“One of the great challenges in facing the Church in this generation is to foster in the faithful a sense of personal responsibility for the Church’s mission, and to enable them to fulfill that responsibility as missionary disciples, as a leaven of the Gospel in our world. This will require creativity in adapting to changed situations, carrying forward the legacy of the past not primarily by maintaining our structures and institutions, which have served us well, but above all by being open to the possibilities which the Spirit opens up to us and communicating the joy of the Gospel, daily and in every season of our life.”

- Pope Francis

Click Cross for history

History Source: Franciscan Mission Service

What is Renew My Church

CALLED BY JESUS CHRIST WE ARE MAKING DISCIPLES, BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND INSPIRING WITNESS

Jesus Christ calls us to constantly renew His Church. Renew My Church is the Archdiocese of Chicago’s response to His call and our invitation for renewal. Called by Jesus Christ we are making disciples, building communities and inspiring witness.

Renew My Church fosters belonging, particularly among young people, and invites them to have a true encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ. Renew My Church supports vibrant parishes and schools that cultivate bonds with each other and provoke active participation in His Church. Renew My Church asks us to come together in solidarity and spread the light and hope of Jesus Christ in order to transform the world.

Click here to read more about renew my church.

Lord Jesus, you speak to us today,

as you spoke to holy men and women
who have gone before us.
In every age and in our own time,
you call to us and say: Renew My Church.

Pour out the gift of your Holy Spirit upon us,
and so enable us
    to hear you clearly
    to listen to each other attentively
    to imagine our future boldly
    to discern your direction wisely
    to persevere in your holy will courageously
    to stay together in charity
    to surrender our own plans readily
    to embrace the greater good
    to hand on your gifts to future generations.

May we remain in the holy company of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, the apostles, and all the saints.
May their example and presence
inspire us with patient confidence
in the work of your grace.

We ask this of you who live and reign
with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
forever and ever. Amen

* The heart of our Renew My Church efforts is the parish grouping process—the goal of which is to ensure that all parishes across the archdiocese have the vision, leadership, resources, and operational foundation necessary to create an effective culture of evangelization that makes disciples, builds communities, and inspires witness.

Why Group Parishes Together?

• Changing church attendance patterns over many decades has left many parishes heavily burdened by operational and financial concerns that limit their ability to have expansive ministry programs around evangelization and discipleship formation.
• A decreasing number of priests available to serve at parishes creates a need to rethink our leadership model to include a stronger lay leadership core team with proper governance structures for accountability.
• There is a need to ensure that we have a common understanding of proven evangelization programs and processes that are rooted in Catholic teaching. 

All 344 parishes in the diocese have been joined into 98 groupings. Within these groupings, parishes will determine opportunities for collaboration and unity following a structured process for discernment, transition, and building a future together.  - - - more at: * https://www.renewmychurch.org/parish-grouping-process/overview.