mission.
Building Blocks for Parish Vitality
Beacons of Light is designed with building blocks to enhance pastoral life in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Phases
Sequential areas of focus; the phases are not tied to calendar years.
Principles
Foundational elements that contribute to the vision and mission of Beacons of Light.
Parameters
Common expectations for all Families of Parishes; what every Family must or must not do.
Milestones
Markers for each principle that determine when a Family has completed a phase.
The Pastoral Planning Pathway includes five phases. In Phase 1, pastors form Family Pastoral Councils, Family Leadership Teams and staff, each rooted in prayer and supported by healthy teamwork. In Phase 2, leaders discern and create the vision for their Families. In Phase 3, leaders shape parish culture, evaluating and aligning ministries and practices with their Families’ visions. Families of Parishes report significant progress in moving through these first three phases, with 12 percent in Phase 2 and 62 percent beginning Phase 3. In 2025 the Center for Parish Vitality will be reaching out to the 15 Families in Phase 1 to offer increased support and coaching.
Number of Families in Each Phase of Beacons of Light
Phase 5
Mission
Phase 4
Planning
Phase 3
Culture
Phase 2
Vision
Phase 1
Leadership
15 Families in Phase 1
7 Families in Phase 2
36 Families in Phase 3
57 Total Families
15 Families in Phase 1
7 Families in Phase 2
36 Families in Phase 3
Beacons of Light at the Midpoint
From the very start, Beacons of Light has been informed by data and provided objective insights into the demographics of the archdiocese; population trends in cities, towns and regions; and parish sacramental and giving trends over time. This Parish Vitality Report draws on the data previously collected and relies heavily on the Annual Planning Reports all pastors submitted in October 2024. This report also includes insights from the archdiocesan deans and Beacons liaisons, providing a progress report on the Beacons of Light process at the implementation midpoint. Updated Mass attendance and sacramental and parish financial giving data are collected annually and included in this report. The data, information and examples included in this Parish Vitality Report provide indicators of progress toward the pastoral conversion of parishes and people envisioned in Beacons of Light and brought forth by Pope Francis as recently as 2020.
Families of Parishes
In The Archdiocese of Cincinnati
10 Families
have 1 parish
9 Families
have 2 parishes
10 Families
have 3 parishes
10 Families
have 4 parishes
13 Families
have 5 parishes
1 Family
has 6 parishes
3 Families
have 7 parishes
1 Family
has 8 parishes
Family of Parishes
A grouping of parishes led by a common pastor and characterized by collaboration and shared resources.
Parish
A stable community of the faithful with a church or group of churches within a diocese. Its oversight and care are entrusted to a pastor as its shepherd under the authority of the diocesan bishop.
Church
A church is a sacred building set aside for public worship. Each parish has at least one church. Each church has a title which cannot be changed after its consecration
Since the implementation of Beacons of Light, two Families of Parishes have been canonically unified, with all church buildings remaining in use. It is important to note that changes to the status or use of church buildings are made only through a process of prayerful discernment by Family leaders. Five additional Families have merged some of their parishes and continue to work toward the eventual unification of the remaining parishes in the Family.
Priests Now and Into the Future
Most Families of Parishes are now served by more than one active priest. In many but not all Families of Parishes, the number of priests assigned will remain consistent over the next five years. This presumes the continued positive response to archdiocesan efforts focused on priestly vocation recruitment and formation.
Number of Active Diocesan Priests
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025
2027
2029
2030
With a small decline in the availability of diocesan and religious order priests over the next five years, the number of priests serving Families of Parishes will decrease by approximately 10. Most of the projected decrease is due to the expectation of fewer religious order priests available to serve parishes.
In the coming five years, up to 20 percent of the Families of Parishes will have one less parochial vicar compared to their current staffing levels.
The positive news is that the decline in active diocesan priests has slowed. The age cohorts of active priests have begun to equalize, and one-third of the active priests are now under the age of 40.
Many priests are remaining active well above the retirement age of 70, with one in four active priests eligible to retire in the next five years.
Beacons of Light has resulted in the need for fewer pastors, including among the recently ordained. Priests ordinarily serve at least two terms as parochial vicars before becoming pastors.
