Many parishes in the United States are navigating the demands of a complex and rapidly changing pastoral landscape, and the nearly 100 parishes in the Archdiocese of Atlanta are no exception. Over the years, this region has welcomed thousands of new residents, presenting Church leaders with both significant opportunities and pressing challenges. In early 2024, Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., set forth a vision for the local Church that included Catholic Leadership Institute’s accompaniment to pastors and parish communities to discern a way forward, deepen discipleship, share leadership responsibilities, and foster missionary impulse inside and outside the parish walls. Today, that vision is becoming a reality.
To bring this vision to life, the Archdiocese of Atlanta has begun to embrace Next Generation Parish (NGP), a two-year initiative designed to equip pastors, parish staff, and parishioners with the tools they need to strengthen parish vitality and missionary discipleship.
The first step was the Disciple Maker Index (DMI), conducted in the spring of 2024, which provided a clear snapshot of the strengths and challenges across the archdiocese.
Nearly 27,000 parishioners participated in the survey, offering a look at the realities of parish life in Atlanta and hearing the voice of the people. The message could not be clearer: the Church in Atlanta is growing, and parish leaders are eager to be equipped and supported in their sacred work.
In response, Catholic Leadership Institute, together with Archbishop Hartmayer, invited parishes to a series of Come and See Sessions. Over the course of four gatherings, more than 200 parish leaders — including pastors, parish staff, and key volunteers from 32 parishes — took part. These sessions served not only as days of renewal and prayer, but also as opportunities for leaders to learn more about the NGP framework, ask questions, and begin discerning next steps. Many participants described the experience as both informative and spiritually energizing, offering them a chance to reconnect with their mission while gaining clarity about how NGP could support their parish.
This opportunity is only possible thanks to the generosity of our generous donors who are funding Next Generation Parish in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Their investment ensures that every parish that
wishes to participate can do so without financial barriers, allowing pastors and parishioners to focus wholeheartedly on renewal.
As these parishes continue discernment, the Archdiocese of Atlanta stands at the threshold of something extraordinary: a grassroots movement of renewal that has the potential to transform parish life for generations to come.
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