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rwoehmke
Guest
I think perhaps you are thinking of ALPHA. A first step in the direction of becoming “Christian.” It has the sinners prayer, but it is pretty generic.
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A_Sinner_1
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puzzleannie
Guest
Renew IS NOT the same as Renew2000 as has been stated several times, it has been completely overhauled, please evaluate the current materials and program, not the 7-8 year old program that is no longer in use.That is what I thought. Our parish did it early on and the prayers were really wacky like there was this one to the four winds and we had this ceremony where we wrote something on a paper and then be burned it.We did the Renew 2000 program.
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rwoehmke
Guest
We did RENEW so far back that I cannot remember much about it except that it did help people to get to know one another. I think it is very “leader sensitive.” Poor leaders equals poor experience. We were one of those parishes where people could hardly wait to get to their car after Mass.
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DWPC
Guest
My dear Mercygate; I wouldn’t say what you describe is bad. My concern is toward what I see as a growing movement in American Catholicism to replace worship of Our Lord with something approaching worship of the community, with God’s role reduced to being an excuse for a group hug. Too much in our Church has become more about us than Him. I believe God has bigger things to deal with than being our personal Teddy bear. Our obligation as Christians is far more than mutual admiration. If Renew isn’t that sort of program, fine.. . . How bad is that?
As for the “thousands” (I’d put it at millions) who’ve left to join evangelical Protestants, I’ve known several. Most left, not for any dogmatic issue, but for self-gratification and comfort. They prefer the fellowship, the music, the big productions. Some left because they were dissed by a priest. Some left because they wanted a divorce. Many left because it was too hard.
On the other hand, for every one lost to the evangelicals, the Church has probably lost ten or more because they just couldn’t stay in a religion that had demonstrated to them by radical change that its teachings are at the whim of pop culture.
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A_Sinner_1
Guest
I will be looking at the materials, as my diocese is using RENEW for its evangelization program. But I remain suspcious of any organization associated with Call to Action and will “proceed with caution” as recommended by catholicculture.org.Renew IS NOT the same as Renew2000 as has been stated several times, it has been completely overhauled, please evaluate the current materials and program, not the 7-8 year old program that is no longer in use.
And I would recommend that others concerned with fidelity to Church teachings do the same.
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billinjackson
Guest
Not so sure about RENEW due to hearing some horror stories but “Why Catholic” seems pretty faithful as it is a run through the Catechism. Our Parrish is running it and I am leading one of the groups. I will say it is very basic so don’t expect to be blown away.Our Pastor is really pushing a program called “Renew” that seems to involve small discussion groups. Is anyone familiar with it? Sounds like a another step away from traditional Catholicism and toward Fundamentalist “witnessing”.
In Christ
Bill
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DWPC
Guest
If my OP seems presumptive relative the Renew program, its because this Pastor has also heavily pushed charismatic practices in this parish.
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ReConverted
Guest
DWPC, thank you for a wonderful post. It’s always good to hear from another Catholic in SoCal who thinks as you do. You really hit the nail on the head!My dear Mercygate; I wouldn’t say what you describe is bad. My concern is toward what I see as a growing movement in American Catholicism to replace worship of Our Lord with something approaching worship of the community, with God’s role reduced to being an excuse for a group hug. Too much in our Church has become more about us than Him. I believe God has bigger things to deal with than being our personal Teddy bear. Our obligation as Christians is far more than mutual admiration. If Renew isn’t that sort of program, fine.
As for the “thousands” (I’d put it at millions) who’ve left to join evangelical Protestants, I’ve known several. Most left, not for any dogmatic issue, but for self-gratification and comfort. They prefer the fellowship, the music, the big productions. Some left because they were dissed by a priest. Some left because they wanted a divorce. Many left because it was too hard.
On the other hand, for every one lost to the evangelicals, the Church has probably lost ten or more because they just couldn’t stay in a religion that had demonstrated to them by radical change that its teachings are at the whim of pop culture.
God bless you and greetings from the San Bernardino Mountains!
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Walking_Home
Guest
DWPC, thank you for a wonderful post. It’s always good to hear from another Catholic in SoCal who thinks as you do. You really hit the nail on the head!
God bless you and greetings from the San Bernardino Mountains!
Not only SoCal. I am in Texas and I agree with what he said.
