PARISH VISITA PASTORA

See the notes of the last meeting

Visita Pastoral Files

Memo & List of Requirements

See Parish Files link for other information.

What is a parish?

According to Pope Leo XIV, a true parish is a welcoming, compassionate community that acts like a mother to her children, centering its life around the Eucharist and reaching out to the margins of society. 

Key Characteristics of a Parish

• The Heart of the Community: The Eucharist is the beating heart of every Christian and parish life, serving as the foundation for all activities. 

• A Motherly Presence: A parish should care for, welcome, listen to, and support its people—especially those facing danger, hardship, or moral and material poverty—without condemning or judging them. 

• Universal Hospitality: An authentic parish receives everyone openly, including Catholics, non-Catholics, believers, and non-believers, promoting respect, harmony, and peace. 

• Solidarity with the Margins: Parishes are called to address local social challenges, support the young, and stand by those carrying life's wounds or dealing with uncertainty regarding work and housing. 

• What is Synodality?

Synodality means the active participation, communion, and journeying together of all the baptized members of the Christian Church—clergy, religious, and laity—as they listen to one another and the Holy Spirit to fulfill their evangelizing mission. 

The word comes from Greek roots meaning "to meet" or "to walk together". 

Core Elements of Synodality

• Walking Together: It represents a spiritual style and path of renewal where the whole People of God journey toward Christ and God's Kingdom.

• Communion, Participation, and Mission: It emphasizes that every baptized person shares responsibility for the life, witness, and mission of the Church, rather than leaving decision-making solely to the hierarchy.

• Communal Discernment: It involves listening, dialogue, and prayerful reflection at all levels—local parishes, dioceses, national conferences, and the universal Church—to discern where the Holy Spirit is leading. 

What is our organizational Chart?

Click here.