Parish Social Ministry is a new effort by the diocese through Catholic Charities of Arkansas. It provides assistance to help parishes live out the Church’s social teaching, which calls us to recognize the fundamental dignity of all human life at every stage. Parish Social Ministers (PSM) and/or PSM volunteers work within specific parish communities to address social needs and issues. PSMs will be trained for ministry through Catholic Charities and the diocese. PSM positions and opportunities can be created in any parish in Arkansas.

PSMs meet their community’s social needs in three main ways:

Direct Service: establishing tangible needs assistance programs such as food banks, respite care programs and visiting nursing homes and hospitals.
Advocacy: supporting the less fortunate in the community by advocating for their rights on a local, state and national level.
Convening: bringing people together to educate them on social issues relevant to the community.

The Parish Social Ministry Office creates communities of service and social change through unique partnerships between parishes, Catholic Charities and the diocese. This office also heads Catholic Charities Disaster Response activities and can provide training to parish disaster response teams.

Social Ministry Workshops

The office is sponsoring a series of educational workshops for parishes planning social ministries and those wanting more information on Catholic social teaching and ministry development. For more information, contact Jamie Deere or see the schedule below.

Parish-Based Ministry Development Retreat — April 23-24
- This workshop/retreat is designed for parishes interested in developing parish-based ministries. It will provide the tools needed to develop these programs in parishes. It will be held at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. To learn more, contact us.