Denver Catholic

CATHOLIC LIFE I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 Amazing Parish Conference debut highlights parishio- ner experience BY NISSA LAPOINT Catholic heavyweights be- hind a Denver-launched parish revitalization movement shared with evangelizers across the country last week the keys to converting the unchurched into front-pew regulars. Some 140 parishes and orga- nizations from as far as New York and Canada gathered for an invi- tation-only workshop called The Amazing Parish Conference Aug. 27-28 in Denver to help churches become more vibrant centers for an encounter with Christ. The fi rst conference, funded by the local VINE Foundation, drew Catholic leaders including Jeff Cavins, Curtis Martin and Chris Stefanick to present with businessman Patrick Lencioni seven identifi ed traits of an "amazing parish"—a reliance on prayer, a real leadership team, a clear vision, the Sunday experience, compelling forma- tion, small group discipleship and missionary zeal. What's missing is not the sac- raments, according to key orga- nizers. What's needed is a church fi lled with hearts on fi re for Christ, and parishioners helpful to fallen-away Catholics navigat- ing their way back to church. "Yes, the Eucharist is enough, but so many people need more to understand that," Lencioni, author and leadership consul- tant, said to the packed con- ference room inside the Hyatt Regency. "Those people out there who are former Catholics or Catholics going other plac- es—they're hungry for what you have. We know the most im- portant part. This conference is about all the other things." Founders are calling it a Holy Spirit-inspired movement that began on the day Pope Francis was selected pontiff in March 2013. Co-founder John Martin of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Denver told the Denver Catholic Register they want attendees to have "a zeal to take their parish to a level where parishioners are active disciples for Christ." Hearts on fi re This personal zeal is necessary for a transformation, Bishop An- drew Cozzens of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said during his talk on evangelization. "If we don't have the fi re in us it's because we're living a lukewarm and superfi cial ex- istence," he told the crowded conference room. He urged pastors and parish staff that the best incentive for sharing the Gospel message comes from inside, from con- templating Christ in love. "The fi re begins to grow as I spend time with the one I love and when that fi re grows then the Holy Spirit can use me," he explained. Parishes were asked to brain- storm ideas for putting this into action. The bishop added that true zeal begins where natural en- thusiasm ends. "When you reach the end of natural enthusiasm and spiritu- al failure and weakness and you can't go on, invite the Lord then a real transformation can hap- pen and then real zeal begins." From consumers to disciples Conference talks were built on the idea that a parish is where most people come to know Christ. An alarming number of Americans are missing this op- portunity, according to the Pew Research Center. "Nones" or those with no religious identity are a growing 19 percent or one- fi fth of the population—and a third of adults under 30—re- searchers found in a 2012 poll. Father Michael White, pas- tor of Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Md., and associ- ate Tom Corcoran, shared how they shifted focus to these un- churched people. Instead of adding more pro- grams and ministries, the par- ish prioritized the Sunday expe- rience and mobilized the help of regular parishioners. The people in the pews were no longer approached as cus- tomers, he said. "We were not leading people and we were not making disci- ples, but we were creating reli- gious consumers in our parish," Father White shared about the programs and activities they la- bored to provide. "So much of it was a waste of time." Together the pastor and as- sociate authored the books "Re- built" and "Tools for Rebuilding" about the lessons they learned. They asked attendees to brainstorm on ways to reach the unchurched by reevaluating their worship music, the mes- sage given during homilies and how ministers affect the Sunday experience. "I want to see the average parishioner reawakened," said Cathy Gold, parishioner at the 5,000-family St. Patrick's Church in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. "Ev- eryone should be sitting on the edge of their seat." After the discussion, Father Jarek Pochocki, C.M.I., pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr and St. Patrick churches in Hamilton, Ontario, said he and his parish- ioners could work on reaching out to the small and diverse community. "The topics seem obvious but this (conference) really rein- forces our understanding of it," he said. During the conference, Arch- bishop Samuel Aquila of the Archdiocese of Denver cele- brated Mass. Matt Maher led an evening of music, and adora- tion and confession were made available. Lencioni presented on "a re- al leadership team," Lisa Bren- nikmeyer presented on "small group discipleship," Martin on "a reliance on prayer," Cavins on "compelling formation," and Matt Manion joined Lencioni to speak on "a clear vision." Resources The Amazing Parish move- ment has provided free resourc- es for Catholic leaders, clergy and laity, to achieve the seven traits at www.amazingparish. org. Key organizer Dominic Per- ri said the movement will also provide consultants to help par- ishes become thriving centers. "The response has been tre- mendous," he said during the conference. "There's a tremen- dous hunger for this. … We're here to serve the (parishes)." Taking people from 'nones' to regulars PHOTO BY ROBERT LINN/DCR FATHER Michael White, left, Pat Lencioni, gesturing, and Tom Corcoran talk on stage during The Amazing Parish Conference at the Hyatt Regency DTC in Greenwood Village Aug. 27. exploded on social media, along with it came concerns from pro-lifers about donating to the ALS Association, which uses embryonic stem cells in their research. Soon an ethical alternative was proposed: the pro-life nonprofi t John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Iowa City. The JP2MRI works only with adult stem cells in their research efforts toward neurological dis- eases including ALS, Alzhei- mer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease; as well as cancer and rare diseases. Father Reese was clear about his stance against using embry- os for research. "As far as the ice bucket chal- lenge, it is a great idea with mostly good research being done," he wrote. "There is an issue of some embryonic re- search ... I would suggest send- ing the other research centers an IOU, payable upon the ter- mination of all embryo ALS research." According to JP2MRI vice president, Dr. Alan Moy, the in- stitute has seen results from the ice bucket challenge. "Last year we received $170,000 (in donations) all year," Moy said Aug. 28. "We've received two times that over the last two weeks from all 50 states and 30 countries." That without ever actively seeking funds specifi c to ALS. "The ice bucket challenge created an awareness among pro-life individuals about ALS and the supportive position of ALSA toward embryonic stem cell research," he said. "In all of the attention given to this media phenomena, pro-life individuals ... decided to give to us." With the additional funding they will scale up their ALS op- eration, he said, by recruiting more patients, collecting more clinical data, creating per- sonalized stem cells from ALS patients, screen drugs on ALS stem cells, and manufacturing adult stem cells that could be approved for ALS clinical trials. "Clearly they're making a dif- ference," said Msgr. Schmitz. "(Our ice bucket challenge) could make a difference for the John Paul II Institute and raise awareness for priests. A lot of times when our priests get sick they live pretty isolated lives." Father Doug Grandon, pa- rochial vicar at St. Thomas More Parish in Centennial, has known Father Reese for 10 years since serving together in the Diocese of Peoria. He went to visit him last week. "I found him to be in good spirits," Father Grandon said, noting that Father Reese's deep spirituality was evident even in a sparse hospital room. "On his bedside table he had two cru- cifi xes and his breviary. He also had holy cards to give visitors." Despite the challenges, Fa- ther Reese has not given up on earning a doctorate degree and continues to work on his dissertation that compares the sacrifi cial priesthood to the common priesthood of all who are baptized. "I have only one chapter to write," Father Reese indicated. Msgr. Schmitz encouraged the faithful to pray for him and his family. "This is hard on his parents," he said, drawing on the image of the Blessed Mother feeling helpless at the foot of the cross. "They can't fi x it, they can't take it away, they can't solve it. All they can do is be there with him." "So just to be with Father Ben," Msgr. Schmitz said. "And others who are suffering from this disease." ALS From Page 1

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