Department of Pastoral Ministers & Pastoral Services

Three parishioners at Chapmanville, W. Va., share where the Holy Spirit
might be working in their everyday lives.

In cooperation with John Hanna, the Pastoral Services Liaison of the Charleston Vicariate of the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston (W. Va,), Glenmary held two training Saturdays to prepare parish teams to implement a 'Peter, Do You Love Me?'—A Parish Evangelization Retreat. Based on the process and materials adapted from the Diocese of Superior (Mich.), Lorraine Vancamp, Glenmary's Consultant for Evangelization offered the first sessions in Elkview and Chapmanville, W. Va., in the fall of 2006. The diocesan component of the team consisted of a coordinator, three presenters and a music minister. Twenty-five parishioners from Glenmary parishes and diocesan parishes within their cluster areas attended.

The central Scripture of the retreat is from John 21: "Peter, do you love me?" The parish retreat is designed to raise the level of awareness of each Catholic’s baptismal call to be an everyday evangelizer. The process of presentation, quiet reflection and small-group sharing seeks to break down the stereotype of “evangelization = knocking on doors.”

Parishioners are challenged to deepen their commitment to live as disciples. They are challenged to replace old notions of evangelization with the image of being “salt” wherever they are. Each parish team took home packets of materials that included the outlines of three presentations, questions for personal and small-group reflection and prayer services. Each parish in the cluster is making plans for implementing a Parish Retreat Day during 2007.

For Glenmary churches, contact Lorraine Vancamp lvancamp@glenmary.org.

This training is offered only in Glenmary parishes or in diocesan regions where Glenmary has churches.

Brother Mike Springer from Glenmary's mission in Chapmanville, W. Va.,listens as
parishioners adapt the schedule of the Parish Retreat Day
to their local church calendar and needs.

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For more information, contact:
Pastoral Ministers &
Pastoral Services
1312 Fifth Ave., North
Nashville, TN  37208
615-256-1900
dps@glenmary.org