Evaluating Parish Social MinistryAn Assessment Tool for Parish Staff and LeadersThis assessment tool is intended to assist Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in evaluating and improving their social ministry and social justice programs. It is rooted in the assumption that the Church's social mission should be central and integral to parish life, not tangential or optional. As the U.S. Bishops said in their 1993 statement on parish social ministry: “We need to build local communities of faith where our social teaching is central, not fringe; where social ministry is integral, not optional; where it is the work of every believer, not just the mission of a few committed people and committees.” (Communities of Salt & Light, p. 4)By design, this tool examines the Church's social mission in various areas of parish life -- worship, education, social concerns, etc. This tool can be used in its entirety by parish staff and key leadership committees, or it can be divided into distinct sections, each of which can be used by an appropriate leadership group within the parish. Follow the links below for individual sections. (The complete assessment tool is available in booklet form by calling the Office for Social Justice at (651) 291-4477.)
Prayer and WorshipPreachingReligious EducationFamily and WorkCharity and OutreachCitizenshipOrganizing for JusticeBuilding Solidarity Beyond Parish BoundriesInternal Policies and PracticesNext Steps
