RENEW GLOSSARY RENEW International RENEW is officially designated under canon law as a “private association of the faithful.” It can be described as “a ministry within the Church at the service of building Small Christian Communities.”
RENEW Process This term describes the central activity of RENEW International. It includes inviting parish leadership— the pastor, parish council, and other key leaders—to discern members for a core community that will, in turn, invite parishioners to experience faith-sharing in small Christian communities. As a part of the Process, RENEW personnel provide formation of the leaders of the small communities. The RENEW Process is the same regardless of the faith-sharing resource the small communities elect to use.
RENEW Core Community This term describes the group of parish volunteers who implement the RENEW process to invite as many parishioners as possible to join small Christian communities for the six week seasons and who discern, invite and support small-community leaders to lead these communities.
Post-Season Celebration and Review This term describes a gathering, held after each season of the RENEW Process in a parish. The gathering includes members of the RENEW Core Community, the leaders of the small communities, and as many members of the small communities as possible.
Resource This term describes a book or other document that contains the material—prayer, scripture, reflection, questions, and action examples—used by a small Christian community at its faith-sharing gatherings. There is one RENEW Process and various faith-sharing resources, each with its own focus.