Over the past few years, there has been a need for some pastors and vicars to be reassigned. A major change project of this nature can be stressful for all involved, and some priests have needed to step away temporarily or take on a different assignment.
Mass Attendance & Church Utilization
For the past four straight years, Sunday Mass attendance has continued to increase in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. In 2024, there was a positive two percent growth over 2023 with a total of 113,670 more of the faithful attending Mass. While we continue to climb closer to our 2019 pre-pandemic attendance, four years of increase is a strong and encouraging trend for our archdiocese that will hopefully continue as Families of Parishes focus on the vision for the future and the “why” at the root of the Beacons of Light project: “To proclaim the Gospel and make disciples in this particular time and place.” Participation in the Eucharist, and in particular Sunday Mass, is a foundational principle in Beacons of Light.
Weekend Mass Attendance
Across all churches in 2024, we have an overall of 50 percent utilization, up 16 percent from 2021, which is a positive and encouraging statistic. From 2023 to 2024, 41 percent (83) of our churches improved their utilization for Sunday Masses by at least five percent. This means that churches are fuller, resulting in more vibrant liturgical celebrations and a better use of human and physical resources. In some cases, the increased utilization results from simply reporting seating capacity more accurately to an archdiocesan standard (27”). (This is an important reason to assure all churches have reported current and accurate seating capacity numbers.) Since this year has seen fewer Mass schedule changes, utilization improvements are strongly attributed to true Mass attendance growth. Thirty-five percent (72) of our churches still have declining utilization numbers (17 of these have been declining for over two years, and nine are below the 50 percent threshold), which need attention in this matter.
Financial Giving
Over the past two years, parish revenues have nominally risen by only 0.8 percent. In the same time period, inflation has driven price levels in the United States much higher, making this basically stagnant revenue growth a risk for parishes being able to sustain ministry, provide for capital needs and remain healthy and vibrant faith communities. It is clear that the expansion of EdChoice in the State of Ohio in the past few years has decreased the need for parochial school support from parishes’ operating budgets.
Archdiocese of Cincinnati Giving
Catholic Schools
Catholic education is an integral part of many Families of Parishes’ missions. The 110 schools within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati radiate Christ by forming students to be disciples. Catholic schools throughout the archdiocese have worked diligently over the past two years to ensure operational viability and access to quality Catholic education for years to come. As part of this process, some Families of Parishes have identified efficiencies in their schools through shared leadership structures and sharing of resources.
The Catholic Schools Office has recently been assisting the Center for Parish Vitality in developing the planning process for Phase 4 of Beacons of Light. In this planning process, schools will contribute to the process as ministries of Families of Parishes, participating in Families of Parishes’ goals and objectives related to the six principles of Beacons of Light. In preparation for Phase 4, the Catholic Schools Office has encouraged Families of Parishes with schools to include school principals on the Family Leadership Teams. Twenty-five of the forty-four Families with parish schools have included their principals on their leadership teams or are in the process of doing so.
Progress on the Pastoral Planning Pathway
In their Annual Planning Reports, pastors indicated progress toward the milestones of Phases 1 and Phase 2 and that they are beginning to address the key elements of Phase 3, as well as the parameters associated with each guiding principle. To better understand the commonality among Families, Families of Parishes have been assigned a rating based on quantitative measures (Mass attendance, Sunday giving, sacramental celebrations, etc.), as well as their own self-reporting and that of others (e.g. deans, liaisons, et al.) Sixty-seven percent of Families are leading (ahead of what might be expected at this stage of the process) or on track (progressing steadily through Phase 2 and into Phase 3).
It is important to note that each Family addresses the principles in manners appropriate for the parishes and the communities in which the Family is located. No two Families are doing things in exactly the same way. Yet, progress is being made to transform parish life in order to move from maintenance — maintaining the status quo above all else — to the mission of Christ and the Church in this time and place.
The 2023 Parish Vitality Report indicated that 81 percent of Families were leading or on track to meet the goals. Fewer Families are leading or on track this year. This is expected, as each phase of Beacons requires incrementally more effort and attention as the type of change required becomes less administrative and more directional and strategic. It is important to know that most Families of Parishes are taking significant steps on the Pastoral Planning Pathway. Only a handful of Families are facing serious challenges, many of which can be overcome and some of which are external and beyond the control of pastors and their teams.
