Thriving Parishes Project

The Thriving Parishes Project of the Diocese of the West aims to boost developing missions, renew urban parishes, and empower already strong congregations to be even more accessible to everyone in their surrounding communities. This project encompasses a group of programs that will work directly with parishes to help them assess and adapt their ministries to their rapidly changing contexts. The core of the Thriving Parishes Project will entail deep renewal and creative work by the parishes and missions selected to take part. This work will, with God’s help, grow the impact of our 62 parishes in the neighborhoods they serve and, in a natural way, further strengthen the Diocese so that it can support even more local congregations and plant new ones. The whole Diocese will also benefit from more intentional efforts to raise up priestly vocations, new deacons, trained choir leaders, and effective youth ministers.
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Apply to be part of our Thriving Parishes Project!

His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin and the Diocese of the West of the Orthodox Church in America recently announced funding for our new Thriving Parishes Project. Now we are thrilled to be able to share more about the opportunities for growth afforded...

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Diocese of the West receives significant grant from the Lilly Endowment to support deep parish renewal

January 1, 2024 Contact: Rev. Andrew Smith (thriving@dowoca.org) The Diocese of the West of the Orthodox Church in America has received a $1,250,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support and develop its new Thriving Parishes Proj...

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