“Parishes are the home of the Christian community; they are the heart of our Church. Parishes are the place where God’s people meet Jesus in word and sacrament and come in touch with the source of the Church’s life. . .we are convinced that the local parish is the most important ecclesial setting for sharing and acting on our Catholic social heritage.”
 –From the Introduction to the USCCB Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish