Parish Council & Board Packet

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ShareNetwork Parish Participation Overview

Prepared for: Parish Councils & Boards
Project: ShareNetwork
Sponsoring Organization: Your Catholic Voice Foundation (501(c)(3))

1. Executive Summary (Read This First)

ShareNetwork is a Catholic, locally governed initiative designed to help parishes restore their role in feeding people and strengthening communities - without creating new bureaucracy, political entanglement, or centralized control.

ShareNetwork does not operate programs or distribute money.

It provides standards, tools, and infrastructure so parishes and local communities can act responsibly and independently.

This model is rooted in Catholic Social Doctrine, especially Subsidiarity, and reflects how the Church historically organized local care through mission-based systems.

2. The Problem This Addresses

Parishes increasingly face:

• rising local hunger and food insecurity 
• centralized systems that feel distant and unresponsive 
• charitable models burdened by bureaucracy or politics 
• limited parish capacity to act without added risk
   

ShareNetwork exists to solve this by restoring local capacity - not by creating another centralized organization.

3. What ShareNetwork Is (and Is Not)

What It Is

• A national infrastructure platform 
• A set of Catholic operating standards 
• A trust and transparency framework 
• A support system for local, parish-linked initiatives
   

What It Is Not

• Not a centralized charity 
• Not a government program 
• Not a political initiative 
• Not a funding intermediary 
• Not a replacement for parish authority 
• Not a distributor of food or money
   

4. Why This Model Is Catholic

ShareNetwork is grounded in three core Catholic principles:

Subsidiarity

Decisions and responsibility remain at the most local level possible, with higher structures supporting - not replacing - local action.

Human Dignity

People are treated as participants, not case numbers or recipients.

Participation

Those who are able contribute - restoring dignity and strengthening community bonds.

This is Catholic practice, not theory.

5. How a Parish Can Participate

Parishes choose their level of involvement.

Option A: Host a Share Node

• Parish hosts local food distribution and coordination 
• Uses parish space and volunteers 
• Operates on a regular, predictable schedule
   

Option B: Partner with a Share Node

• Independent local Share Node operates nearby 
• Parish supports through referrals, volunteers, and ministry partnership
   

In both options:

• parish leadership retains full authority 
• participation remains voluntary 
• parish life is not controlled or directed externally
   

6. Governance & Control

The parish always controls:

• whether to participate 
• how it participates 
• use of parish facilities 
• volunteer involvement 
• alignment with parish mission 
• start/stop decisions
   

ShareNetwork does not:

• manage parish operations 
• handle parish funds 
• direct parish activities 
• impose centralized decision-making
   

7. Risk Management & Safeguards

ShareNetwork was designed to minimize parish risk:

• No pass-through funds (parish handles local resources directly) 
• No federal migration funding (avoids political entanglement) 
• Clear operating standards (protects dignity, safety, and reputation) 
• Transparency tools (public accountability) 
• Independent local governance (no external control)
   

This structure protects both the parish and the faithful.

8. What Success Looks Like

Parishes that participate typically see:

• consistent, dignified local food support 
• increased parishioner involvement 
• meaningful service opportunities for youth 
• stronger community trust 
• visible parish presence in local life
   

This restores the Church’s historic role — locally.

9. What Is Required to Begin

Most parishes need only:

• a small local leadership group 
• modest space (as available) 
• volunteers 
• a regular schedule 
• agreement to ShareNetwork standards
   

ShareNetwork provides:

• templates 
• training 
• guidance 
• ongoing support
   

10. Recommended Next Step

Before any decision is made, Parish Councils and Boards are encouraged to:

1. Schedule a 20-minute ShareNetwork briefing 
2. Review parish participation options 
3. Consider a pilot period 
4. Decide locally how to proceed
    

There is no obligation to continue beyond the pilot.

Contact & Information

Request a Parish Briefing:
info@sharenetwork.ai

Project Sponsor:

Your Catholic Voice Foundation
ShareNetwork is a project of YCVF, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.