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puzzleannie
Guest
the caution on this site review is well taken applied to the 2000 materials, which is what are reviewed. as previously stated if your parish is weighing this decision today, please look at the new materials which are quite different from the 2000 version.
Leadership and facilitator training is key to the success or failure of this program. If the parish does not understand what this program is about, and if it has unrealistic expectations, it won’t work. If a small core of dissenters gets hold of this and uses it to push an agenda they can destroy a parish. If it is done right, it has the potential to turn a non-involved inactive parish into the opposite. Spend a lot of time exploring the whole notion of small faith sharing communities, which are the core of this and most similar renewal programs, They work, they have the potential to do magnificent things for parishes and parishioners, they can be life changing, but like anything else powerful, in the wrong hands can do damage.
Renew is not a “charismatic” approach, it is an evangelization approach.
I do urge strongly anyone investigating this or any other renewal program to go to its website and check out its links. I am by no means recommending this above other similar programs, but your decision will not be made easier by relying on older materials no longer in use.
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Walking_Home
Guest
the caution on this site review is well taken applied to the 2000 materials, which is what are reviewed. as previously stated if your parish is weighing this decision today, please look at the new materials which are quite different from the 2000 version.
Leadership and facilitator training is key to the success or failure of this program. If the parish does not understand what this program is about, and if it has unrealistic expectations, it won’t work. If a small core of dissenters gets hold of this and uses it to push an agenda they can destroy a parish. If it is done right, it has the potential to turn a non-involved inactive parish into the opposite. Spend a lot of time exploring the whole notion of small faith sharing communities, which are the core of this and most similar renewal programs, They work, they have the potential to do magnificent things for parishes and parishioners, they can be life changing, but like anything else powerful, in the wrong hands can do damage.
Renew is not a “charismatic” approach, it is an evangelization approach.
I do urge strongly anyone investigating this or any other renewal program to go to its website and check out its links. I am by no means recommending this above other similar programs, but your decision will not be made easier by relying on older materials no longer in use.
That is what worries me. Programs that can be used as a tool by
dissenters to destroy a parish and cause further havoc within the Church. The more programs there are—the more opportunity there is for this to happen.
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rwoehmke
Guest
Yes, it is certainly a “Hobson’s Choice.” No programs equals a dead parish, Mass is neglected because people have no venue to learn and become informed. Many people literally do not read, so if they are going to learn anything it has to be presented to them in auricular format. It would be nice if “Father” could do it, but there are not enough “Fathers” to go around and even if he does it one can never be sure if the agenda is his or the Lord’s. I guess it is like a raffle “you pay your money and you take your chances.”
That is what worries me. Programs that can be used as a tool by
dissenters to destroy a parish and cause further havoc within the Church. The more programs there are—the more opportunity there is for this to happen.
I know there are folks on this forum who see little value in the concept of Community in the practice of our Faith. Community in my opinion is what holds a Parish together. That does not mean a community looking in at itself, but a community turned out to act in the Lord’s name for others. Community does not just happen by sitting next to one another at Mass. A Community that does not look to our God for strength and purpose does not succeed either. Even if we were all called to be holy hermits, we could not do so without a supportive community somewhere in the background. The Lord has purpose in putting us all in the same Barque of Peter. Fall overboard and if no one cares you are lost.
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Walking_Home
Guest
Yes, it is certainly a “Hobson’s Choice.” No programs equals a dead parish, Mass is neglected because people have no venue to learn and become informed. Many people literally do not read, so if they are going to learn anything it has to be presented to them in auricular format. It would be nice if “Father” could do it, but there are not enough “Fathers” to go around and even if he does it one can never be sure if the agenda is his or the Lord’s. I guess it is like a raffle “you pay your money and you take your chances.”
I know there are folks on this forum who see little value in the concept of Community in the practice of our Faith. Community in my opinion is what holds a Parish together. That does not mean a community looking in at itself, but a community turned out to act in the Lord’s name for others. Community does not just happen by sitting next to one another at Mass. A Community that does not look to our God for strength and purpose does not succeed either. Even if we were all called to be holy hermits, we could not do so without a supportive community somewhere in the background. The Lord has purpose in putting us all in the same Barque of Peter. Fall overboard and if no one cares you are lost.
Such is the state of our current Church. We take our chances with our own priests–as to “whose” agenda they may be proposing. Then we add fuel to the fire with “programs” that may be orthodox or can be used to further agendas contrary to the Church.
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