The needs in rural America are significant and run through the human heart. The landscape has changed dramatically over the past 40 years for the Catholic Church, as well as for other Christian faith denominations. What once was considered a rich soil for vocations to the Catholic priesthood and thriving Catholic congregations has now become a spiritual desert needing serious renewal and innovative, joyful evangelization. People living in rural areas are hurting.

Catholic Rural Life (CRL) hears from its pastors and lay leaders that more needs to be done to reach rural areas. The reasons for this dramatic change are well documented and include:

Lack of lay leaders in rural parishes: Catholics have become accustomed to evangelization and discipleship as the responsibility of clergy and trained professionals. Rural parishes without full-time clergy or qualified staff are mitigating inevitable decline rather than strengthening their communities. Many of CRL’s Thriving in Rural Ministry participants reported that one of the greatest needs they have as pastors is strong lay leadership. 

Pastors covering more parishes and larger geographies: Many pastors are covering multiple parishes. This puts more responsibility on the lay members of the congregation, who lack necessary formation. Susan Windley-Daoust, former Director of Missionary Discipleship for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, succinctly notes, “Rural parishes are radically underserved in Catholic dioceses across the country.”

Far fewer young adults practicing any faith: Rural parishes are struggling to respond to a lack of young adults and families in their congregations. Many pastors speak about aging congregations and their towns becoming “bedroom communities.” This frustrates both clergy and lay people alike, making them feel that they are stuck in decline with little hope.

Growing secularization: Secularization within the United States has infiltrated rural communities, which were once seen as repositories of the country’s spiritual and moral capital. This secularization has damaged the sense of faith identity of rural communities. Rural parishes are increasingly struggling to understand and live their mission as a communal parish.

Parish closings and mergers: CRL has worked with many rural dioceses over the past 10 years that have gone through the painful process of closing rural parishes due to low attendance, a decreasing number of priests and dwindling financial resources.

Best Practices

In the book “From Christendom to Apostolic Mission,” the faculty of the University of Mary, led by Msgr. James P. Shea, make the compelling case that strategies for reaching this generation for Christ and his Church need to change. We are living in a post-Christian culture that is not familiar with, and does not understand, the Christian message. It is time to think about new ways to engage our time and culture with an imaginative Catholic vision.

Over the past five years, CRL has worked with more than 350 rural pastors from 55 dioceses who have participated in various versions of the Thriving in Rural Ministry program — a five-day retreat, a four-day diocesan convocation or a one- to two-day workshop — to explore the keys to a thriving ministry. Over that time, CRL has had the opportunity to walk with many of these rural pastors, hear their stories and observe models of ministry, which we have periodically shared in our quarterly magazine. We would like to share some of the “best practices” in thriving rural ministries that have stood out to us.

1. Abiding in the Vine

The first best practice is the most obvious and basic, but it must be underscored. The pastors who thrive in rural ministry, without exception, have a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. These pastors spend much time in personal prayer and reflection. There then is a courage, confidence and love for Jesus Christ and his Church that is inspiring and infectious.

All of the pastors we have worked with express that the challenges of administrative duties — the handling of multiple parish budgets, parish councils, staffing, buildings, schools, cemeteries, etc. — can be overwhelming. In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells his disciples: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (15:5). Fruitful rural ministry begins with an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. One rural pastor, Father Gregory, spends an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament after daily Mass and invites his parishioners to join him. His example of daily prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament is an inspiration to his parishioners.

2. Developing a Ministry of Presence

The ministry of presence is an intentional act of spending time with parishioners where they are. One pastor, Father Stan, makes it a priority to attend parishioners’ sporting events. Though not an avid sports fan himself, he chooses to attend the local high school games, even for a short time, to express his interest in his parishioners’ lives. Showing up at community events or celebrations can mean so much to them. Another pastor periodically joins farmers on their tractors while they harvest their crops. This practice of presence often leads to deeper conversations.

