Follow up to RENEW 2000

by JoAnn Borchert

"The RENEW group I was in continues to meet on a regular basis. We are a support to each other in our spiritual lives and gathering with others has prompted me to be more involved in parish and community activity."

This is a comment often heard in the diocese. It has become evident that small communities are building parish life in more ways than we might realize. These communities bring many gifts to the Church: emerging of leadership, pastoral care, welcoming, faith formation, prayer, service, and family ministry. They can be a vehicle for transforming the world with continual individual conversion which leads to revitalizing communities of faith.

The Diocesan Office of Adult Faith Formation is calling together those involved in faith sharing groups and those interested in starting one up on January 18, 2003 at Holy Redeemer Parish in Marshall. It will begin at 1:00 p.m. and go until 3:00 p.m. The time will be spent in prayer, sharing the good news of the value of these groups’ techniques important to maintaining a group, and resources available for the learning portion. A booklet of recent resources was sent to each parish in October. These materials and others will be on display. You are invited to share in this day and hear from others the value of faith sharing groups for their faith life. If you are interested in participating, please call the diocesan Office of Religious Education, (507) 359-2966.

JoAnn Borchert is Director of the Office of Young Adult and Adult Religious Education for the Diocese of New Ulm.