67% of Families Are “On Track” or “Leading”
The Importance of Vision
A vision statement is an important step forward for a Family of Parishes as people come together as a more cohesive community. A strong vision statement encapsulates inspiration and provides a rallying cry — a clear goal — for the Family’s leadership and members. A clear vision helps prioritize allocation of parish resources, facilities and funds. A vision statement also helps Families move out of comfort zones and past the normal reluctance to change by energizing parish communities with the promised vision of a better future.
Thirty-eight Families of Parishes have articulated a vision statement and fourteen more are in progress at this time. The vision statements may be refined in the future to reflect the radical changes necessary to transform life and shape parish culture toward the goals of more robust parish vitality and missionary discipleship.
Selected Family Vision Statements
“To lead everyone to a vibrant relationship with Jesus through our Catholic Faith.”
— Our Lady of Hope Family of Parishes
“Reflecting the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus through reverent worship and joyful fellowship, St. Maximilian Kolbe parishioners generously serve our neighbors and engage in missionary discipleship.”
— St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish
“We exist to offer the life-giving intimacy of Jesus to the hurried, lonely, and lost.”
— Holy Face of Jesus Family of Parishes
Forty-one Families of Parishes participated in Visio Day, a process designed to equip Families to discern the visions for their Families. Thirty-eight Families of Parishes participated in the Phase 3 culture kickoff workshops; six of those have taken the next step by attending, or are scheduling to attend, a retreat to focus on building Family culture.
The Importance of Culture
Beacons of Light Principles
A Framework for Transformation
Eucharist
The Mass is the source and summit of the whole Christian life. Accordingly, the Eucharist is the essential moment for building up and strengthening the parish community, along with the sacraments and other celebrations of the paschal mystery – the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Status
72% (42 Families) have a director of worship.
21 have a Family Worship Commission; nine more are in progress, many with individual parish worship commissions still functioning but not yet combined.
Many Families offered special prayer and faith formation opportunities as part of the National Eucharistic Revival in 2024. Noted in their reports are times for Eucharistic adoration, increased opportunities for the sacrament of Reconciliation and unified sacramental preparation and training of liturgical ministers among parishes in the Family. Many have now combined their celebrations of the Paschal Triduum, particularly the Easter Vigil with celebrations of initiation of adults. Much of the work in the Eucharist principle has been focused on aligning Mass schedules and properly utilizing church buildings in conformity with the Beacons of Light parameters.
As Families of Parishes work to realize the vision of the Eucharist principle that church buildings are “truly worthy and beautiful, signs and symbols of heavenly realities,” some Families are undertaking projects to beautify their churches, replacing pews and flooring, adding fresh coats of paint inside, tuckpointing outside, enhancing the space with art and other renovation projects.
Church
Each of us is called to actively participate as a member of a parish, the universal Church and our local Church, led by our archbishop. Parishes continually deepen the bonds of communion with other parishes.
Status
Many Families are establishing annual social events, such as picnics or special Masses, that draw people together from all parishes within the Family. Special times of prayer, adoration and outreach are also noted, as are plans for further strengthening of ministry through unification of organizations. Some collaboration with neighboring Families is recognized as being especially encouraging. People are ever-more feeling part of their Families, not only a single parish. This is evidenced in a common name, website and bulletin.
Pastors and their leadership teams are increasing attention to meet the needs of immigrants from many countries who now call the Archdiocese of Cincinnati home. While the concentration of Hispanic parishioners varies regionally and in Families of Parishes, over half of Families have or are in the process of hiring a staff member who speaks Spanish.
Leadership
Pastors, in collaboration with parochial vicars, deacons and lay ministers, according to their proper roles and charisms, share responsibility for pastoral leadership. The spiritual, physical and mental health and ongoing support of ordained and lay leaders is vital for Families of Parishes.
Status
Significant progress is being made in forming key leadership groups in Families of Parishes. Seventy-eight percent of Families now have a Family Leadership Team. These teams meet regularly, focusing their attention on the vision for their Families, establishing culture that is aligned with the vision and directing the day-to-day life in their Families of Parishes. Progress is also noted in the decrease in the number of staff directly reporting to pastors; 59 percent of pastors currently have eight or fewer direct reports, freeing pastors to be more fully present to parishioners, actually take a day off, and lead their parishes more effectively.
