Thursday, April 29, 2010

RENEW International and “Why Catholic?” are Enriching the Spiritual Lives of Catholics Everywhere

Catholics everywhere have been experiencing the joy of spiritual renewal through the acclaimed, Scripture-based, faith formation program by RENEW International, "Why Catholic? Journey through the Catechism." This evangelical process explores the basic tenants of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and encourages learning in a supportive, prayerful group setting. It shows adults how to find meaning in Sacred Scripture and relate its core teachings to their everyday lives. This RENEW International program is comprised of four books of twelve sessions which explore the sacraments, morality, and prayer. It includes direct quotes from the Catechism, references to Scripture, questions for individual and group reflection, and concludes with a dynamic invitation to put faith into action. The program has been enthusiastically embraced by small Christian communities, families, and parishes, while endorsed by Dioceses and Church Leaders.

The success of the RENEW International "Why Catholic?" program is evidenced through the spiritual growth of a small group of parishioners in the Diocese of Davenport, at the St. Joseph Parish in Wellman, Iowa. Every Sunday night for four years, twelve people from diverse backgrounds, of all ages, and with different ideas about faith met to study Scripture. They hoped to deepen their understanding of the Bible through study, sharing questions, and discussion. What they didn't expect from the process was how much they came to know about each other and how much stronger their individual and collective faith became. To facilitate their learning, Wellman parishioners used "Why Catholic?" for their resource material. It helped them better analyze the Catechism in smaller pieces and guide them to its true meaning. It was an exciting time, as they connected the rich lessons of Scripture to their own lives and realized the deep spiritual fulfillment which comes from faith-sharing. You can read more about the Wellman parishioners experience at: http://www.catholicmessenger.org/articles/2010/04/14/features/doc4bc5fe31a9697163648424.txt

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

RENEW International Resources and Publications

An important part of the RENEW International process is encouraging people to gather together so they can grow spiritually within faith sharing communities. Participants learn from Scripture and find enlightening ways to connect its lessons to their daily life. They celebrate their faith, support one another, and feel connected to both their parish and the greater Catholic community. RENEW International supports and enriches this group experience with their printed materials and multimedia resources. These beautifully crafted and theologically-rich materials help people find their faith and experience the joys of spiritual renewal.

A popular resource for adult faith formation and group sharing has been the publication, "Why Catholic?" and "¿Por qué ser católico?" RENEW is proud to also have available the powerful follow-up resources, "Longing for the Holy: Spirituality for Everyday Life", and Sedientos de Dios: una espiritualidad para la gente de hoy. These parallel products help people better sense God's presence and positively channel their internal longing. The structure of the materials is ideal for group study but can also be enjoyed individually by anyone who wants to be comforted and guided by their faith. RENEW International has made available a companion music CD for "Longing for the Holy" which features thirteen songs suggested in the book for times of prayer. These songs are ideal for opening and closing faith-sharing sessions. The books come in a variety of languages and an audio version for the visually impaired and those people who enjoy hearing Scripture come to life. Other published materials to support and enhance small catholic community gatherings are: "PrayerTime: Faith-Sharing Reflections on the Sunday Gospels" and "Gleanings, A Personal Prayer Journal". These and other dynamic faith-sharing materials for dioceses, parishes, individuals, and families can be found at the RENEW International bookstore at www.renewinternational.org/.


Monday, April 12, 2010

RENEW International and ARISE Together in Christ: Encouraging Compassionate Acts of Service and Charity

RENEW International and its highly successful program, ARISE Together in Christ, have encouraged acts of sharing, service, and charity throughout the Archdiocese of Boston. ARISE Together in Christ is active in more than 170 parishes and touched the lives of 30,000 individuals who have come together in small, faith-sharing communities. The program has bridged the gaps between people of diverse ethnic backgrounds and economic conditions. It has forged relationships between parishioners of all ages and made a strong connection the greater Catholic community. One of the most personal and gratifying effects of the RENEW International program, is the way it has fostered feeling of compassion towards others.

Participants in ARISE Together in Christ have responded to needs, both within their community and in challenged areas around the globe. People are taking action such as raising money, contributing to their local food pantry, and participating in projects to help the developing world. The program has taught them to celebrate their faith and encouraged compassion and action. Below are some first-person accounts from participating parishes in Boston:


"My group was so touched by the Scripture story of the "Woman at the Well" during the third week of Lent that we decided to do something positive about water in the third world. We raised over $2,000.00 to help drill a well for a poor village in Honduras." - St. John the Baptist, Quincy


"Our small communities worked with OXFAM to purchase water jugs for poor families. One of our priests is from Vietnam and we focused on the need for clean water in his home village by providing for two cisterns. We also made and served sandwiches for the homeless in shelters downtown." - St. Joseph, Medford


"We have become a family at St Julia's in a way we have not been before. Several actions came out of our group: money was provided to someone who would otherwise not have been able to afford a needed kidney transplant; we had a clothing and food drive; and we worked on the rehabilitation of a three family unit in a low housing project called "Rebuilding Boston." - St. Julia, Weston


"One of our small communities decided to raise enough money to purchase a water pump for a poor village in Africa."- St. Pius X, Lynn


RENEW International is planning to bring ARISE Together in Christ to other parishes in the country. This spring, the Diocese of Stockton in California became the second diocese to begin the process of ARISE. With God's grace, may their parish members experience the same personal and communal spiritual renewal as they learn ways to apply the teachings of the gospel to their lives.