By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

When representatives of 12 Catholic parishes from around the United States and Canada gathered for a three-day workshop on Dynamic Discipleship, they were presented with a monumental challenge. They were asked to reflect on how their parishes currently minister, and then to re-examine and think of bigger and better ways of engaging their parishioners to carry out their baptismal call in following Christ.

St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel, was among the parishes selected to take part in the series of workshops sponsored by Parish Catalyst, a non-profit, lay organization based in Los Angeles, Calif., that was developed to recognize pastoral excellence. “It was a very Spirit-filled three days,” said Father Daniel F. Swift, pastor of St. Benedict Parish, who attended the conference in early January with Lori Ulrich, minister of evangelization and marketing in St. Benedict Parish.

“We were very humbled to have St. Benedict Parish chosen to participate,” said Father Swift, adding that he and Ulrich were privileged to be among “many talented minds and ministers.”

Explaining how St. Benedict Parish was selected to participate in Parish Catalyst, Father Swift said the parish was initially recommended by the Diocese of Trenton and the Catholic Leadership Institute. The Parish Catalyst process began in the summer when 100 pastors from across the country and Canada were interviewed. The pastors were asked to respond to a series of questions such as the demographics of their communities; pastor leadership style and spirituality; Mass attendance; personnel matters; greatest successes they have experienced as pastor and the greatest opportunities that their parish is currently facing.

When asked to identify strengths of St. Benedict Parish, Father Swift proudly cited the: great volunteerism; capable staff and lay volunteer leadership; good participation; dedication to prayer for vocations; an active St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the Parish Veggie Garden.

Following the interviews, Parish Catalyst selected the top 12 parishes to participate in a two-year process in which representatives will gather in January and July of 2014 and 2015. Of the Parish Catalyst conference, Father Swift said he and his colleagues enjoyed hearing insights from renowned evangelical minister and author, Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in South California who spoke on “Dynamic Discipleship.” “Rick really emphasized the importance of starting small groups,” Father Swift said. He noted that St. Benedict Parish will have a “small group campaign” in which parishioners will be It’s the goal to begin the first sixweek small group ministry in the fall, and afterward, the groups will gather during Lent and the fall each year, Father Swift said.

Offering high praise for Parish Catalyst, Father Swift said: “Their mission is clear – to create a stimulating environment among pastors and leadership teams that generate ideas that will inspire the devout, re-engage those who have turned away from the Church and draw others to the joy of the Catholic faith for the first time.” Ulrich said she found her participation in Parish Catalyst to be “quite different” than what she had originally anticipated.

“Even though there were successful parishes and effective leaders participating, the focus was not on solely sharing best practices with one another, but rather evaluating what you are doing now that can be improved,” she said.

“While each parish and the various participants had different take-aways and areas to address, I believe we all walked away thinking about what’s most important to us as a parish and where we need to move,” Ulrich said.