Workshops on the role and scope of Family Pastoral Councils were held in the fall of 2023 for pastors. Following these sessions, at which Archbishop Schnurr spoke about the importance of the pastoral council and the Chancery gave information about the council’s role in canonical unification, deanery convocations for pastoral council members were attended by 475 people, with 55 Families of Parishes represented.
At least 91 percent of Families have or are working toward forming a Family Pastoral Council.
Pastor Change
It is important to note that a number of Families have experienced a pastor transition in the past year. Such a change has a profound impact on the Families and the progress the Families can make toward the life, health and future envisioned in Beacons of Light. While change is always challenging, new pastors and their staff, parishioner leaders and people are progressing through the transition as fully and well as possible.
Staff Capacity
In the 2023 Parish Vitality Survey, parish leadership was the greatest need respondents noted for their Family of Parishes. Pastors echoed this concern in their Annual Planning Reports, noting that staff does not have the time or ability to undertake new initiatives or to lead the envisioned change toward mission due to current ministerial load. This concern raises important questions for growth potential for the future:
- How do leaders affect change when they’re at capacity maintaining the current state of life in Families of Parishes?
- How do Families make the shift to greater missionary discipleship?
- How do Families prioritize time and energy for new practices and strategies?
When Beacons of Light was announced in 2021, Archbishop Schnurr noted that, if we are to be the Church Christ intends, we must understand that the status quo can have no place in our vocabulary. “We must always ask ourselves, ‘What in God’s plan must we do next?’” This challenge is about not only the configuration of parishes into Families, but also, more importantly, the call for each person to embrace change toward newness of life in his or her parish, even when that means letting go of things that may have served well in the past.
In the past year, 39 pastors have consulted with the Human Resources Department for general support and/or exploring new staffing models.
In addition to support from the Pastoral Center and live and online workshops periodically offered throughout the year, Amazing Parish Online is now available free of charge for Families of Parishes to use to equip pastors and Family Leadership Teams to lead and serve their parishioners with even greater excellence. Each module includes a video and some have worksheets and other materials. Topics for the modules include teamwork, prayer, evangelization, discipleship, transition management, vision, having better meetings and more!
Deacons
Deacons are co-responsible for leadership in Families of Parishes. A recent survey of archdiocesan deacons provides a better understanding of the gifts they bring to their ministry.
Stewardship
Families of Parishes are communities of grateful disciples. Recognizing God’s gifts, they use their talents, skills and resources to build up the Church and live as Christ’s Body in the world.
Status
45% (26 Families) have a Stewardship Champion; 18 more are in progress.
13 have consulted with the Stewardship department to increase stewardship awareness.
8 participated in the Grateful Disciples leadership cohort; 7 have registered to begin in 2025.
Many Families of Parishes have taken inventory of their ministries and are unifying groups, increasing ministerial capacity and offering renewed opportunities for people to become involved. Priests incorporate the spirituality of stewardship into their homilies and are exploring other communication avenues, such as bulletins, Family websites, and email blasts to invite people to grow in gratitude and respond through generous giving of their time, talent and treasure.
Evangelization
As centers of missionary outreach, Families of Parishes find new ways to foster discipleship among all the baptized. Schools, parishes and indeed the domestic church itself are centers of this essential work.
Status
76% (44 Families) have a director of evangelization; 3 more are in progress.
37 have consulted with the CNE.
62% (36 Families) report having an Evangelization Team.
Over 70 parish leaders have received formation in the Process of Evangelization & Discipleship.
Initial evangelization efforts are beginning to take root throughout the archdiocese. The Center for the New Evangelization (CNE) recommended programs such as Alpha and the Rescue Project as reaching new people with the Gospel. The CNE is receiving unsolicited emails from parishioners, praising the evangelization work in Families of Parishes in which the pastor, Family Leadership Team, director of evangelization and Evangelization Team are working together on mission. Many Families emphasize the importance of equipping adults with a deep understanding of their faith so they can become effective evangelizers in their daily lives. Families are also creating ministries specifically designed to support families in their faith journeys, as well as investing in vibrant youth and young adult ministries that provide opportunities for spiritual growth, community building and outreach.
