Feedback.

Q: One thing I have learned--or would like to learn--from true parish sharing is:

That people are more important than buildings.

Betty L. Wolfe Colorado Springs, Colo.

Diversity is good.

Nina Frankle Montgomery, Ala.

We are all a lot more the same than different.

Bob Lecheler LaCrosse, Wis.

I would like to experience the universal church more.

Name withheld Kane, Penn.

That people will bond together quickly--and from that experience sharing becomes freely given, not coerced.

Deacon John Synder Alpine, Calif.

I have gained a greater empathy for people who have made poor choices or those who have mental illness, health problems, or simply have been unlucky or unloved.

Name withheld Scappoose, Ore.

A better understanding of how people of different cultures practice the Catholic faith.

Karen Dix St. Charles, Ill.

That it's not enough to share with only other Catholic parishes. We must go beyond our brand of religion if we are to be truly catholic.

Shirley Schmidt Blue Grass, Iowa

My parish is one of the wealthiest in the world, while our twinning parish is one of the poorest (in Haiti). From the twinning experience, however, I have learned that my parish, in comparison to our sister parish to the south, is spiritually and emotionally quite impoverished in many ways.

Linda E. Kelly Naperville, Ill.

Q: One of the most creative ways I've heard of to practice parish sharing is:

Block parties.

Florence Isaacs Medina, Texas

Let the laypeople take the lead. We know better how to set it up.

Theresa Moody Martinez, Calif.

A potluck after the gospel choir Mass.

Regina Smutz Baltimore, Md.

When one individual or family is connected with an individual or family from the other parish and shares life's experiences and prayer and supports the needs of each other.

Sister Joan Popivits, O.P. Warren, Mich.

Small community prayer groups.

Jean Drumm Lawrence, Kan.

We invited our sharing parish to join our students in our regular school day and another time for "Olympic Day."

Donna Albert Park Ridge, Ill.

First share with your family, then the parish family, then the wider community. First things first.

Norbert Miller Chicago, Ill.

We take a group of families to visit our sister parish for spring break and at Thanksgiving. Out of these visits we developed a scholarship fund for students, who then have come to visit us. Our pastors visit one another and share in important celebrations.

Valerie Vogel Boerne, Texas

Conducting a festival with booths, raffle tickets, concerts, etc. and splitting the profits equally, regardless of the number of tickets sold or success of individual booths.

Mary Christmas Corpus Christi, Texas

Q : In my opinion, the biggest obstacle to the kind of parish sharing that Bill Purcell proposes is:

Many people's reluctance to associate with minority groups.

Maureen Heisse Parkville, Md.

Economic differences, which are harder to deal with than cultural ones.

Terence Kiernan Brooklyn, N.Y.

People on both sides--tend to be judgmental and closed.

William McGahan North Platte, Neb.

He makes the assumption that there is a parish to share with. Here in Montana, the next parish may be 40 to 100 miles away.

Dick Clark Helena, Mont.

Deeply ingrained habits among most Catholics that going to church on Sunday is all it takes to be the Body of Christ.

Name withheld Cedar Falls, Iowa

The attitude that "charity begins at home."

Helen Stephens Dublin, Texas

Housing segregation that separates well-to-do from impoverished communities.

Name withheld Boulder, Colo.

Too much "turf guarding."

Name withheld Toledo, Ohio

Lack of leadership, from local bishops downward.

Donald P. Dolan Fishers, Ind.

General Comments

I'm sure there are situations where a parish needs to focus inward for longer or shorter periods of time.

Name withheld Redmond, Wash.

I find it distressing that wealthier parishes seem to squander a lot of money and energy on their well-tended parish plants while we struggle to pay our utility bills. Quite honestly, I think sharing cash alone is fine, even if that's as far as it goes.

Carol Schuck Scheiber Toledo, Ohio

If I may indulge in a little sarcasm, I think it's so helpful and constructive to criticize other people for their charitable habits. And you know that the poor are just hungering to see a bunch of guilt-ridden affluent white Catholic folks come around to schmooze with them. Can you guys give it a rest for a little while so that the great morally unwashed can catch up with you?

Bob Schwartz Simi Valley, Calif.

I think the article was simplistic. Parish sharing would subtract time and resources from any intra-parish sharing activities. Parishes have to take care of themselves first.

Name withheld Atlantic Highlands, N.J.

The adage that "Sunday morning is the most segregated time in America" is unfortunately too true. I don't think parishes isolate and self-segregate out of lack of charity or prejudice but out of ignorance. Parish sharing could help educate parishioners about a world outside their narrow boundaries.

Terri Ring Cary, N.C.

Charity done out of a sense of duty insults the recipient as much as the bestower.

Kathy Luck Orlando, Fla.

AND THE SURVEY SAYS ...

1. My parish ...

(30%)   doesn't participate in
        any kind of parish
        sharing.

(30%)   participates, but it's
        limited to the
        charitable transfer of
        donations.

(27%)   participates in the
        fullest sense,
        including fostering
        relationships and
        collaborations.

(13%)   Other.

2. Catholic parishes today are increasingly reflecting the kind of isolationism that's so prevalent in American culture.

agree      56%
disagree   33%
other      11%

3. When it comes to typical Catholic parishioners sharing their money and time with a less fortunate congregation, I think:

(54%)   The monetary
        support is secondary:
        Bringing together a
        wealthier parish and
        a needier one is
        simply the right
        thing to do.

(28%)   Giving them the
        opportunity to get to
        know people of
        another congregation
        would probably
        encourage them to
        donate more.

(7%)    It's hard enough to
        get them to put extra
        money in the
        collection basket To
        expect much more is
        unrealistic.

(11%)   Other.

These results are based on survey responses from 144 U.S. CATHOLIC readers and Web site visitors.