Small communities?

[Andres88]

All the parishes I know in my city (not sure of the ones in other dioceses) are focusing in the creation of small communities (5-10 people) with a coordinator. This way, there is an increased sense of belonging. Two different communities serve at the 11AM Sunday Mass. And well: it has brought some kind of "revival" of the practice of our faith for many who were not as involved in the parish life (and even the Christian life in general).

Just wondering if this focus of creating small communities is common anywhere else, or if it's just a "local-level" strategy used in my diocese.

 

[Fantine]

I lived in a St. Louis parish for six years that established small church communities, and I really enjoyed participating.

The movement was started by Fr. Art Baranowski, and he even came to visit our church and discuss them.

Here are some books about small church communities.

Ordering Information

Fr. Art was also interested, not only in forming communities, but in using the "community" concept whenever parish groups gathered together--the choir, CCD teachers, social concerns, Bible studies, etc.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

Protestants have been doing it for years.

 

[Memento Mori]

Protestants have been doing it for years.

Yes, they're called cell groups if I'm thinking of the same thing. I really like this idea.

 

[Martinius]

I have not noticed it happening to any great extent in our area, but I have heard of it, read about it, and I think it is a wonderful idea.

Unfortunately, the tendency is to look toward the priests for direction and the impetus to start any such program. But it really should come from the people of the parish, with the blessing of the pastor. I have found that anything that is started and controlled from "outside" the group to be served has little hope of long term success. It has to be driven and built up from within.

I know that in some Catholic communities this idea has worked well. For example, at some parishes in India which have thousands and thousands of families, people belong to neighborhood faith communities, with dozens of them in a parish. We may be arriving at the same point in the U.S., with the consolidation of many parishes, the creation of "super-parishes", and the resulting loss of community identity. Perhaps what is working in your diocese would work as well in those parishes and dioceses.

 

[Michie]

Protestants have been doing it for years.

True. One thing you can say about protestants... they have the incentive & drive to put things together if they see a need.

 

[Andres88]

True. One thing you can say about protestants... they have the incentive & drive to put things together if they see a need.

Absolutely. Even though we should not diminish faith to a competition between Protestants and Catholics, there is a lot we can learn from them (and a lot that they can learn from us as well, obviously).

Didn't know about Fr. Art Baranowski. I think I'm going to have to do some research on him.

 

[Michie]

Absolutely. Even though we should not diminish faith to a competition between Protestants and Catholics, there is a lot we can learn from them (and a lot that they can learn from us as well, obviously).

Didn't know about Fr. Art Baranowski. I think I'm going to have to do some research on him.

I can honestly say I am immensely grateful for my protestant background. Enough said.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

I can honestly say I am immensely grateful for my protestant background. Enough said.

I think it is a good idea. It gives Catholics an opportunity to connect.

 

[KatherineS]

It follows the concept of "base christian communities" which are popular in Latin America

 

[Michie]

I think it is a good idea. It gives Catholics an opportunity to connect.

Something that is needed imo.

 

[mark46]

This was the model of the 1st Century Church.

 

[ebia]

All the parishes I know in my city (not sure of the ones in other dioceses) are focusing in the creation of small communities (5-10 people) with a coordinator. This way, there is an increased sense of belonging. Two different communities serve at the 11AM Sunday Mass. And well: it has brought some kind of "revival" of the practice of our faith for many who were not as involved in the parish life (and even the Christian life in general).

Just wondering if this focus of creating small communities is common anywhere else, or if it's just a "local-level" strategy used in my diocese.

The parish I worked for the school in tried it. They had a meeting to explain the idea (I know, because I volunteered my time to set up the audio/visual for them), but I don't think it got any traction. A shame, really.

 

[MKJ]

In big parishes, I can see how some sort of smaller groupings might be required (or, build smaller churches). But 5-10 people seems like too small a group to me.

It would be easy to get into a group where you did not really much connect with any of the people. Or what if one was a real jerk or there could be personality conflicts... How do you deal with this stuff if you happen to get assigned to the same group without it causing its own headaches.

It just seems a little artificial somehow. People usually get to know each other by being involved in some small group, and over time in a parish their circle widens. If it is not possible to do that, I am wondering how the parish has nothing going on for people to be involved in, or why no one looks out for new people, or why the parish is so huge people are anonymous to each other.

 

[Fran75]

Absolutely. Even though we should not diminish faith to a competition between Protestants and Catholics, there is a lot we can learn from them (and a lot that they can learn from us as well, obviously).

Didn't know about Fr. Art Baranowski. I think I'm going to have to do some research on him.

Absolutely, my husband is a protestant and is more devout than I, although I don't agree with his church on many things I am humbled and inspired by their passion and devotion to our Lord.

I have never heard of cell groups or the like though.

 

[QuantaCura]

This is the kind of thing which will vary depending on the participants and oversight. It can range from something fairly edifying to the blind leading the blind into the pit. My experience with them in college was they ended up being a mediocre Bible study, where no one had the real knowledge or experience to offer anything particular profound, but everyone was well meaning.

Interesting enough, their results have generally been better than what their promoters have actually wanted for them.

Call to Action (Fr. Baranwoski has spoken at several of their conferences) and similar idealogues have apparently looked to small church communities (SCCs) as a way to disassociate Catholics from the hierarchy and have spread them with this end in mind. Nevertheless, people who end up participating in them (at least in the US) are actually more likely to be involved with the parish in general and are more likely to believe what the Church teaches. This of course is seen as a problem for Call to Action who have sought to reform SCCs to better work for their agenda. Here's the article with this info:

Library : The Catholic Experience of Small Christian Communities - Catholic Culture

 

[Andres88]

Great insight, QuantaCura!
In my parish, these small communities have helped our brothers feel more identified with the Church its teachings, and to be more involved in the parish life. They have a coordinator who leads the community for 3-6 months, but he/she is trained before assuming that role.

 

[sonshine234]

I was thinking about this thread at Mass Sunday and my parish is a small community, on good Sunday's we have 12 people there.