While loneliness and related mental health challenges seem overwhelming to us, there are many basic actions our Catholic church can take. Some dioceses, such as the Diocese of Pittsburgh, have implemented mental health ministry with qualified diocesan support and guidance for skilled caregivers in parishes. Not all have this expertise, but given that our Church is a natural gathering place, we can all be part of the solution to reduce loneliness. By prioritizing a culture of welcome and care, each parish can foster interpersonal interaction, build trust, and restore the connectedness of the people in the parish community. Through care for each other, our parishes can foster in-person interaction that restores trust.
Matt McKillip, CFO and Director of Administration for the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana, states that “the only way trust is built is real human interaction…social media is not going to help our young people to build trust.” Toward the end of the video, Matt describes the strategic actions the diocese has taken to implement pastoral plans and activities that prioritize how they will engage, evangelize, and invite the local community to take part in parish events. The plans also emphasize leadership for pastors and for lay group leaders. This is enabled by the system the diocese is implementing (MinistryPlatform) to provide leaders with the data they need to foster more personal interaction. Listen to hear ideas for your diocesan and parish!
Terry Poplava
Terry Poplava serves as General Manager, ACST Catholic. As a cradle Catholic, his faith was lukewarm until he was confronted by the intense challenge and commitment he heard in the message about Stewardship. “What do I own and what owns me?” which led him to executive roles at Our Sunday Visitor and Catholic Leadership Institute before his current focus on serving the Catholic Church at ACS Technologies. Terry has extensive experience working with churches across the U.S., supporting their planning, stewardship, and engagement efforts