Love in Action
Families of Parishes will be communities of charity and justice, serving those most in need and working to change systems that oppress and marginalize.
Status
59% (34 Families) have a Love in Action point person; 2 more are in progress.
43 Families have worked with the Social Action Office and/or Catholic Charities to incorporate various programs.
Most Families are building on existing outreach ministries, such as Respect Life, St. Vincent de Paul, outreach to the homebound and coat and food drives to serve the poor and vulnerable in their local communities. They are also expanding service in their local areas and promoting a culture of life, charity and justice through other programs, including a Love in Action retreat, Walking with Moms in Need, a talk on polarization and offering American Sign Language or sensory friendly space at Masses.
No one person among our clergy, staff and lay leadership could possibly have all the different levels of expertise necessary to form disciples and send them on mission. Disciples Radiate Christ is a program for forming parish leadership to collaborate to do just that. Participants learn how their Family of Parishes can support an individual’s spiritual journey toward discipleship and mission including stewardship, love in action and evangelization.
Support for Family Leadership
Of the 57 Families of Parishes, 40 pastors have either a Beacons Liaison or are working with a Catholic Leadership Institute coach. It is clear that, in most cases where Families have accepted such help, they are finding more success.
The Annual Planning Reports consistently highlight liaison support as the most helpful aspect of the parish unification process. Pastors and staff repeatedly express gratitude for their liaisons, describing them as:
- Present and engaged: Liaisons actively participate in meetings, offering feedback and guidance.
- Supportive and encouraging: Liaisons provide positive reinforcement and assist in navigating challenges.
- Informative and resourceful: Liaisons share crucial information, updates and deadlines, ensuring parishes stay on track.
Beyond Liaison support, several other resources and initiatives prove beneficial:
- Workshops and training sessions: In-person workshops, particularly those focused on communication and leadership, receive high praise for their practical value and the opportunity for interaction.
- Pathway tools and resources: These structured frameworks offer guidance and support throughout the unification process.
- Deanery meetings: These gatherings provide opportunities for collaboration, shared learning and support among neighboring parishes.
- Visioning process: Facilitated visioning sessions help parishes develop a shared vision and direction, fostering unity and purpose.
- Communication and support from the Pastoral Center: The Pastoral Center offers valuable assistance, resources and guidance, promoting a sense of connection and support.
- Regional and national conferences: International Catholic Stewardship Conference, Amazing Parish, Divine Renovation, etc.
The positive feedback regarding these resources suggests they are effectively addressing the obstacles and fostering vitality within the unifying parishes.
It is significant to note that 19 pastors have consulted with the Chancery regarding canonical unification of their parishes. The eventual merger or amalgamation of parishes requires extensive discernment of Family leaders, including the pastor, staff, and pastoral and finance councils. To date, all mergers and amalgamations, either completed and in consideration, do not envision shuttering any existing churches as part of their planning.
How Can You Help?
Throughout this Parish Vitality Report, parish leaders’ — pastors, staff and parishioner leaders — specific actions have been noted. There is much progress to celebrate, and there are areas that need attention and change in the coming years. There are ways parishioners can contribute to their Families in order to bring about the transformation envisioned in Beacons of Light, leading to greater parish vitality and missionary discipleship. For example:
If your Family has published a vision statement, become familiar with it and ask yourself how you are contributing to it.
Each of us has the potential to contribute to the building up of our Family of Parishes, creating lasting, positive change over time. Your Family’s vision statement is more than a collection of words placed in the bulletin or on the website; it should put into words a clear and compelling statement of purpose, not only now in this present moment, but also, more importantly, for the future of your Family.
If your Family published a Family Pathway Report, read it.
Family leaders have been strongly encouraged to create a Family Pathway Report to share progress the Family is making on the goals of Beacons of Light. Become more familiar with what is happening in your Family through your Family Pathway Report or other updates your pastor offers. If you’re not already giving your time in ministry or your financial resources to contribute to your Family, now is the time to become more actively engaged. You contribution will not only benefit your Family of Parishes, but also change you as you become a greater part of your community of faith and see the impact of all that is accomplished through the generosity of members.
Make a commitment to take a step to grow as a follower of Jesus.
