Wybrane sposoby rozwijania wiary w duszpasterstwie parafialnym

Abstract

Authors, referring to the statement of John Paul II from exhortation Catechesi Tradende no. 67, notice that it seems to be justified to assume that besides a parish, there is no such place in Church in which such multiple and various meetings of the faithful with Christ that develop their faith would occur. Therefore, in this article they try to answer the following questions: Are there any methods of developing faith in parish ministry? Does modern man still need a parish? These questions are answered on four levels: Firstly, they indicate the basic functions of parish that develop faith: – foretelling the word of God; – liturgical celebration; – pastoral service. Through realisation of these functions, parish is undoubtedly the most important place in which Christian community is formed and where it lives. It is created to be a family, brotherly home in which Christians witness the fact that they are People of God (CT 67). Secondly, they notice that parish is a place of evangelization. Parish is directed at development of faith through ministry that occurs in it. It is the necessity of evangelization of new environments that caused the process of parish creation. In parish, more than in any other place, evangelization becomes teaching, education and school of life which is based on constant development of faith. Thirdly, they define the duties of parish community to catechesis and its listeners. As Halina Wrońska, they state that parish is the most appropriate place for full realisation of basic functions of catechesis: teaching, education and initiation, while the third one can be completely realised only in parish. Fourthly, they define the methods of faith development in parish ministry that are characteristic for work with adults, teenagers and children. Authors notice that catechesis directed to parents of children who are preparing to the sacraments (of penance and reconciliation, eucharist and confirmation) is a great chance for development of adults’ faith. Priest’s actions aiming at development of faith should also be directed to teenagers. One of many forms of development of faith among teenagers is the preparation to sacrament of confirmation, but also retreats for high school graduates and pilgrimages. While developing the faith in parish ministry, one cannot forget about the youngest – children, whose formation is directed at creating in them a desire to contact with Jesus Christ and necessity of praying. The reflection discussed in article indicates that the fact of faith development in parish ministry is necessary. It is proved with theological arguments, statements of the Church’s Magisterium and religious and cultural conditions of today’s world.