Reflections in Christ

We all know the story, or have heard versions of it.  A new priest is assigned to a parish.  Upon his arrival there, the priest discovers or discerns that the parish is in decline, or is struggling with serious issues of Church growth and health, and resolves to do something about it.  He may be a priest with not only good ideas but inspiring…

Clergy and members of parishes that are beginning to decline will tend to notice something happening.  At first, what begins to happen is very subtle, hardly noticed.  It comes up during warm conversation, perhaps during coffee hour, and may even be, at the beginning of this period, something that is undertaken with joy and laughter as parishioners…