Some will renew without Renew

"Follow Me! Disciples for the 21st Century" is the program of renewal and preparation for the next millennium that several parishes have chosen as an alternative to Renew 2000 (see pages 13-20).

The program, which was created jointly by the National Pastoral Life Center and St. Anthony Messenger Press, focuses on three major areas: education, reflection and planning.

Sees advantages

However, Rev. John Cairns, pastor of St. Edward the Confessor parish in Clifton Park, said that the program requires fewer committees.

"It's not as overwhelming as Renew 2000. It didn't seem to be as organizationally heavy," he explained. "We have nothing against Renew 2000; we just prefer the other one. We feel, for us, this was right."

Weighing choices

"It's helping us understand our mission and our role," said Father Cairns.

After making their choice, the parish set up a "core team" of five people, a profile committee, a publicity committee and a small group committee. The parish's prayer groups were also asked to pray for the parish in regard to the program.

Under way

The parish officially began its first season of "Follow Me!" last weekend, with a parish mission offered for St. Edward's and its cluster parish, St. Mary's in Crescent, led by a Capuchin Franciscan. St. Edward's will hold six-week small group sessions in October and Advent.

Outcome

The pastor hopes to see a boost in volunteering for parish ministries in his 3,000-family parish as a result of "Follow Me!"

"Without the assistance of your membership, you're dead in the water -- and the bigger your parish, the more you need help," he said. "I'm hoping some of the people who get involved with the program will say, `Maybe I can do this.'"

'Hidden results'

"Openness to the working of the Spirit in an individual's life will primarily determine how great or small the results will be," he stated.

Quoting the adage, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," the pastor added: "Our job is to make the horse thirsty, and then they'll come. They'll discover, in their own spiritual journey, their call and how best they can serve."

St. Edward's also plans to offer another renewal program concurrent to "Follow Me!:" the "Alpha" program, a more evangelical program created by the Episcopal faith. While the majority of parishioners will be involved in "Follow Me!" Father Cairns said that "a nucleus of the parish" will enjoy a more charismatic program.

"A lot of roads lead to God," he said.

More to come

Since St. John/St. Ann's is located in an inner-city neighborhood with many residents unaffiliated with any church, he said, the parish hopes to reach out to them. For that, he said, Renew 2000 would be too advanced.

"You have to start with the basics. People are trying to eke out an existence," he noted.

The parish's prayer and worship committee and its Christian life and education committee will be involved in designing its program.

(09-17-98) [[In-content Ad]]