Renew:
A Journey of Faith

“One of the great challenges facing the Church in this generation is to foster in the faithful a sense of personal responsibility for the Church’s mission, and to enable them to fulfill that responsibility as missionary disciples, as a leaven of the Gospel in our world.”

-Pope Francis

Since the Second Vatican Council, our Holy Fathers have emphasized the need to bring the world into an encounter with the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, inspiring us to renew the earth through evangelization and missionary discipleship. Get inspired to renew the face of the earth through evangelization and missionary discipleship.

At every age, Christ renews His Church, and He will do so again through us. God calls us to renew the Church with fresh energy and embrace our brothers and sisters who bring diverse expressions of Catholic devotion and spirituality. With this in mind, the Archdiocese of Chicago and the University of Saint Mary of the Lake offer powerful formation programs to support parish renewals.

Go Forth: Equipped for the Journey

This interactive online series is designed for those starting their journey of discipleship and looking to go deeper. Topics discussed include praying with others, small group facilitation, and engaging with people who hold different views.

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Go Forth: Foundations

This course will help parish lay leaders acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to accompany others into discipleship, specifically through small-group faith communities. To “equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12)

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Intro to Renewal

“The Church must constantly rededicate herself to her mission” (Benedict XVI). In every age, the people of God must find ways to preach the gospel anew and to help others connect with the good news of Jesus. This two-session training explains what renewal is, why it is necessary, and is designed to help both parishes and individuals to take the next steps in renewal.

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Hospitality Training

An environment of radical hospitality is one of the core elements of spiritual renewal, but creating an environment that is outgoing, warm, and welcoming without being overbearing can be challenging. Join us to reflect on why hospitality is key for renewal and to begin developing a plan to foster it in every aspect of life.

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Encounter Training

The Gospels are filled with stories of Christ encountering people in small groups. Calling the apostles, visits to Mary and Martha, and many other examples from the context of Jesus’ daily ministry and some of the most powerful moments of conversation in the Gospel. This workshop will help you and your team learn to renew some of the basics of small group facilitation.

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Faith Trends

The goal is to shift the mindset of lay Catholics in Chicago from a Christendom approach to an Apostolic approach, fostering a sense of urgency and hope about today’s missionary moment. It aims to encourage lay Catholics to take responsibility for evangelization and inform them about current faith trends so they can effectively engage with their communities.

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Go Forth: 3

This is the capstone to the Go Forth series of courses. It is designed to help you discern the presence of charisms in your life as a missionary disciple of Jesus Christ. Join us for an experience of prayer, education, reflection, and discernment, the effects of which will be felt in your ministry to the people of God.

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Browse All Renewal Center Courses

Culture of Evangelization

Each parish has its own unique path and uses its strengths and gifts to create a culture of evangelization. The culture of a parish is what is nurtured, what grows and has life. It isn’t your mission or vision statement; it is how you live out life in the community and what is given value. It is what drives all aspects of parish life. Our ‘common language ‘, which refers to the shared values, beliefs, and practices within the parish, provides a view of what a renewed parish can be.

Hospitality

The local Church seeks to create an environment in which all people, families, and individuals feel seen, heard, known, and not judged. The joy-filled community intentionally welcomes and creates a sense of belonging and an inclusiveness for parishioners, guests, and seekers.

Listening

Parishioners, staff, and leadership humbly hear where Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit, is active in one another’s stories as well as in the lives of all those whom they encounter. They listen to the needs of the Church and surrounding community and find ways to respond to those needs. 

Inviting 

Parishioners are invested in the life of the Church community and are empowered to intentionally and personally invite others into a relationship with Jesus and his Church and in so doing, let those they invite know that they belong. 

Relationships 

It is a community dedicated to getting involved in the lives of one another. A compassionate and caring community of communities where people are “walked with” and are patiently and joyfully accompanied as they grow in relationship with Jesus. 

Engagement 

Parishioners take ownership for their community and see their role as disciples who are helping to build the Kingdom of God. The Church community helps one another to recognize their gifts and talents and finds ways for people to grow and develop those gifts. The Church community shares what parishioners can expect from the community and in return what is expected of parishioners. 

Prayer

The Church community is reliant on and directed by the Holy Spirit. It reflects an intimate closeness to the Father and the Son as modeled by and in communion with Mary and the Saints. Fed by Sacred Scripture, the Sacraments, and the beauty of the liturgy, the parishioners, staff, and leadership are comfortable praying with and for one another and those they encounter. 

Witness

The Church community is committed to intentionally making disciples and forming missionary disciples who are witnesses to Jesus’s transforming love. As modern-day witnesses to the Gospel, they reflect God’s joy, hope, and mercy in the world. 

Mission 

The Church community knows and is known by its neighbors. Missionary disciples are sent from our worship to introduce others to Jesus, giving each person an opportunity to encounter him for themselves through our words and actions. The Church community accompanies God’s people, bringing witness to his transformative love and justice to our communities.