Christian atmosphere of sharing and

dialogue.

º RECONCILES the individual with the Lord through personal conversion and

commitment.

º ACTIVATES a Christian community with the hope of continuation and formation of on-going Small Christian Communities.

º STIMULATES spiritual growth and

connection to on-going study, prayer,

and service .

º MOTIVATES parish involvement.

º COMMUNICATES experientially

fundamental truths of faith.

into doing something spiritually oriented.

º INVOLVES the group in various prayer

forms.

shared ministry.

An effective vehicle, catalyst, method for parishioners to experience personal conversion and Christian Community in the ideal setting of one’s own parish. Christian and Parish Rebirth and Renewal.

EVANGELIZATION: A simple gospel method of renewal and/or conversion .

CATECHESIS: A proven experiential way of enlivening and strengthening faith.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION: A specific and proven period for personal growth in prayer, scripture, and sharing.

SHARED MINISTRY: A non-threatening vehicle for sharing priesthood.

LAY MINISTRY: A motivating and practical instrument for introducing ministry formation.

“CHRIST RENEWS HIS PARISH”

is a spiritual renewal and connection process which calls together the members of the parish to make Christian Community more and more a realty as an authentic sign of Christ’s love for and presence with God’s people.

A team of the parish community who have first committed themselves to an intensive formation process.

° Two-day, one overnight live-in

(ca. 30 hours) for up to twenty

participants. Men’s weekend and

formation is separate from women’s

weekend and formation.

° An invitation to continued personal

growth and ministry.

° A formation period leading to team

ministry of the next Renewal Weekend.

° A procedure for transferring both

the renewal ministry and the

continuation responsibility.

Small group participation

Witnessing and sharing rather than teaching and discussion.

Exercises in group process and community building.

Dialogue and sharing stimulated in liturgical, scriptural, prayerful atmosphere.

Team participants witness to their Christianity in the areas of:

Members of the parish community team commit themselves to spiritual growth and formation, developing team spirit, and leadership. This team formation process in itself eventually becomes an effective follow-up to the first weekend experience and brings the participants immediately into a group committed to their own spiritual growth and to the specific ministry of the next renewal weekend.

Properly formed, the team administers the weekend (ca.30 hours) to a group of up to 20 men or 20 women at the St. Mary facility. The actual living out of our faith is communicated through witnesses given by the team members. The participants are introduced to various prayer forms and to Scripture as the fundamental source of God’s revelation. In response to the Holy Spirit, parishioners are moved to an interior renewal, are offered the experience of Christian Community, and are called to shared ministry.

“Christ Renews His Parish” initiates the formation of Christian Community and stimulates the participation to some continuation of spiritual growth as individuals and as members of on-going groups. These basic groups are expressly committed to communal study depending upon particular parochial and individual needs and conditions. Participants are motivated, both during the weekend and in the course of their formation to other parish ministries. (Parish Council and Commissions, P.S.R. Study groups, Support Groups, Sharing Groups, etc.)

Pastoral testimony supports the strength of the process in promoting spiritual leadership, deeper involvement in parish activities, and a richer apostolic spirit on many parish levels. Evidence of pastoral effectiveness of this renewal process comes from its growth and continuation since its conception in Cleveland in 1969 and its extension to various dioceses throughout the United States.

Men’s Weekend

March 8 & 9, 2008

For information or questions, call Rose Gordyan, Pastoral Associate,

at 330.653-8118, x227.