Ecumenism at heart of Renew

Last December, 100 ministers of other denominations received letters asking if their congregations would like to be involved with Renew 2000, said diocesan Renew 2000 coordinator Dr. Katherine Menard. Many agreed to join Renew faith-sharing groups, so this season will begin with partnerships among churches located near each other.

The nearly 20 partnerships include, among others: St. Madeleine Sophie in Guilderland with McKownville United Methodist Church, and St. Catherine of Siena in Albany with St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Dr. Menard noted that many parishes of the Albany Diocese already have a relationship with other churches in their neighborhoods, so the Renew suggestion will simply expand on that.

In addition, she said, "the season-four Renew booklet is ecumenically sensitive. It focuses on elements of our faith tradition that we share" with other denominations. An ecumenical "Pentecost 2000" celebration in June will be another chance for those of different denominations to share their faith.

Since this season's Renew theme is "reconciliation," Dr. Menard said, faith-sharing groups can examine people's reconciliation with God or different denominations' reconciliation with one another.

She listed several other Renew developments of note this season:

* The audio cassette available with Renew booklets written for the Albany Diocese includes contemporary and traditional music by both Catholic and Protestant composers, and meditations on Jesus' Passion voiced by retired diocesan priest Msgr. Jack Jones;

* A televised retreat with Bishop Howard J. Hubbard scheduled for April 10-12 includes themes compatible with Renew 2000 themes, so groups can watch the retreat to provide food for thought (see separate article on page 1); and

* The Renew booklet suggests a new project for faith-sharing groups interested in service -- the Church World Service (CWS) "Gift of the Heart" program. CWS distributes relief kits of supplies after disasters, including kits for babies, health kits and school kits.

Dr. Menard is excited about the CWS project. "The actual things that you touch are sent to a child or a school," she explained. "It's really hands-on. You can pick out a blanket and know it's going to be wrapped around a baby."

This season of Renew calls us to personal conversion, Dr. Menard said. "For Lent, we should free ourselves from frivolity. We're walking with Jesus to Jerusalem, dying to our sins and rising to new life."

Because Renew is coinciding with Lent, she said, faith-sharing groups have the option of adding a week to their sessions to include Easter. "We should get a chance to rejoice together," she stated.

(It's not too late to get involved in Renew 2000: Several parishes are starting the program now. For information, call the diocesan Renew 2000 office at 453-6696.)

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