An Ethnographic Exploration of Two Catholic Communities: Thriving Through Unique Parish Cultures

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents an ethnographic exploration of two Catholic communities in the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, conducted over a four-month period of fieldwork, against the backdrop of declining Christianity in Canada. It examines the culture of each parish through the lens of Geert Hofstede’s four cultural layers of organizations, providing a starting point for identifying the characteristics of a thriving community based on Catholic ecclesiology. The study finds that the four pillars of a thriving parish—personal encounters with Jesus Christ, synodal leadership, catechetical formation, and missionary commitment—are deeply embedded in its unique culture. Furthermore, it highlights the significant role of the parish priest in shaping parish life and the potentially damaging effects of authoritarian and rigid leadership. The dissertation underscores that every parish has its own culture and tradition, which must be respected and acknowledged. Considering the vast tapestry of faith within the Catholic Church, this dissertation ends with a call to cultivate a culture of intra-Catholic ecumenism among/within local Churches and parishes, which entails respecting and recognizing one another, supporting each other, and progressing together with a synodal spirit.