Our mission is to heal the sin of toxic polarization in the US Catholic Church so the Church can be a more joyful witness of the Gospel in our divided country.
We envision a U.S. Catholic Church that transcends political and ideological divisions so the Church can be a joyful witness to the Gospel in a divided world.
(John 17:21).
We work with parishes, dioceses, Catholic leaders and individuals – not to change people’s beliefs – but to promote belief in a communion greater than any difference.
Raise awareness of the divisions in our US Catholic Church and self-awareness of the ways we personally are not united or in right relationship with our brothers and sisters in the Church
Create spaces for personal encounters and friendship across lines of difference
Build a network of organizational partners committed to communion in polarizing times
Develop resources that promote Church teachings and skills for dialogue
Our work is supported by an advisory board and staff with experience serving parishes, dioceses, and organizations across the country.
Our work is supported by an advisory board and staff with experience serving parishes, dioceses, and organizations across the country.
Inspired by Pope Francis’s call to synodality and to respond to polarization, the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (Paulist Fathers) founded The Paulist Initiative on Polarization in 2022 as a national partnership of Catholic leaders and institutions committed to strengthening communion across political, theological, and cultural divisions.
Inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s public commitment to building unity and communion in the Church the effort was re-named The Communion Project in 2025.
The Paulist Father’s founded the Communion Project in collaboration with Catholic organizations nationwide, learn more about our current partners.
