About Parish Pastoral Renewal
What is renewal?
Occurring across Parishes throughout the Diocese of Calgary, Pastoral Renewal is the commitment of the clergy, religious, and the faithful in the Diocese of Calgary to authentically grow closer to Jesus, who calls us to follow Him and live His mission in this particular moment in time.
Similar to the early Church, the synodal renewal of our faith communities depend on the primacy of grace, the witness of prayer and worship, communion, faith formation, outreach and leadership. These are the foundations of every parish faith community. Through this renewal, we seek to invite others to join us in the journey.
The Pastoral Renewal is not a pastoral planning process that comes equipped with GPS technology that is intended to provide turn-by-turn directions or predetermined pastoral programs and/or initiatives. Instead, it serves as a compass to strengthen our synodal experience of communion, mission and participation.
The three areas of pastoral priority and nine actions presented in the Pastoral Renewal are meant to orient us towards Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. They serve as coordinates, indicating the path of discernment and the direction we will embark upon with the Holy Spirit as our guide.
Discerning how to navigate this pastoral journey requires attentive consideration of our immediate surroundings – the unique pastoral realities of our people, parishes, and communities.
Vision, Mission, and Values
Guided by the Holy Spirit, with feedback from the parish survey, and through meaningful group discussions- seven values have been identified that will guide our journey.
These values describe the kind of parish we believe God is calling us to become:
- Evangelization
- Unity in Mission
- Forming Disciples for Worship and Mission
- Intentional Belonging
- Families Fully Belong
- Joyful, Active, Participation
- Effective Communication
Click the links above to dive deeper into each value with practical examples and an opportunity for reflection.
About Parish Renewal
In February 2024, the Diocese of Calgary invited parishes across the diocese to take part in a multi-year journey of Renewal.
Parish Renewal is an invitation to grow closer to Jesus, listen more attentively to the Holy Spirit, and discern how God is calling each parish community to live out its mission. The Diocese describes Renewal not as a predetermined program, but as a compass to help parishes discern their own path according to their unique people, gifts, and circumstances.
Parish teams were formed, and were to listen to the experiences and perspectives of their fellow parishioners through a Parish Renewal Survey and conversations within their communities. This listening and discernment provides the foundation for identifying strengths, recognizing areas for growth, and determining how each parish can move forward.
As part of this process, Holy Family Parish conducted a parish survey in June 2024 to hear directly from our local parishioners. Since then, Parish Council has reviewed, and used the results to identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth. This information directly shaped our renewal vision, mission, and values.
