Parish Social Ministry Archdiocese of Hartford

The Archdiocesan Office of Urban Affairs assists pastors to develop the social ministry of the parishes they serve. We provide education on the Scriptural basis for social justice ministry and on Catholic Social Teaching. We train parish leaders on an individual, parish, and deanery level in how to integrate parish social ministry into the life of the whole parish community. We highlight the call by the U.S. Bishops to encourage every parish to involve people with the four dimensions of social ministry: direct service, justice education, advocacy, and empowerment.

Four Dimensions of Parish Social Ministry*

(aka “Four Pillars of Parish Social Ministry)

·        Direct Service:  Parishes are called to reach out to the hurting, the poor, and the vulnerable in our midst in concrete acts of charity.

·        Justice Education:  Catholic Social Teaching is shared consistently, comprehensively, and carefully in the educational ministries of the parish to provide a foundation for the entire social mission of the parish and to prepare parishioners of all ages to act on their faith in their service, work, family life, and citizenship.

·        Advocacy:  Catholics are called to active and informed citizenship, bringing their commitment to human life and dignity and concern for the poor and vulnerable to public life.

·        Empowerment:  Our faith calls us to build community, to act for justice. The Catholic community is deeply involved in supporting community organizing and community-economic development strategies in low-income neighborhoods through the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  CCHD-funded groups and others like them represent important opportunities for our parishes to organize with others, build a sense of community, and work together for justice.

*These are definitions derived from material contained in the Communities of Salt and Light Manual, the official parish social ministry manual of the U.S.C.C.B.