Last Saturday, April 13, 2024, St. James' Parish in Calgary hosted its first renewal gathering, attended by twenty parishioners intrigued and excited about the Renewal.
The event fostered four small group discussions, where the Holy Spirit's presence was felt, and the renewal team, along with parish priest Fr. Eligio Canete, were encouraged by the intensity and scope of the discussions about the parish's needs and actionable ideas for progress. Acknowledging the busy weekend schedules of many parishioners, Fr. Eligio extended an invitation for those unable to attend to participate in alternative ways. "For those who cannot attend, we have placed whiteboards inside the church and our parish hall where they can post their inputs, ideas, and suggestions on sticky notes. All these feedback and suggestions will be considered and will inform our 5-year Pastoral Plan," he stated. Ideas were wide ranging and spoke to all aspects of parish life from the young to the seniors. However, Real added, "I think it is a little early to talk about specifics as we are looking at other ways to obtain feedback from parishioners." Although this was the inaugural renewal gathering, it will certainly not be the last. To attract more people to get involved in the Parish Renewal conversation, the team set up a couple of feedback/idea boards at the back of the church and in the parish hall, inviting parishioners to share their voices, or ideas that could be integrated into the parish plan. This approach proved effective in drawing attention to the event and encouraging participation in the Parish Renewal conversation. Real Phaneuf reflected on the outcome of the event, stating, "Overall, the attendees left the gathering feeling heard and optimistic about the journey we are about to embark on."
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Catholic Pastoral Centre Staff and Guest Writers Archives
April 2024
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