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Warming a Heart, Stirring Faith
Dear Friend,
Pope Francis asked rhetorically if the Catholic Church is still “capable of warming hearts.” Local acts of charity or justice—acts as simple as giving a needy woman a couple of tomatoes—prove that it can, and it does.
In Christ,
Sr. Theresa Rickard, OP
President and Executive Director
Did you miss Sr. Terry's webinar, "The Living Gospel: 'Warming Hearts' this Lent through Witness and Story"?
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'I'm Glad You're Back'—Fran's Story
Feeling despondent over her mother's illness, Fran accepts a friend’s invitation to join her at a non-denominational church. As her own daughter approaches the age for First Communion, Fran realizes she misses her Catholic faith.
Fran's story is part of a new video series from RENEW International entitled Turning Points: Witness Stories. The videos offer a way to help parishioners start a dialogue about faith with family and friends who have left the Church or who are religious “seekers.”
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London Celebrates Blessings of ARISE
The Diocese of London, Ontario, Canada under the leadership of Bishop Fabbro and Connie Pare is celebrating their participation in the ARISE Together in Christ process. Participants from St. Peter Cathedral Basilica created a video that expresses the lived experience of some members of the small communities. God has generously blessed the individuals, small Christian communities, parishes, diocese, and universal Church. To hear their testimonies for yourself on YouTube, click here.
They are so convinced of the richness of faith sharing in small Christian communities and the RENEW processes that they are now going to begin Why Catholic? Journey through the Catechism. Our prayers and support continue as we make this journey together.
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Small-Community Ideas That Work:
How to Motivate Your Team
Does the team that organizes small Christian communities in your parish need to be re-energized? That’s human nature: we all need to get fired up from time to time, even about the things we’re most committed to.
For some tips from RENEW International on how to give that team a boost, click here.
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RENEW's customer service manager, Eartha Johnson (center),
presents donation to Naomi Yanta (right) and Jacky Clay (left)
at Toni's Kitchen in Montclair, NJ.
RENEW Staff Donates to Food Ministry
In lieu of Christmas gifts to colleagues, RENEW International staff members made donations totaling $555 to Toni’s Kitchen, a food ministry of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, N.J. Staff members considered several charities before voting for Toni’s Kitchen.
We learned about Toni’s Kitchen when Naomi Yanta, who served as a volunteer with RENEW International last fall, began a new ministry as kitchen manager at the food ministry. Naomi is participating in a lay volunteer service year with the Dominican Volunteers USA.
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Looking Ahead to Lent
RENEW International invites all small groups and parishes to make a six-week retreat by exploring the Sunday readings of Lent with our Lenten Longings series.
This year’s readings and reflections cover the theme Let Yourself Be which reminds us of Christ’s teaching that authentic loving involves self-surrender.
Also for Lent 2014, RENEW’s Sr. Terry offers daily Lenten reflections drawn from her unique perspective and diverse ministry background in a pocket-sized devotional prayer book entitled The Living Gospel, available now.
Order these and other Lenten resources by our order line at 1-888-433-3221.
Visit our online store for the full selection of resources for Lent in English and Spanish.
Journey Through Lent with RENEW International
on Facebook, Twitter, RENEW's Blog, and YouTube
Offering timely reflections, prayers, and spiritual insights
to help you make the most of this important spiritual season.
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Planting Seeds of Faith
At RENEW International we have an opportunity for you to make a difference in our Church, to leave a unique legacy that will impact the present and future of Catholicism and the world. To learn more about the Msgr. Thomas A. Kleissler Legacy Society, click here.
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From the RENEW International Blog
'Doing a Hard Thing'
By Anne Scanlan
When we stretch our resources—whether that means time, talent, or money—in order to bless ourselves or others, it may be God who is acting through us.
Everyone Has Something to Give
By Charles Paolino
We usually associate the word “gift” with material things. But a priest who devoted himself to the poor discovered that even a person who seems to have nothing can find the means to express gratitude and brighten the life of another person.
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Conference Calendar - Come Visit Us!
The Annual Marten Lecture in Preaching
February 7
University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana
RENEW International President and Executive Director Sr. Terry Rickard, OP, will deliver this year’s lecture event on preaching for the benefit of master of divinity students and other members of the University of Notre Dame community. John S. and Virginia Marten took a special interest in the Sunday homilies they heard over the years at their parish and established this program to support the training of future preachers.
Mid-Atlantic Congress
 February 27-March 1Hilton Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland
We’re inviting all pastoral leaders to join us at the Mid-Atlantic Congress. The theme this year is Evangelization Matters: Journey with Christ in Faith, Witness, and Mission. RENEW International President and Executive Director Sr. Terry Rickard, OP, will give the opening keynote address on Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. In addition, on March 1, RENEW staff members will offer workshop sessions. Sr. Marie Cooper, SJC, will highlight the role of small Christian communities as ideal settings to prepare Catholics to reach out as evangelizers. Manuel Hernandez will speak in Spanish on how RENEW’s newest resource forms Latinos to understand the social teachings of the Catholic Church. This is an event not to be missed.
To find out more about the benefits of attending the Mid-Atlantic Congress, click here.
LA Religious Education Congress
March 14-16
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
RENEW International is sponsoring a book signing featuring author Fr. Allan Figueroa Deck, SJ. He will sign copies of La justicia brota de la fe, which presents Catholic Social Teaching in the Latino context. All visitors are invited to stop by Booth 150 to buy a book or visit. For more information about La justicia brota de la fe, visit www.renewintl.org/justicia.
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Consider a Gift to RENEW International
Your tax-deductible donation to RENEW International helps us engage more people to strengthen their faith and find God in everyday life.
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