The Mission . . . RENEW at St. James

Discovering the meaning of life together (so What is RENEW)

• Do you search for the meaning in your life and long for that which is holy?
• Do you struggle to find deeper relationships?
• Do you long to reconcile your differences?
• Do you want to pass on our faith to your children? Your nieces and nephews? Your grandchildren? Your neighborhood children?
• Do you long for s stronger family life? Better friendships?
• Do you desire to know God better?
• Do you hunger for community?
• Do you want to make this world a better place for those who will follow you?

Then come, "come and see." We want to gather as a total parish family for the Mission. It will be a time to discover renewed answers to life’s questions.

Mark your calendars now! Seasons (Fall 2004, Spring 2005, Fall 2005, Spring 2006, Fall 2006)

What is RENEW?

• RENEW is a pastoral response to that wonderful mosaic of challenge and hope for the third millennium fashioned by Pope John Paul II.

• RENEW is designed for dioceses and clusters of parishes that wish to respond to the Holy Father’s call for a new evangelization and to build upon and strengthen small Christian communities as a pastoral approach for the 21st century.

• RENEW focuses on concrete experiences to help people-especially young adults and families- to grow spiritually and to reconcile that which divides them in all spheres of life.

• RENEW highlights our need to protect and preserve the resources of the earth, and to work for justice and peace in a world full of conflict, social inequality and economic disparity.

• RENEW provides pastoral tools and strategies to help meet the growing longing in people’s hearts and souls for the holy and for an experience of community in a world that is often filled with competition and isolation.

• RENEW offers a style of parish life that will help people rediscover Jesus through a community of faith in small Christian communities. It offers an opportunity for us as Church to reach out and bring the good news of Jesus to others and to the world community, and to reconnect all Christians reflecting upon what we have in common.

• RENEW is a gateway to discover the powerful riches we have as Christians and to offer a practical way for the local Church to become alive with the new evangelization. It provides a concrete opportunity to welcome young people to "come and see" the riches of faith.

Mission Statements

Vision:

A vision for the third Millennium, "The call of people to belong to the people of God. The beautiful mosaic of what the world can be". - Pope John Paul II

RENEW Mission Statement:

RENEW focuses on concrete experience to help other people-especially young adults and families-to grow spiritually and to reconcile that which divides them in all spheres of life. RENEW highlights our need to protect and preserve the resource of the earth, and work for justice and peace in a world full of conflict, social inequality and economic disparity.

Mission Statement CORE team

"Foster an environment for the on-going development of small groups, inviting parishioners to become members of small groups, and undertaking other tasks necessary for RENEW". In addition, they will assist the pastoral staff in discerning leadership for the other ministries for RENEW. Contact Core team members for more information.

5 elements for all RENEW Ministry groups

1. Prayer - the element of prayer emphasizes the centrality of God’s presence and action in each member’s life and the life of the parish
2. Sharing - Sharing means talking freely about God and about life experiences, reflecting on these in light of Scripture and tradition
3. Mutual Support - In a society in which gospel values are all too frequently ridiculed and rejected, the believer needs a community that supports these values. We need to encourage one another’s fidelity to the gospel and also challenge ourselves to embrace a more profound and authentic commitment to Christian living
4. Learning - We all need ongoing formation for mission. We are called to grow in a full knowledge and understanding of the gospel, the Catholic Church and its teaching on faith and morals. We are further called to form the relationship between those teachings and the circumstances and issues of our lives.
5. Mission - If we are truly followers of Jesus, we are committed to a life of mission or service. No matter what our ministry, we need to work for compassion, justice, reconciliation and peace within the ministry group, in our families, in our places of work, in our neighborhoods and within the wider society.

What Young Adults Other Christians are looking for?

A recent Gallup poll of young adults reported “six basic needs”:

1. The need to believe that life is meaningful and has a purpose
2. The need for a sense of community and deeper relationships
3. The need to be appreciated and loved
4. The need to be listened to – to be heard
5. The need to feel one is growing in faith
6. The need to practical help in developing a mature faith

Young adults are looking for a direct experience of God and a hands-on opportunity to serve those who are in need. Young adults are looking for a way to connect and to experience community in their everyday lives. Young adults are looking for ways to reconnect with the holy and the wisdom of the ages.

Whether young or old or somewhere in between, we need one another. Together we can create a world of peace and harmony, Parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors all have the responsibility to join together in making the love of God concrete in our world today and providing hope for all children of the world.

The answers to the Questions?

Q: What is RENEW?

A: RENEW is designed for dioceses and clusters of parishes that wish to respond to the Holy Father’s call for a new evangelization and to build upon and strengthen small Christian groups as a pastoral approach for the 21st century.

Q: What will I get from RENEW?

A: The need to believe that life has purpose, meaning and that we are all appreciated and loved and that life is faith and one’s faith enriches one’s life through participation in small group discussion of Jesus and scripture.

Q: When will it happen?

A: RENEW will start at St. James in the Fall of 2004 and small groups will be formed and meet once a week for 1-2 hours for six weeks to pray, share and discuss six Christian topics. RENEW is run six full seasons at St James starting in Fall 2004 and finish in Spring 2006.

Q: Where will it occur?

A: RENEW members will be formed into groups of 6 to 12 individuals. Each group will have a leader/ guide to facilitate discussion of RENEW materials. Groups will meet in the homes of the Group Leaders for six consecutive weeks each season.

Q: Who will and who can participate?

A: It is recommended to target young adults and families, older teenagers, middle and older Christian church members.

Q: How often will it happen?

A: RENEW groups will meet once each week for six consecutive weeks during the seasons of Lent and in the Fall. RENEW at St. James will commence in the Fall of 2004 and meet for a total of five seasons through Fall 2006.

How? Through Small Christian Communities?

Born of the insights gleaned from 120 dioceses and over 10,000 parishes that have experienced the original RENEW process, RENEW provides a concrete pastoral approach to implement a communal style of parish life.

RENEW envisions a parish in which faith is strengthened and witness given, in which conversion and community are central, in which faith is strengthened and witness given, in which conversion and community are central, in which all are invited and welcomed and in which intense prayer, reconciliation and solidarity are the norm.

In RENEW’s experience, small groups are essential in responding to the movement of the Spirit and in meeting the needs of young and older adults and those who wish to grow in faith in all aspects of their lives. People can experience not only the connection between faith and life - but that faith is life and life is faith.

The Right People – Who are they?

• People who believe in and are committed to small group and sharing in small Christian groups.
• People who know how to motivate others and make things happen
• People who are willing to pray and work to see a program like RENEW implemented
• People who are willing to grow as a community
• People who represent the diversity (ethnicity and age) of the parish
• People who are willing to make at least a one-year commitment but preferably a three-year commitment