with bill huebsch planning & implementing parish based retreats

with

Bill Huebsch

Planning & Implementing

Parish Based Retreats

Church history

JC Today

The Early Church

325

Under Constantine

The Spirit was always with the Church

Various attempts to restore the spirit of the early Church

Encounter with Christ

Adults mainlyShared mealsCommunity lifeEnthusiastic faithReadiness was based on living the faith

Baptism with no formationLess personal faithMore “membership”Rapid growth in ever-larger parishesMinimum “obligations” – threat of Hell

www.ThePastoralCenter.com

Church history

JC Today

The FoundingPeriod

325

John XXIII a new vision ecumenical in spirit & scope filled with hope

1959


http://www.pastoralplanning.com/

Church history

JC Today

The FoundingPeriod

325 1517

1959John XXIIIRessourcement:

Return to the sourcesand let them teach you.

“Restoration”



Church history

JC Today

The FoundingPeriod

325 1517

1959John XXIII


Aggiornamento:Read the signs of the timesand bring yourself up to date!


Church history

JC Today

The FoundingPeriod

325 1517

1959John XXIII

RapprochementDon’t let the status of the pastdictate the relationship of the future.


The Reformation


What was restored?

From the early centuriesThe MassBaptismThe DeaconateThe Universal Call to HolinessThat we be ONE in Christ Ecumenism

And, of course

An adult churchChrist-centered: conversion is the aim

Lifelong learning: formation is the aim

Leading to the transformation of the world

Encounterswith Christ

361965 1997

We have a little problem

Most baptized Catholics have not experienced a deep encounter with Christ…

Not knowledgeable in faith Most adults: not engaged with us

What can we do?


Core work What is our CORE Work?

It is the Core Mission of the parish, defined by Vatican II and post-conciliar Statements.

Every element of parish life must reflect the mission

Credit: Good to Great, Jim Collins

Our Core Work

Help people deepen their communion with Christ…

and help them grow & sustain the excitement of that within their parish!

Leading to works of justice & charity Flowing from and leading to small

community life Then: invite others to deeper

communion


OnEvangelization

in our Time

OnCatechesis

Today


Christ Have Mercy retreats

Thursday & Friday evening and Saturday morning Or another schedule format

Friday eve and all day Saturday All day Saturday and Sunday morn Three consecutive evenings

Cut and paste in the retreat document to alter for your format



Podium

supplies

food

SacredScripture

Sharing space


Run from 6 to 10 PM Schedule on page 6 Don’t start late Don’t end late

Can you provide childcare? Issues about this?

About 30 new folks per retreat




Who should attend? Parish leaders among the first Couples together as a household

Don’t try to sort out all the marriage problems before inviting them to take part

This may be their avenue back Include non-Catholics

Those with a child for baptism Can it replace baptism prep?




Who should attend? Young adults who are 18

Hold special retreats just for Confirmation candidates

Or for youth ministry participants Candidates for full communion Returning Catholics Who else?




Planning Start with those in your parish who

are already evangelized through Cursillo or other retreats

Form a team for leadership This team may not be present for each

retreat Their job is to assist the parish with

logistics, recruitment, and follow up




Marketing Personal invitation is needed One to one to one… Invite your leaders first And ask them to invite others…

Decide on fees you will charge (if any)



Staff Retreat Leader

Convene the team for planning Convene the retreat group Give some of the talks

3 or 4 other presenters May also be table leaders

Table leaders (as many as needed)




Staff Host team of 5 or 6

meals set up & clean up prayer support

Retreat prayer coordinator Invite the whole parish to pray




Parish prayer support Distribute vigil candles and prayer

cards Ask people to use them on their dining

tables at home Invite works of mercy on behalf of the

retreatants Invite folks to write a note to the group,

sharing their personal prayer & sacrifice Pray at Sunday liturgy



Staff Pastor/Liturgical leaders

Reconciliation & Eucharist Several priests needed for Reconciliation

Possibly non-priest listeners for non-Catholics Or for some Catholics if the lines are long

Priest not needed on first night Meal prayer, Enthronement & Compline can

be led by the Retreat Leader Or you may name a special prayer leader




Staff Priests for 2nd session (8 to 10 PM)

Set up for Reconciliation by Host Team in Church if possible low lighting and quiet music in background station priests with candle around the church also station non-priest listeners retreat leader available to assist those who

may need coaching about how to celebrate keep this moving along so it does not get too

late




Staff Priest & musicians: 3rd session (10 AM to 12

PM) Set up for Eucharist by Host Team

in cozy, intimate chapel if possible mood is cheerful, joyous obtain the collected “personal plan sheets”

from the leader and place each in an envelope with the name of the participant on it

do this for team as well as newbies have ready all the needed items for Eucharist host team may celebrate with the group



The flow… Warm welcome Music playing Names tags on everyone at all times Child care if possible Much depends on the humor and

style of the Retreat Leader This is a gift of the Holy Spirit Discern carefully



The flow… The first session Supper Introductions

Name the table Practice the sharing format

Enthronement of Scripture Seasons of Mercy talk (10-12 minutes)

Followed by inventory handout Compline (night prayer)



The flow… The 2nd session Supper – with mystagogia The Mercy of Christ talk (12-15 minutes)

Followed by small & large group sharing Watch the length of this talk!

