“A parish reaching beyond its own members and beyond national boundaries is a truly ‘Catholic’ parish.”
Called to Global Solidarity: International Challenges for U.S. Parishes. U.S. Bishops, 1997
Parish partnerships, also known as, “sister parishes” or “parish twinning”, involves visits to one another’s parishes to really get to know their brothers and sisters, share their joys and their struggles, their gifts and their culture, hopes and dreams. Parish partnerships are an invitation to live our lives and faith in a spirit of global solidarity.
The parish partnerships phenomenon has been steadily growing in our archdiocese since it began in the mid-80’s. Today over 40 of the archdiocese’s 230 parishes have some form of relationship with an international parish or entity, and about 20 parishes have a partnership with another parish within the archdiocese.
The Archdiocese Parish Partnership Team (APPT) provides direction, training and resources for parishes to develop mutually respectful and satisfying parish partnerships. This Team holds conferences annually where parishes in the archdiocese are invited to send individuals who are engaged in supervising sister parish relationships. Through these conferences, attendees learn how to enhance healthy sister parish relationships.
The Church must step outside herself. To go where? To the outskirts of existence, whatever they may be, but she must step out.
May 2013 Vigil of Pentecost Address, Pope Francis
If you have questions or would like to speak to someone, contact Janine Ricker>> or 651-291-4504.
