Abstract

The central theme of Wednesday catechesis preached by Pope Francis in the first half of 2023 was the passion for evangelization, or apostolic zeal (Vatican, 11.01.2023). Referring to the message of Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, the Pope reminds that the primary purpose of the Church is the shared mission of evangelization within the community (Vatican, 8.03.2023). He also notes that there is no debate about the fact that the effectiveness of evangelization primarily depends on the Holy Spirit, who is the “protagonist of preaching and the driving force of evangelization” (Vatican, 11.01.2023). Emphasizing the paramount importance of the Holy Spirit in the process of evangelization, the Pope refers to Cardinal Carlo Martini, highlighting the necessity, in pastoral plans, of starting from “sociological research, analysis, a list of difficulties, a set of expectations, and complaints” (Vatican, 8.03.2023). These thoughts also need to be related to the parish, which, according to Pope Francis, plays a crucial role in the process of evangelization (see EG 28). This idea is also present in the instruction of the Congregation for the Clergy Pastoral Conversion of the Parish Community in the Service of the Church’s Evangelizing Mission from 2020. The document notes that “although it is not the only evangelizing institution, if it retains the ability to continually reform itself and adapt, it will continue to be the Church dwelling among its sons and daughters” (3, 6). To objectively present the ecclesiastical conditions of evangelization in Poland in the context of parishes, the author first presents selected results from research conducted by CBOS regarding the perception of parish reality by Poles and their involvement in its life (1). Subsequently, the author refers to the results of research conducted by ISKK SAC and WT UKSW in 2023 among Polish pastors regarding their perspective on the parish (2). The article is complemented by showcasing selected thoughts from Polish synodal reports (3). These identified conditions should be considered when developing the pastoral strategy of the Church in Poland for the coming years.