Pope Francis calls for an ecclesial renewal that places evangelization above self-preservation. He advocates for a "missionary option" that makes pastoral structures and activities more inclusive, open, and focused on going out to others. While the parish is a flexible institution that can take on different forms, it must truly be in contact with people's lives and not become disconnected. Other Church groups can enrich the Church when they maintain contact with local parishes and participate in overall pastoral work, rather than focusing only on parts of the Gospel or becoming rootless.

1. Pope Francis:
An ecclesial renewal
which cannot be deferred
From The Joy of the Gospel
(Evangelii gaudium) nn. 27-29
by Pope Francis

2. 27. I dream of a “missionary option”, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming
everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language
and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for
her self-preservation. Photo: PDDM Rome

3. The renewal of structures demanded by pastoral conversion can only be understood in this light:
as part of an effort to make them more mission-oriented, to make ordinary pastoral activity on
every level more inclusive and open, to inspire in pastoral workers a constant desire to go forth
and in this way to elicit a positive response from all those whom Jesus summons to friendship with
himself. As John Paul II once said to the Bishops of Oceania: “All renewal in the Church must
have mission as its goal if it is not to fall prey to a kind of ecclesial introversion”.
Pauline.org

4. 28. The parish
is not an
outdated
institution;
precisely
because it
possesses
great flexibility,
it can assume
quite different
contours
depending on
the openness
and missionary
creativity of the
pastor and the
community.
Pauline.org

5. While certainly not the only institution which evangelizes, if the parish proves capable
of self-renewal and constant adaptivity, it continues to be “the Church living in the
midst of the homes of her sons and daughters”. This presumes that it really is in
contact with the homes and the lives of its people, and does not become a useless
structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few.
Pauline.org

6. The parish is the presence of the
Church in a given territory, an
environment for hearing God’s word,
for growth in the Christian life, for
dialogue, proclamation, charitable
outreach, worship and celebration. In
all its activities the parish encourages
and trains its members to be
evangelizers. It is a community of
communities, a sanctuary where the
thirsty come to drink in the midst of
their journey, and a centre of constant
missionary outreach.
Pauline.org

7. We must admit, though,
that the call to review
and renew our parishes
has not yet sufficed to
bring them nearer to
people, to make them
environments of living
communion and
participation, and to
make them completely
mission-oriented.
Pauline.org

8. 29. Other Church institutions, basic communities and small
communities, movements, and forms of association are a source of
enrichment for the Church, raised up by the Spirit for evangelizing
different areas and sectors. Frequently they bring a new
evangelizing fervour and a new capacity for dialogue with the world
whereby the Church is renewed.
Pauline.org

9. But it will prove beneficial for them not to lose
contact with the rich reality of the local parish
and to participate readily in the overall pastoral
activity of the particular Church. This kind of
integration will prevent them from
concentrating only on part of the Gospel or the
Church, or becoming nomads without roots.
http://bit.ly/18B5RDKPauline.org

10. For reflection & prayer
How have I been blessed by the way my parish reaches out to me? How has
any other faith community I belong to helped me benefit from my parish’s
ministry? How can I, through my parish, be that kind of blessing for
someone else?
Lord, I pray for my parish and its organizations today. May our decisions be
channeled, not toward self-preservation, but toward eliciting a positive
response from all those you summon to friendship with you. (See n. 27.)