Mercy in the Community talk (6-8 minutes)

The Sacrament of Reconciliation Followed by a social gathering



The flow… The 3rd session Breakfast – with mystagogia Christ Have Mercy talk (8-10 minutes)

Followed by small & large group sharing A Plan for Daily Life in Christ talk (6 mins)

Eucharist Commission each by handing them their plan Invite them to invite others Followed by lunch (optional)



Follow up Contact everyone via e-mail or phone

to thank them for taking part 4 weeks later or so

(You may be holding another retreat for Group B) Convene Group A for catechesis

Not necessary to bring in the host team But they may want to attend

This is a “reunion”



What happens at the reunion? Journey of Faith since the retreat

What happened when they went home? How has their experience of liturgy been? How have they progressed on their

personal plan to live the works of mercy?

Begin a Mini-Course


The Core Work of the Parish

Liturgymusic &

devotions

Pastoralcare &

outreach

Stewardship envelopes& buildings

FormationSac PrepSchools& RCIA



Liturgymusic &

devotions

Pastoralcare &

outreach



The Current Pastoral Plan



Liturgymusic &

devotions

Pastoralcare &

outreach



Parish basedprocess

where folksexperienceconversion

The Current Pastoral Plan



The New Pastoral Plan

Liturgymusic &

devotions

Pastoralcare &

outreach

Stewardshipenvelopes& buildings

FormationSac Prep& RCIA

Encounters&

Retreats



Liturgymusic &

devotions

Pastoralcare &

outreach



Encounters&

Retreats




Liturgymusic &

devotions

Pastoralcare &

outreach



Encounters&

RetreatsFollow UpCatechesisto sustainconversion



http://www.thepastoralcenter.com/

Liturgymusic &

devotions

Pastoralcare &

outreach



Retreats&

Encounters

AdultCatechesis




Mini-Courses

What are they? Short, defined areas of study Combined with faith sharing Purpose: to integrate faith into daily life Usually 6 to 10 sessions per Mini-Course

For example: A Mini-Course on the person of Jesus

Christ



Mini-Courses

When do you use them? Parent gatherings while kids are in class The morning mass crowd going a bit

deeper RCIA Youth Ministry & Confirmation School programs Adult formation offerings Our case: Retreat follow up



Mini-Courses

Why do they succeed? A beginning that is clear With a scope that is reasonable And an end that is within sight

Critical conversation about faith Which tends to “go home with them.”



Mini-Courses

How do you construct one? Take a limited topic But not too limited Break it into bite sized pieces

5 – 10 sessions Package it with “Learn & Teach” Create a mystagogical element And an Ignatian prayer form



Mini-Courses

Learn & Teach Break the material into small chunks

and assign each to a small group The group draws out the major points

Creates a one-page flip chart sheet on them which will be presented to all

And prepares one of the points for dialogue in diads in the larger group

They learn by teaching


Mini-Courses

Mystagogy Ugh! A terrible word! Pause, look back a bit

Ask what touched your heart in this What caught your eye What word lingers in your ear

Move from that into deeper study with Learn and Teach


Mini-Courses

Ignatian prayer form Pause to ask how you would talk to

God about our faith For example, about Catholic teaching on

our responsibility for the poor Using writing and notes, talk to God in

your own words Share this as part of the closing

prayerwww.ThePastoralCenter.com

Mini-Courses

The “text” It’s important to have something in

their hands which will go home Should look valuable – not a

photocopy Build your Mini-Course on the content

of this “text” Faithful to the Church But easy to read


Mini-Courses

In the Market Catholic Update Lectionary-connected resources are

many such as Exploring the Sunday Readings

RENEW Scripture from Scratch Others…


A short commercial…

What would work for adults? Affordable With excellent Study Guides Organized into Mini-Courses High quality and substantial Based only in the Catechism But in plain language – and brief! Did I mention affordable?

So…

We took the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Broke it down into sensible bite-sized pieces

Summarized and highlighted Added original artwork And published it affordably

The Complete Index…

Atheism 37 2123-2126Authority 34 1897-1904Baptism 23 1213-1274Baptism, the rite 23 1229-1245Beatitudes 30 1716-1717Beauty 43 2500-2503Bishops ordination of

28 1555-1561Bishops, successors to apostles

3 77-79Blasphemy 37 2148Boasting 43 2481Capital pun’shmnt 40 2266-2267Chastity, defined 41 2237-2347

Simony 37 2121-2122Sin, defined 33 1849-1864Sin, mortal and venial

33 1854-1864Sin, what is it? 10 396-401Sin, why God permits it

10 410-412Slavery 42 2414Social doctrine of the church

42 2419-2425Social justice 34 1928-1938Suicide 40 2280-2283Sunday 38 2175-2188Superstition 37 2111Tempting God 37 2119

booklet CCC booklet CCC

Mini-Courses

What are the topics? The Nature of God & Faith Growing our Faith The Person of Jesus Christ The Nature of the Church Liturgy & Sacraments Catholic Social & Moral Teaching



Mini-Courses

What are the topics? Living the Commandments Christian Prayer A Thorough Survey of Catholic Life &

Practice The Bible – in Plain English Just Living

Developed with CRS



Mini-Courses

Each Growing Faith booklet comes with a complete Study Guide (free) which is reproducible following the Learn & Teach pedagogy and the Ignatian prayer colloquy

Plus a Marketing Kit (free) A flier, a poster, web items, bulletin

announcements & pre-formed letter



Mini-CoursesTo increase awareness and knowledge of faithIn a way that fits into people’s daily lives

Focus on the Core Work Deeper communion with Christ Sustained in the parish Leading to work in the Kingdom And a life of daily prayer Invite others to “come and see”

Parish Retreats Deep intimacy with Christ Shared with others Built on the Sacraments With strong follow-up

Parish Renewal:

What causes it?


Coach Parents to form their own kids! Growing Up Catholic


with bill huebsch planning & implementing parish based retreats

Documents

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reformation slide

church history jctoday

adult church christ

christ adults

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christ ecumenism

early church encounter