Tra consapevolezza e nostalgia

In ascolto dei laici di una Comunità Pastorale

Abstract

The article aims to sociologically investigate the perspective of lay people with respect to the decrease in the number of priests in parishes. More spe-cifically, adopting a «qualitative» or «non-standard» methodology, through a series of in-depth interviews conducted with lay people placed in positions of responsibility in a Pastoral Community in the Diocese of Milan, enables us to explore the representations and practices activated to cope with the drastic decrease in the clerical population. In this way, it becomes possible to bring out and deepen some specific social and pastoral issues, such as, for example, the relationship between awareness of the present and nostalgia for the past, or the relationship between the need to lighten clerical agendas and the possibility of encouraging more personal forms of relationships. The article concludes by stressing the importance of three keywords regarding the future of ecclesial journey: «desire», «relationship», «quality».