Goals of RENEW:

• Teaching and witnessing to the Word of God in Sacred Scripture

• Developing vibrant communities of faith and service

• Implementing a strategy for adult faith formation

• Providing a concrete and practical means of evangelization

What does the spiritual journey of RENEW look like?

The spiritual path laid out by RENEW begins with a period of formation for diocesan and parish leaders.  Then RENEW presents five distinct periods of time (called Seasons) each of which lasts six weeks.  Each Season engages the entire parish in a basic gospel theme:

Season I Fall               God: a Community of Love

Season II Lent              Conversion

Season III Fall             Reaching Out

 (Evangelization)

Season IV Lent            Reconciliation

Season V Fall             Renewing for the 21st Century

RENEW International provides comprehensive training for Diocesan Core Communities, Parish  Core Communities, and Parish Small Community Leaders.  RENEW International staff provides ongoing pastoral support and service for all phases of the RENEW process.

How do parishioners experience these weekly themes?

Parishioners experience these weekly themes in several ways, primarily:

• Sunday Mass

• Small faith-sharing communities that meet in homes and other

   locations throughout the parish during the course of the week

• Family and individual prayer

• Parish Mission

Who participates in RENEW?

RENEW provides spiritual formation for everybody in the parish.  RENEW uses a pastoral theology suited for parish life today.  There are materials for adults, young adults, teens, children, families, campuses, prisons, and individuals with special needs.

Does RENEW relate to families?

Families will embrace renewal and prayer by using seasonal meditation booklets and intergenerational family activity pages specifically designed for family sharing.

What is the role of the parish priest in RENEW?

RENEW works under the spiritual leadership of the parish priest.  In collaboration with the priest, the practical implementation of the RENEW process is carried out by parishioners who are well trained for their roles.

is RENEW?

How does RENEW relate to justice?

RENEW applies the spiritual standards of Christ to all areas of life. It emphasizes people living in good relationship with one another, as they make concrete applications of the gospel to their life situations.

RENEW challenges people not only to be of service to the poor and needy, but also to address the underlying causes of injustice.

What happens after the five seasons?

During the seasons of RENEW, a style of parish life is planned which nurtures the faith of the people and strengthens the Church for the long term—while continuing to support and develop small Christian communities. After RENEW, parishes continue in the areas of catechesis, Scripture reflection, small communities, peace and justice initiatives, and liturgical appreciation.  To assist with this process of spiritual development, RENEW International has developed a variety of small Christian community materials. These may be utilized between the seasons of RENEW as well as after RENEW:

• PRAYERTIME, Cycles A, B, & C: Faith-Sharing Reflections on the Sunday Gospels

• The IMPACT Series focusing on family, sacramental, social concerns, and prayer themes

• Why Catholic? Journey through the Catechism is a faith-formation  process based on the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING RENEW, PLEASE CONTACT:   MIKE GENTRY at mcgentry_1998@yahoo.com