Abigail Solum
Editor’s note: ‘Notes from the Vineyard’ highlights parish evangelization efforts inspired by Bishop James P. Powers’ Maintenance to Mission Pastoral Plan.
Perhaps you have heard the phrases, “Maintenance to Mission” or “Parish Transformation” over the past few years. Maybe you’re noticing increased evangelization efforts and changes in how your parish operates. This is all a part of Bishop James P. Powers’ “Maintenance to Mission Pastoral Plan” released in 2025. This plan was prepared to practically guide parishes towards revitalization. While many of us have witnessed the state of the church dwindling, as Bishop Powers states in his “Pastoral Letter,” “We live in such a time that God in His Providence seems to have offered us a choice: we can either continue to watch the decline of the Church or we can take up our mission anew with faith, courage and passion.”
The Office of Parish Transformation, established last year, has been hard at work making this mission a reality. Our roles include communicating and guiding each parish in setting goals, providing accountability, offering direction, and especially assisting with the numerous leadership and clustering changes that occurred throughout the diocese in July. We are here to help and support you.
Where are we now?
In August, the leadership in each parish received a Parish Statistics Snapshot. This document outlines the sacramental, involvement and financial health of your parish. Your leadership team will use this information as a guide to focus resources and evangelization efforts to best fit each individual parish’s challenges. Preparing these documents can be demoralizing; it is easy to only see a general downward trend on all fronts.
Fortunately, there are also points of hope to be noted. As a diocese, we have increased our individual confessions by 4,712, our adult baptisms/full communion into the church by 56, and our average Mass attendance is up 591 per week – all from just last year. Most categories are showing a gradual recovery or uptick since 2020, such as the number of family units in parishes. This data shows an increasing return to the faith and to the sacraments within our diocese. Many people are feeling called to transform their lives: “Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you will be able to discern the will of God and to know what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
Close to our hearts
Many Catholics feel like their parish is a second home. For those of us who have experienced this joy, we understand it is our mission to bring it to those around us – a place where the true mission of Christ shines through, sharing the redemptive power of God to all people. Our parish communities are important; they are a part of who we are.
I remember as a young adult realizing I was losing connection to my church home, a feeling many people can relate to as we grow apart from our childhood communities, or our parish continues to dwindle. This sense of homelessness is infecting. It brings forth hopelessness and despair. We can get preoccupied thinking about the good old days and all the wonderful things that have disappeared. But we do not need to be bystanders! I am inspired greatly by the words of Gandalf when he speaks comfort to a despairing Frodo, “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us” (JRR Tolkien, “The Fellowship of the Ring”). What will you do with the time God has given you? How can you make a difference in your community? How is God calling you to rebuild his church? It is with the Lord’s will and guidance that we must align our efforts, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
Connecting to the past
It is with this guidance that two parishes have discerned to build community in a unique way. A great approach to fight the homeless feeling of our current generation is to remember our roots. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Strickland is working to compile a historical journal for their parish. Don Antczak, along with his wife, Joanne, and others, has worked hard for more than a year to talk to the elderly and families of the community and hear their stories. This community’s interest in the past began when a display case, built by Don, was put up in the church featuring many pre-Vatican II treasures such as old chalices. Don said he was also inspired by his own family’s history of his grandparents being founding members of the parish and knowing many other current families share those same roots. Strickland aims to complete their book this winter, and Don hopes the project will “make the people feel that they are a part of the church and that their families were as well.” Still a work in process, it has already been a great evangelization effort, Don added. Just going out and talking to people about the church community, “it’s a big thing.”
Another parish, Our Lady of Lourdes of Dobie, has decided to also compile historical stories in honor of their 150-year anniversary as a parish. This committee, led by Cathy Solum, wishes to build up to a celebration in February and collect 150 stories to update the parish’s history book, which currently runs from 1876 to 2004. When asked about the purpose of the book, Cathy stated it will be an impactful evangelization tool: “We hope that by asking everyone for their memories, they will realize that they are a part of Our Lady of Lourdes. Their stories are important. And that they have a home here.” The committee also hopes the project will build community and inspire parishioners in the ways they can be involved and volunteer. The book is still in the preliminary stages; the committee is looking for stories. Submissions can be emailed to Roland at .
It is comforting to see two parishes understand the importance of recording their history and how each one hopes to welcome their current members into the parish’s long, ongoing story. This glimmer of hope can feel insignificant. It is important to remember that change happens one person, one interaction at a time. We are all called to bring the Gospel not only deeper into our own lives, but those around us. This is how we will bring our diocese into a new age of mission, into a new home: “Who knows? Have patience. Go where you must go, and hope!” (J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Two Towers”).
If your parish/cluster would like to share your transformation stories and unique ways of evangelizing and being on mission, please contact Christine Newkirk, Director of Parish Transformation, .
Abigail Solum is the administrative assistant for the Office of Parish Transformation.
