Churches seek unity during the Lenten Season RENEW 2000, a national program sponsoring small faith- sharing communities, is offering parishioners in the Archdiocese of Newark an opportunity for grace and spiritual growth during the first Lent of the new millennium. Now in Season IV of a five-season, two and a half year long process, each new season has become a natural successor of the previous season. The theme of RENEW 2000 Season IV seeks to attain goals which mirror those expressed by Pope John Paul II, reconciliation with an emphasis on ecumenism. In addition to encouraging Catholics to share their faith experience, RENEW 2000 encourages followers of other faiths to attend the weekly gathering and find the similarities in the different religions. Archdiocesan coordinator of RENEW 2000 and Vicar for Pastoral Life for the Archdiocese, Rev. Msgr. Louis Fimiani said, "Many of the parishes in the Archdiocese will be incorporating some of this theme in their Sunday liturgies. People will be hearing much more about ecumenism during this season of Lent than ever before." The weekly themes will also address the elimination of all things that separate us from each other and from God --- in our families, parishes, communities, workplaces, and the world. It is hoped that many small communities will become ecumenical this season. The faith-sharing communities consist of multiple small groups, averaging eight to 12 members, which meet at their parishes or parishionerŐs homes, once a week for six weeks. Each week, the themes will focus on a new topic, as well as offer prayer and reading of the scripture. The six weekly themes are: Week
1: What Christians Have In Common One hundred and twenty five parishes in the four counties- Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union- of the Archdiocese are currently participating in RENEW 2000. For more information, please contact the RENEW 2000 Office in the Archdiocese of Newark (973) 497-4358.
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