We have noted throughout this report that the ultimate goal of Beacons of Light is bolder parish vitality, leading to missionary discipleship. Every person is on a journey of faith — let the coming year be one in which you make a commitment to regularly participate in Sunday Mass and faith formation opportunities, pray daily, read Sacred Scripture and invite the Holy Spirit to guide your heart and mind as you grow more deeply in love with the Lord. As your life changes, invite a family member or friend to come with you to Mass or a special prayer, social or service event at your Family of Parishes.
Be a person of hope.
When Pope Francis announced 2025 as a Jubilee year, he invited each of us to be pilgrims of hope, saying, “Let us even now be drawn to this hope! Through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it. May the way we live our lives say to them in so many words: ‘Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart and hope in the Lord!’ (Ps 27:14). May the power of hope fill our days, as we await with confidence the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and glory, now and forever.” This is the message that is so needed now in our parishes and all whom we touch with the love, forgiveness and mercy of God — hope that has the power to transform our hearts and the lives of our Families of Parishes.
Jeremy Helmes
Director, Center for Parish Vitality
Look Ahead
Culture Change,
Phase 3 and More
As it was last year, it has been gratifying to read the Annual Planning Reports from each Family and to talk with deans, pastors and parish leaders about their continuing progress toward the goals of Beacons of Light. In general, Sunday Mass attendance is up, parish revenues are holding steady and our archdiocese is poised to continue growing in faith, worshiping together, evangelizing others and serving those in need.
The Center for Parish Vitality is committed to continuing to provide resources and support for pastors and parish leaders to make even more progress on the Pastoral Planning Pathway as we cross the midpoint of this project. In addition to the many resources available on the Pathway platform (updated regularly), we have some specific tools and events which we trust will support parish leaders going forward:
Phase 3 Resources: Now that most Families of Parishes have completed Phase 2, they will begin working to make necessary changes in culture within their Families to bring their visions to life and prepare for effective planning. Family leaders will be invited to focus on the needed culture changes of their particular Families and identify successes from thriving parishes across the United States and beyond. In particular, Family Leadership Teams will be invited to make a retreat to grow as a team and focus their assessments of ecclesial culture within their Families.
Pastoral Council: The pastoral council constitutes the primary consultative voice of the members of the parishes and the Family of Parishes. Pastors and council members must be well-formed and informed so that their councils may effectively carry out their roles, particularly in the pastoral planning process envisioned in Beacons of Light. To follow up on the convocations of pastoral council members held by deanery in fall 2023 (attended by nearly 500 council members), we will offer continuing formation on the role of the pastoral council in pastoral planning. In particular, we will coach councils on bringing to life the vision of synodality expressed by Pope Francis in the recent Synod.
Journeying Together
Read more about synodality and Beacons of Light in Journeying Together: Theological Foundations of Beacons of Light.
Plan Local: Some of the most life-giving work we do is meeting with the leadership of each Family of Parishes to discuss the issues important to them, their struggles and their successes — up to and including their discernment about coming together canonically as one parish. In collaboration with other offices of the Pastoral Center, the Center for Parish Vitality takes the lead on delivering custom solutions to each Family of Parishes to help them work toward a more vibrant and vital future. In early 2025, we will offer to meet with the leaders of each Family to discuss next steps for them in the pastoral planning process.
Data-Driven Decision-Making: The Center for Parish Vitality will continue to support pastors and Family leaders by providing access to data to aid in critical decision-making. Through rigorous analysis of key factors, such as demographics, finance, Mass attendance, sacramental practice, school enrollment, etc., we can assist parish leaders in making data-driven decisions with as much information as possible.
Helping Hands: In partnership with the Pathway Lead (a parish staffer) from each Family, our 20+ liaisons (Center for Parish Vitality staffers) continue to serve most Families of Parishes in support of pastors and their teams, bringing to bear some of the best practices in parish vitality.
Thanks to everyone who continues to work tirelessly to support our parish leaders in the Beacons of Light process. Together, we can bring about renewed vitality in our Families of Parishes, in a hope-filled future in which our parishes will truly radiate the love of Christ as beacons of light!
Take The Survey
The Parish Vitality Report highlights progress and challenges of Beacons of Light. Share your experience in your Family of Parishes by responding to the Parish Vitality Survey.
Subscribe to Beacons Update
Receive timely information about Beacons of Light.
