Catholic Responses to the Vulnerability of the French Parish Church:
General Material Designation
[Article]
Other Title Information
Continuities, Disruptions and Hopes
First Statement of Responsibility
Marie-Hélène Robert NDA
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.
Leiden
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Brill
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Parishes in France, especially in rural areas, seem to have difficulties in existing, renewing themselves, and being missionaries in the 21st Century. To address this challenge, some of these parishes are developing original initiatives emerging from the laity that are generating new movements. We will describe some examples of these initiatives and analyze the ecclesiological issues in three directions. The laity can exercise their charisms in movements, parishes, professional, or family settings. The ordained ministries are gifts of God, uncompetitive, and articulated to each other by the Holy Spirit in the aim of communion. The parish is a central and singular locus but it is neither isolated nor exclusive, but rather in relation to other ecclesial places or mission territories. Parishes in France, especially in rural areas, seem to have difficulties in existing, renewing themselves, and being missionaries in the 21st Century. To address this challenge, some of these parishes are developing original initiatives emerging from the laity that are generating new movements. We will describe some examples of these initiatives and analyze the ecclesiological issues in three directions. The laity can exercise their charisms in movements, parishes, professional, or family settings. The ordained ministries are gifts of God, uncompetitive, and articulated to each other by the Holy Spirit in the aim of communion. The parish is a central and singular locus but it is neither isolated nor exclusive, but rather in relation to other ecclesial places or mission territories.