Parish Social Ministry

Compelled by the Gospel message,
the mission of the Office of Parish Social Ministry is to assist and support parish communities in integrating the Church's social mission into parish life.

It does so by:

• training parish leaders in the church's tradition of social ministry, and providing leadership skill development to advance the implementation of the social mission in the parish,
   
• providing educational and informational opportunities on Catholic Social Teaching and social justice issues which enable individuals to live out the Gospel message in their everyday lives,
   
• supporting parish social ministries through encouragement, publicity, and networking opportunities,
   
• assisting parishes in developing relationships / partnerships with the poor and marginalized,
   
• working with parishes to change structures and systems that create social, economic, and political injustice,
   
• linking parishes to other resources within the Diocese, Catholic Charities, and other local and national organizations.

Parish Social Ministry continually seeks to serve people throughout the Diocese of Wilmington by offering a diverse array of programs that reflect the entire range of the Church's social mission and meet the needs of parishioners.

Services include:

• conducting "Salt and Light" leadership training programs
   
• one-on-one consultation with parish social concerns leaders
   
• conducting an annual "Charity and Justice" conference
   
• promoting the collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and managing the local grant awards process
  
• presenting sessions on Catholic Social Teaching and/or social justice issues to RCIA groups, adult formation groups, youth groups, and others
   
• collaborating with the Hispanic Ministry Team to bridge the gap between the growing Hispanic communities and the existing parish communities.

  
  For more information, contact Catholic Charities'
  Office of Parish Social Ministry
  2601 West Fourth St.
  Wilmington, DE 19805
  Phone: 302-655-9624
  Fax: 302-655-9753