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GOALS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A JESUIT PARISH * A parish is Jesuit if, while being committed to the pastoral goals and policies of the local Church, it "participates in the apostolic priorities of the Society" and in the mission plan of the province according to "our way of proceeding." Central to its life, the parish gathers as a community to celebrate its joys, struggles, and hope in the Eucharist, in the Word, and in the other Sacraments, all in well planned, creative, and inculturated ways. It becomes an evangelized and evangelizing community committed to "justice and reconciliation," and makes its popular devotions relevant to contemporary needs. A Jesuit parish is energized by Ignatian Spirituality, especially through the Spiritual Exercises, and by individual and communal discernment. It tries to have well-developed programs in catechesis and formation for both individuals and families, and provides opportunities for both spiritual direction and pastoral counseling. Following the model of the election in the Spiritual Exercises, it helps individuals to discern their vocation in life. The parish opens itself progressively to ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue, and reaches out to alienated Christians as well as non-believers. It grows into a participative church through such means as basic human and ecclesial communities, and promotes opportunities for lay participation and leadership. As a demand of faith, a Jesuit parish is called upon to develop strategies to promote local and global justice both by means of personal conversion and structural change. Networking with other Jesuit apostolic works as well as other church and civil organizations, it militates against all forms of discrimination and contributes a genuine culture of solidarity which transcends parish boundaries.
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