Several pastors agreed that it’s important to “find hobbies you can do with others.” One rural priest, Father Luta, likes to fish, so he joins his parishioners on fishing trips. Another rural priest, Father Jorge, joins his parishioners on hiking trips into the mountains. Another rural pastor attends farm auctions. In these very practical ways, the love of God is made present through a pastor’s desire to be with their flock.

3. Developing a Missionary Spirit

Fruitful pastors approach their ministry in rural areas as a missionary would. They get to know the history and the families of the town. They seek to understand the hidden wounds and sorrows of the town. Every town has a unique history, culture and heritage. These pastors recognize that parishioners care deeply for their place, their parish and their town. Fruitful pastors seek to understand that unique culture and to break down the divisions in their parishes.

In one instance, a rural pastor faced a new assignment where each parish under his care had a separate annual festival. Over time he gently persuaded the respective parish councils to work together to organize a joint festival. The annual festival has now become so popular that former residents come back each year to participate.

4. Developing Lay Leaders

Many rural pastors are responsible for multiple parishes. Often the parishes can be several miles apart, so the distances make it challenging for rural pastors to always be present to their parishioners. Investing in, and developing, lay leaders who are confident, competent and courageous in their Catholic faith is critical.

One example is Father Terry. He encouraged laymen and women in his parish to participate in a Life in Christ training series, a lay leadership program of Catholic Rural Life. He now has several laywomen and men who lead small groups in his parish, both in English and Spanish, and who are building their Catholic faith in deeper ways, sharing their faith with one another and impacting their communities. When he was called to another rural parish, he left many lay leaders who continued the small group model and ministry. Father Jorge began reaching out to the young adults in his elderly dominant parish. He hosted regular Sunday evening dinners and discussions with the young adults and their friends. Soon the gatherings became popular and the discussions increasingly in-depth. There was a hunger for learning more about what the Catholic Church teaches. A few of the participants are now considering religious life.

5. Maintaining Balance and Avoiding Burnout

Being the only priest for miles around can foster a great deal of loneliness and isolation. Add to it the increased stress of traveling greater distances, having fewer resources (both staff and finances) and juggling administrative tasks of multiple parishes, and pastors can be at risk of burning out.

To counteract the stressful conditions of rural pastoral ministry, many participants in the Thriving in Rural Ministry program mention having fraternal priest groups that they meet with monthly or more often. Not only do these groups provide much needed support, but they also give priests an opportunity to share successes and challenges with their brother priests. Fraternal groups are not limited to meeting in rectories — they can be planned around sporting events, hunting or fishing trips. Friendships — clergy and lay — can act as a support in times of stress and help with recharging after a busy period.

6. Sharing Rural Blessings

Though the Church has a long history of bringing the blessings of Christ to the everyday lives of her members, pastors who grew up in an urban, suburban or even rural context may not be aware of the rich tradition of offering liturgies, blessings and prayers for farms, fields, seeds, crops and animals.

When Pope St. John Paul II visited rural Iowa in 1979, he addressed the farmers in the crowd of more than 300,000 people, saying that the Church highly esteems agricultural work and laborers. By providing blessings and leading liturgies that relate directly to rural living, pastors can make this esteem concrete and visible for their parishioners.

This can take the form of celebrating a Mass or novena for the feast of St. Isidore the Farmer on May 15 or a harvest Mass in the late summer or fall. Father Dan in Iowa sets aside time every spring and fall to invite parishioners to a local farm for Mass outside. He blesses whatever his congregation brings to the Mass: seeds, soil, even animals. After Mass, the attendees participate in a potluck lunch and listen to talks or entertainment. Father Tim from South Dakota has revived the observance of Rogation days, leading a procession around his parishes while reciting a litany of saints to ask for good weather and to be spared from natural disasters in the upcoming year.

These liturgies can represent rural traditions in powerful ways and make clear that the practice of the faith is not only for Sunday mornings but can be integrated into daily life. The parishioners who attend these services can be inspired to see their work as a part of the Church’s mission to sanctify the world and be a great witness to the larger community.

JAMES ENNIS is executive director of Catholic Rural Life. TIM STREIFF is program director for Thriving in Rural Ministry, a program of Catholic Rural Life.