Engagement Directors: Connecting People with the Parish and the Church

Engagement Directors in Detroit Parishes Focus on Connecting People to the Church

Volunteers from St. Aloysius Parish in downtown Detroit have been actively involved in handing out food and necessities as part of their regular outreach ministry. As part of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s transition to Families of Parishes, each family will now hire a director of engagement to oversee mission areas that help connect people with the parish, whether they are regular churchgoers or not.

The concept of making disciples of all nations is at the core of the engagement directors’ mission. They see the uniqueness of each parish as a strength in drawing people back to the Church. This approach is crucial to the success of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s new parish model, Families of Parishes.

Anita Houghton, associate director for the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Office of Engagement and Family Ministry, emphasized the importance of engaging both parishioners and non-parishioners to strengthen their relationship with Christ. Each family of parishes will have its own director for engagement, along with directors for discipleship formation, evangelical charity, family ministry, and worship.

Engagement strategies may vary from family to family, depending on factors such as socio-economic, demographic, and cultural considerations. Beth Allison, co-engagement director for Renaissance Vicariate Family 1, is using the unique architecture of their downtown Detroit churches to attract the unchurched. Social media posts highlighting the churches’ beauty and offering tours have been effective in creating a welcoming environment.

Deacon Ric Misiak and his wife, Colleen, engagement directors for Pope Francis Family in Northwest Wayne Vicariate Family 2, recently invited former Catholics in the community to share their stories at Our Lady of Victory Parish. The event was a success, with attendees appreciating the open and honest conversations without pressure to rejoin the Church.

John Kowalski, engagement director for Blue Water Vicariate Family 1, has focused on helping parishioners deepen their relationship with the Lord. Through initiatives like a lecture series on the Holy Spirit, Eucharistic adoration, and a “divine graces prayer box,” the family of parishes is striving to keep members connected to God.

Overall, engagement directors play a vital role in helping the Church grow by reaching out to the unchurched and bringing back the unaffiliated. Their intentional efforts to connect people with the parish community and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are essential for the Church’s mission of making disciples of all nations.