I could tell my new client was at a loss. It was just after the Fourth of July, he’d just started at the parish, and—thanks to vacations, work-from-home days, and unpredictable childcare schedules—no one else was around. “I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to be doing,” he admitted.
Oddly enough, he hadn’t been given an onboarding plan—but even more striking was that summers here truly were dead. Now, if you work in youth or children’s ministry, your summer might be packed with camps and mission trips. But office culture? Radio silence.
I’m not advocating “business as usual” through summer months—in fact, quite the opposite. Summer is a season of flexibility and respite. But it can also be a huge opportunity for mission, evangelization, and community-building—if we lean into it instead of shutting down.
Summer days are longer, schedules shift, and childcare challenges pop up. How do we honor that without letting the year’s hard-won momentum slip away?
Stagger vacations. If everyone disappears at once, consider a true shutdown with clear exceptions (e.g., weekly evening Mass, emergency contacts).
Communicate schedules. Post who’s in, who’s remote, and when. A shared calendar or quick weekly email keeps everyone—from staff to volunteers—in the loop.
Offer telecommuting…with guardrails. Yes to work-from-home flexibility; no to radio silence. Ask everyone to block off core “office hours” for in-person check-ins or team huddles.
College students, teens, visiting families—there’s a ready-made workforce if we stipend or otherwise engage them.
Childcare support. Offer hourly stipends to students to cover midday coverage for staff with little ones.
Hospitality teams. Recruit summer interns or volunteers to staff hospitality tables, give campus tours, or welcome new arrivals.
When school’s out and the weather’s fine, the parish campus isn’t the only gathering spot.
Plug into local events. Sponsor or simply show up at block parties, fairs, farmers markets—wherever people are.
Pop-up youth nights. Host a poolside hangout, an ice-cream social, or a board-game night at the community center.
Parish open house. After weekend Masses, invite newcomers for coffee and a quick tour—no strings attached.
Not everyone heads out of town. Whether they’re college students back for the season or tourists passing through, these folks are ripe for a warm welcome.
College welcome tables. Post flyers, host a “welcome back” lunch, or connect student-led small groups.
Tourist packet. Offer visitors a simple brochure with Mass times, kids’ program info, and campus map—plus a friendly hello.
If summer feels like a break, what does that tell you about your pace the rest of the year? A parish that fully “shuts down” in July and August may be running too hot from September through June.
Audit your calendar. What are your true peak seasons? Where do you double-book energy, and where do you have gaps?
Set seasonal goals. Just as you plan Advent, Lent, and back-to-school initiatives, give summer its own small goal—whether it’s one community event or a volunteer-recruitment push.
Summer doesn’t have to be dead—if we lean into flexibility and consider going beyond the usual routine. As you navigate the months ahead, reclaim the mission of your parish and just take one step toward growing a year-round ministry that impacts the community around you.