Divine Renovation: From a Maintenance to a Missional Parish - Reading Guide
Section outline
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Reading Guide
Preface
The purpose of this guide is to lead you through Father James Mallon’s book, Divine Renovation: Bringing Your Parish from Maintenance to Mission.
Through this chapter by chapter Reading Guide, you will come to understand the inspiration behind this book, and how Father James proposes we can renew our churches and reclaim our missionary identity. This book does not propose a one-size-fits-all approach, but instead equips you with the questions and principles necessary to begin the process of renewal in your parish.
While this Reading Guide can be reviewed on your own, we encourage priests and parishioners to go through this together, taking time to review the principles discussed in the book and the present realities within their parish.
Divine Renovation is a global ministry which seeks to inspire, equip, and connect parishes to become centers of renewal, forming missionary disciples. In Divine Renovation: Bringing your parish from maintenance to mission, Father James will share stories, passages from Scripture, and Magisterial Documents. We hope this Reading Guide will inspire in you a hope for renewal and equip you with the guiding principles necessary to begin the process. Divine Renovation Ministries has many tools and resources to accompany parishes and Dioceses on the path from maintenance to mission. Your journey with us can begin right here. Are you ready?
A special thanks is owed to the Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Their Diocesan Reading Guide was very helpful and used, with permission, in the creation of Divine Renovation’s Reading Guide.
User Guide
Form A Small GroupBring together a small group of people from your parish (e.g., representatives from your staff, people of influence, enthusiastic volunteers, finance council, lay and ministry leadership) and commit, as a group, to read and discuss the Divine Renovation book together.
Read And ReflectAsk each participant to complete the corresponding reading and the personal reflection exercises for each module before the group session.
GatherPlan to meet at regular intervals (could be weekly, or more or less frequently) to pray, discuss, and reflect on the reading.
PrayAt the start of each session, open with prayer and a short reflection on the suggested Gospel passage. At the end of each group session close with prayer.
DiscussAs a group, use the discussion questions to facilitate conversation and share reactions and perspectives. Make sure everyone is engaged and has an opportunity to provide their own point of view.
Recommendations On Ways to Read Through
Seven Sessions:
Read and discuss one chapter at a time. While this route forward may be quick, please note the length of chapter 5, before committing to this strategy.
Nine Sessions:
Read and discuss one chapter at a time, apart from chapter 5, which may be broken into three sessions based on the themes listed in the chapter 5 portion of the Reading Guide.
Seven Sessions:
Read and discuss the chapters 1 and 2 together, focusing on mission and evangelization. Next read chapters 3 and 4 together, focusing on the pain of losing our missionary identity. Split chapter 5 into three sessions based on the recommendations listed. Read and discuss chapter 6 on its own. Conclude by reading and discussing chapter 7 on leadership.
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Downloadable Videos and Documents for Offline Access
Videos:
Download: Crisis of Identity - Session 1 - Divine Renovation: An Interview with Fr. James Mallon
Download: Leadership and Vision - Session 2 - Divine Renovation: An Interview with Fr. James Mallon
Download: Forming a Leadership Team - Session 3 - Divine Renovation: An Interview with Fr. James Mallon
Download: The Importance of Culture - Session 4 - Divine Renovation: An Interview with Fr . James Mallon
Download: The role of the Holy Spirit - Session 5 - Divine Renovation: An Interview with Fr . James Mallon-
Documents:
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