Renew 2000 involves invitations

Dr. Kathy Menard has a message for the Albany Diocese: The Renew 2000 process is more than faith-sharing groups.

In fact, she said, one particular aspect of Renew 2000 aims to help parishes encourage Catholics to become more involved in the spiritual life of their parish. That aspect is called "invitational ministry," a part of Renew now being explored throughout the Diocese.

Through June, Dr. Menard, diocesan Renew coordinator, is holding workshops in various sites around the Diocese to explain parish invitational ministry. Basically, this branch of the Renew process involves evangelization and outreach.

Smiles

Renew invitational ministers will examine how their parishes welcome newcomers, from smiling during the Sign of Peace at Mass to making information on parish activities easily available. Dr. Menard referred to this process as "focusing in on being a hospitable community."

In addition, invitational ministers will telephone or visit parishioners -- from fallen-away Catholics to parents of religious education students -- inviting them to participate in parish ministries, especially Renew groups.

"The essence of Renew 2000 is the development of small faith communities," Dr. Menard explained. "The groups are a way to make the experience of being in a small faith community accessible to everyone. The ministers are inviting people to become members of a seasonal small faith community."

Invitational ministers will learn how to make referrals to pastors or parish staff for Catholics with specific concerns, such as questions about a former marriage or problems of personal spirituality. The workshops will also teach ministers how to do follow-up calls to parishioners after their initial contact.

It works

Already, Dr. Menard has seen some parishes successfully tackling this part of Renew 2000. St. Anna's in Summit, for example, broke the geographical area it covers into sections which were doled out to invitational ministers who will call parishioners.

Blessed Sacrament parish in Albany "has always placed a high value on outreach. Invitational ministry fits them like a glove," Dr. Menard added.

Three workshops on invitational ministry have already been held; six more will take place in coming weeks. Dr. Menard hopes to see each parish using the Renew process getting many volunteers for its ministries.

"We're encouraging parishes to get more people involved, rather than a few people with long lists and big burdens," she explained, adding that many hands means invitations for many Catholics. "There's nobody that we want not to reach out to."

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