Book sees parishes thriving in future

Mr. Wilkes, a teacher at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, is the author of several bestselling books, including "The Good Enough Catholic" and "The Seven Secrets of Successful Catholics."

"Excellent Catholic Parishes" profiles parishes in Massachusetts, Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, Louisiana, Oregon, Kansas and Idaho. It delves into their histories and offers "points of excellence" for each to explain what makes them successful.

Encouraging signs

"What really impressed me was not even the number [of excellent parishes], but the innovative, intelligent, spiritual, exciting ways Catholicism was being lived out in this country," he enthused.

Mr. Wilkes and two colleagues, Marty Minchin and Melanie Bruce, spent two years searching for excellent parishes across the U.S. and researching what makes them successful. The book also includes an index of excellent parishes nationwide, including four in the Albany Diocese (see sidebar).

Characteristics

"These churches, at their core, visualize themselves as missionary churches," he said. "They are open to what their people's needs are, and that's what makes them great."

He remarked that while he has experienced some less-than-notable churches, "I go to these parishes and say, `Wow! This is wonderful!'"

Variety of styles

For example, at one church featured in the book, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a staple of parish life, but the parish also runs a health clinic for the poor.

In fact, Mr. Wilkes prefers not to use terms like "liberal" or "conservative." Rather, "I always talk about a `progressive Catholicism.' A parish has to both honor the tradition and go beyond it. We come from a long line of Catholics. These churches really do honor the tradition and the system -- but they wear them lightly."

Welcome signs

One pastor told the author, "Holy Communion is not a reward for good behavior. It's food for the journey of life."

"That really resonates with me," Mr. Wilkes commented.

Two elements

"Faith in God, that He is really with us; and in each other, that within the body of this Church, there are people who can come up with solutions" is crucial, he said.

As for imagination, the author said the featured parishes are often "churches with cathedral ceilings and leaky roofs; they're small Catholic churches and large Catholic churches." To be successful, "imagination is the key: `How can we make this work?' `What is the problem and how can we solve it?'"

Visionaries

"If you build it, they will come; if you're visionary and humble, it will happen," he remarked.

He added that change often comes not from the Church hierarchy, but from the laity. "In many cases, they are forming their church," he said, foreseeing "more and more lay-driven leadership."

Often, the atmosphere of a parish changes drastically when a new pastor or administrator is assigned there. Mr. Wilkes said Catholics must be patient in trying to effect change.

"If you had a great parish and the bishop appoints somebody with combat boots and French cuffs, [the people must] continually say, `We are Church. Let's do this together.' And it's a slow process," he said.

Doable

He also advised trying his website, www.pastoralsummit.org, for information about a national conference on implementing the ideas.

"This is a wonderful way to live a life, being a Catholic," Mr. Wilkes concluded. "These [parishes] are places where you can be nurtured and prodded, and meet people who have the same spiritual values you do."

("Excellent Catholic Parishes" is available in paperback for $16.95 from Paulist Press. Visit your local Catholic bookstore or call 1-800-218-1903.)

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