Twinning Relationships

Twinning or partnering has become a popular way for parishes and dioceses to connect with and share in similar institutions around the world and in different parts of the United States.  Twinning projects offer people the opportunity to share in the life and culture of another parish or diocese.  These relationships can be mutually beneficial leading those involved to a tangible experience of solidarity with the Universal Church and a culture other than their own.  Small Christian Communities and schools also engage in these relationships.

In 2003 USCMA published a booklet, "Partnering Relationships for Mission," by Nancy Bernhardt-Hsu (in pdf format). 

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University has also researched and published on this phenomenon.  Partnerships of Solidarity with the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean, Fall 2003, a CARA study for the Secretariat for the church in Latin America, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is summarized as U.S. Parishes Partner With Parishes in Latin America, Vol. 9, No 4, Spring 2004. 

This study is available from CARA.

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