DIVINE RENOVATION

ORIGINS OF DIVINE RENOVATIONu Divine Renovation was born out of a real

experience of renewal. Fr. James Mallon along with the team at Saint Benedict Parish in Halifax, Canada transformed their parish into a vibrant community of missionary disciples.

u Pastors, priests and leaders from around the world took notice.

u The Divine Renovation ministry with its events, books, coaching, and resources is a response to the incredible hunger for renewal.

u The ministry desires to inspire and equip every leader out there so that they can move their parish from maintenance to mission.

FR. JAMES MALLONu Fr James’ conviction is that the models we

rely on to hand on the faith in parishes are models unchanged from a past where faith was buoyed up by a more Christian-friendly culture.

u That culture is long gone, and yet our means for transmitting faith have remained the same, and have become more and more ineffective.

u Our practices and programmes are designed for a Church in “Jerusalem” when she is really in “Babylon”.

“HEALTHY THINGS GROW”u He proposes practical models for parishes

that wish not just to manage decline, but to grow.

u A mantra at St Benedict Parish is, “healthy things grow.”

u “Divinely renovating” your parish is not about starting a few new programmes. The change required is deeper and cultural.

u Culture shift includes a fresh look at everything from hospitality to homilies, and from music to meaningful community.

u One of the biggest changes will be the approach to sacraments as evangelising opportunities.

PRACTICAL STEPSu The key practical steps in

implementing Divine Renovation are:u Form the right Leadership

Teamu Communicate a clear Parish

Vision: where do we want to be in 3 or 5 years’ time?

u Plan priorities in Worship, Evangelisation, Discipleship, Fellowship & Ministry

My vision is a parish where each person is experiencing the love of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit;

My vision is a parish where this love finds expression in an active prayer life and discipleship;

My vision is a parish where this love leads us all to seek spiritual nourishment and refreshment through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist;

My vision is a parish where this love leads the church to grow, to work for Christian Unity and to reach out to those who do not believe and those on the

edges of society;

My vision is a parish where this love enables us to build up the resources we need to properly support this vision.

Fr David

THE GAME PLAN

LEADERSHIP TEAMu Canon David Parmiteru Ian Honeysett:

Communicationsu Adrian Wyn-Griffiths: Know

Your Neighbour / Prayer Effort

u Sheena Pego: DR Reading Groups / Prayer Effort

u Jo Lewry: Welcomingu Alan Lion: Alpha / Screens

PROGRESS TO DATE (1)

u Creation of Divine Renovation Leadership Team & attendance at London Conference

u Detailed Parish survey with 200+ responsesu 28 DR / Parish Developments updates in

newsletter (also on Parish website)u Introduction of bulk mailing to 300+ email

addressesu Appointment of Parish Assistant, Sarah Stilwellu 3 well-received Alpha courses with 130

attendees / helpers

PROGRESS TO DATE (2)u Monthly Know Your Neighbour Masses using

KYN badgesu Prayer Effort including praying & Parish Vision

Prayer before Mass u Monthly Prayer meetings at St Joseph’su 3 Divine Renovation Reading Groups

involving c 30 parishionersu Review of Parish newsletteru TV Screens at St Joseph’s which also link

organ with sound systemu Work on Parish buildings

IMPACT OF DIVINE RENOVATIONu Early days yet – and still learning!u Spiritual impact of Alpha – especially the

Holy Spirit Daysu Greater involvement in Parish Ministries &

training too ( eg operating TV screens & Welcoming)

u Increased sense of community – KYN etcu Greater participation in Mass – and

numbers attending: from c350 to 380u Lively discussion of Parish issues eg DR

Reading Groupsu 219 names added to Parish database

WHAT’S NEXT?

u Monthly KYN Masses: developing Prayer Partner theme

u Full review of DR Reading Group feedbacku New DR Groupsu Development of Welcoming Ministry u Alpha courses – including those linked to

Sacramental programmesu Development of music in the Massu Attendance at next DR Conference

PAPAL BLESSING!