Fostering Spiritual Maturity: From Parish Programs to Personal Transformation
Every parish wants active parishioners.
But activity isn't the same thing as spiritually growth.
Someone can faithfully attend Mass every Sunday, volunteer at the fish fry, serve on a committee, and still experience little spiritual growth.
Thriving parishes understand that their mission isn't simply to increase participation—it's to help people become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.
That raises an important question:
What does spiritual maturity actually look like?
Spiritual Maturity Is a Journey, Not a Destination
One of the biggest mistakes parishes make is assuming everyone begins in the same place.
Julianne Stanz offers a simple image that captures this beautifully.
As a gardener, she knows every tomato doesn't ripen at the same time.
Neither do people.
Some arrive at your parish full of curiosity.
Others are carrying years of hurt.
Some are returning after decades away from the Church.
Others have attended Mass their entire lives but have never developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The role of the Church isn't to force everyone through the same program.
It's to accompany each person wherever they are and help them take the next step.
Spiritual Maturity Is More Than Knowledge
Many Catholics equate maturity with knowing more about the faith.
Knowledge certainly matters.
But information alone rarely transforms lives.
Spiritually mature disciples begin to show different signs:
They develop a personal relationship with Jesus.
They hunger for Scripture and prayer.
They seek God's will instead of merely fulfilling obligations.
They become more humble, more compassionate, and more teachable.
They increasingly see themselves as missionaries sent into the world.
Perhaps one of the clearest indicators of growth is a shift in language.
Instead of speaking vaguely about "God," people begin speaking personally about Jesus Christ and how He is actively working in their lives.
That's evidence that faith has moved from the head to the heart.
Stop Designing Programs for Crowds
One of the strongest themes from our conversation was this:
People are not projects.
Too often, parishes build programs around curriculum instead of people.
A better approach is what I call person-centered formation.
Every volunteer, catechist, and ministry leader should begin by asking:
Where is this person spiritually?
What questions are they asking?
What wounds are they carrying?
What might their next step with Christ be?
Good ministry doesn't simply transfer information.
It accompanies people.
Why So Many Catholics Plateau
Almost everyone grows spiritually through experiences like:
OCIA
Marriage preparation
Parish missions
Retreats
Alpha
Bible studies
But many eventually stop growing.
Why?
Because the parish often shifts from formation to activity.
Instead of asking,
"How can we continue helping this person grow?"
we ask,
"How can we get them more involved?”
Activity becomes a substitute for discipleship.
Serving is important, but ministry should never replace ongoing spiritual formation.
Disciples need to keep growing long after they begin serving.
Three Journeys Every Parish Should Pay Attention To
Julianne describes spiritual maturity as developing through three interconnected journeys.
1. The Personal Journey
This is a person's relationship with Jesus.
How do they pray?
Where is God working in their life?
What areas still need healing?
2. The Ecclesial Journey
Faith is never just "me and Jesus."
Spiritually mature Christians discover they belong to the Body of Christ.
They move from attending church to becoming part of a spiritual family.
They become known.
They become missed when they're absent.
They begin helping others belong as well.
3. The Sacramental Journey
Grace shapes us through the sacramental life of the Church.
The Eucharist.
Reconciliation.
Prayer.
The rhythms of the liturgical year.
The Church isn't simply where faith is taught.
It's where grace is encountered.
Healthy formation intentionally nurtures all three journeys.
Healing Is Part of Discipleship
One of the most overlooked aspects of parish ministry today is healing.
People aren't just arriving with theological questions.
They're arriving with wounds.
Broken relationships.
Addictions.
Grief.
Loneliness.
Anxiety.
Disappointment.
Jesus spent a remarkable portion of His public ministry healing before teaching.
That pattern still matters.
Healing isn't a specialized ministry reserved for a few.
It's part of every parish's mission.
Sometimes healing happens through Reconciliation.
Sometimes through Anointing of the Sick.
Sometimes through prayer.
Sometimes through compassionate listening.
Sometimes simply because someone finally feels seen and known.
Healthy disciples become healing disciples.
Programs Don't Make Disciples—People Do
One of the biggest shifts thriving parishes make is moving from program-driven ministry to relationship-driven ministry.
That requires investing deeply in leaders.
Not just teaching volunteers how to perform tasks.
Helping them become mature disciples themselves.
Imagine if every mature disciple intentionally accompanied just two or three newer believers.
The impact would far exceed launching another program.
Formation multiplies when disciples form disciples.
Build a Staff That Is Growing Spiritually
Parishes cannot lead people somewhere the staff isn't going.
If your staff meetings consist only of calendars, budgets, and logistics, you're missing an incredible opportunity.
Growing staffs pray together.
Share life together.
Ask one another,
"How can I pray for you this week?"
Celebrate birthdays.
Walk through hardships together.
Retreat together.
Discern together.
Healthy parish culture begins long before Sunday morning.
It begins with spiritually healthy leaders.
Evaluate Everything Through the Lens of Discipleship
Every parish event should answer one simple question: Why?
Why are we doing this, and how does help people become disciples of Jesus?
That includes:
Fish fries
Festivals
Bible studies
Youth ministry
Parish councils and commissions
Mercy Ministries
Men’s and Women’s Groups
These are all important parts of parish life, but how well are they intentionally fulfilling the mission to make disciples?
Four Practical Steps to Foster Spiritual Maturity
If your parish wants to become more intentional about forming disciples, start here.
Clarify your mission.
People should immediately understand why your parish exists.
Create clear pathways for growth.
Help people know what their next step is, whether they're new to faith or lifelong Catholics.
Invest in your leaders.
Formation isn't just for parishioners. Your staff and key volunteers need ongoing spiritual, personal, and leadership development.
Evaluate every ministry through discipleship.
Don't simply ask if an event was successful.
Ask whether it moved people closer to Christ.
The Goal Isn't Busier Catholics
Our goal isn't fuller calendars.
It's transformed lives.
Spiritually mature disciples know Jesus personally.
They belong deeply to His Church.
They continue growing throughout their lives.
And they naturally begin helping others follow Him.
Programs may introduce people to faith.
But relationships, accompaniment, healing, prayer, and intentional leadership are what help people become the disciples Christ calls them to be.
That's the work every thriving parish is ultimately called to do.