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Almost three years ago, our parish was introduced to a
program from Renew International, called “ARISE::
Together in Christ”. The parishioners and staff who
listened to the introductory promotion were impressed and
Fr. Casey signed us on! Twelve parishioners accepted an
invitation to form an ARISE Team along with three staff
members and a course of hope and excitement (with a little
trepidation!) was set.
Five seasons of small faith sharing groups later, we feel
gratitude for the experience. Hundreds of people joined
lay-facilitated faith sharing groups and discovered much
about themselves, one another, their relationship with their
God and Church and have been energized into living their
love for the gospel of Jesus more vibrantly and consistently.
It has encouraged us on to a deeper commitment to peace
through reconciliation, to living justly and simply, and
to witnessing the truth of discipleship.
Yes, we have come to the end of the fifth season of “ARISE:
Together in Christ”, and, yet, we know there will
be no end to the fruit that will flourish from seeds planted
in our groups. For these seeds have been Spirit-filled seeds…..
and these seeds have life eternal.
Stay tuned….. keep looking….. wait with joy
for what will surely come through all of you!
Peace,
Mary Gallagher, Pastoral Associate/Outreach Ministry
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Participants from earlier
seasons of Arise: Together in Christ spoke at Masses
on the weekend of January 23 & 24.
Click on each to read what they had to say:
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Written comments from evaluations of earlier seasons:
“Arise has certainly made a difference
with my own faith. It’s given me plenty of motivation
to be more
involved in the community; to be an active participant.”
“I’ve made many new friends; good and kind people.
I also feel I benefitted spiritually. This season we went
deeper
into the values of our faith and focused more in-depth on
Gospel passages.”
“I’ve become more aware of community needs.”
"I'm grateful. I was feeling hopeless about many things
in the church and now I feel some hope."
“It has helped me focus more and helped me see the
hand of God at work in my life.”
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And…… some of what the small
groups are planning to put into action:
• Connect a homebound person to an ARISE group by way
of speaker phone
• Establish a Parish “hotline” answering anonymous
parishioner needs for certain items, such as clothing
• Help design and set-up the Parish Resource Room
• Create a resource binder of organizations equipped to
help people with various needs along with a binder of volunteer
opportunities in the community
• Volunteer at a food kitchen
• Host a Parish showing of the movie, “Fireproof”,
to support those who have chosen marriage as a vocation |
If any of these ideas interest you, call
me…. you need not be in an ARISE group to share your time
and talent.
Peace,
Mary Gallagher, Pastoral Associate/Outreach Ministry |
“When I discovered
the title for Season two “Change Our Hearts”,
I constantly struggled with the questions:
What is there for me to change? and,
How was I going to change my heart?
I kept asking myself, often praying and listening looking
for my answer.
As I read and listened to the message at our Arise small group
gathering and then heard it again proclaimed on the Sundays
of Lent, I found my answer. It was finally revealed to me
that I could forgive the hurt that I had carried deep in my
heart for many years.
It was through this wonderful Season 2 of “Arise: Together
in Christ” that I received a complete change in my heart
and the satisfaction for me to know I can truly forgive,
just as Christ forgives me. For this I greatly thank you,
Lord.” Gerry McGrath
Several of our participants from Season 1
and 2 shared their experiences in anticipation of Season 3.
Click on each name below to read what they have said.
Jacquie McCarthy
Ken Varnum
Maryanne
Spillane McInturf
The Puppets
Several of our participants have shared
their experiences of Season One.
Click on each name below read what they have said:
Mary Ellen Cleary
Bob Dunn
Linda Philbrook
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| ARISE! Together
in Christ
All are welcome to:
Reach out to one another
Incorporate our faith in our lives
Strengthen and renew our community
Encourage one another and share our faith
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The goal of this renewal
process is to create many, many small groups that will include
everyone.
Why? To help respond to some of these thoughts:
• “St Agatha’s is just so big…. I
feel like no one knows me.”
• “I wish I had a place to talk about my life
with people who think God is important
and makes a difference in our lives,”
• “I’d like to read scripture more often
and have someone to talk to about it but I don’t want
to do ‘bible study’. I just want to figure out
if the bible can help me live my life the way I want to as
a Christian.” |
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