Living the Eucharist Small Groups Open Doors to Vital Faith by Fr. Kenneth Boyack, CSP Living the Eucharist is an exciting new parish-based renewal experience designed to help parishes foster spiritual growth and discipleship through a more profound experience of Sunday Mass. Two hundred sixty-one parishes throughout the United States used this pastoral resource in Lent 2012.
Rev. Kenneth Boyack, CSP is Vice President of Paulist Evangelization Ministries and the General Coordinator for Living the Eucharist. You can contact him at KBoyack@pemdc.org.
Based on feedback from parishes and parishioners, Living the Eucharist small groups (which are the heart of this Lenten faith renewal program) are opening new doors to an awakened and aware Catholic faith. We want to share with you the verbatim comments and assessments of adults from around the country who participated in Living the Eucharist small groups during Lent 2012. “This program was a wonderful Lenten experience that will endure long after Lent has finished. I feel my participation in the Mass is forever changed.” Parishioner, Hampstead, NH Many of the 261 parishes invited parishioners to join a small group that met for six weeks during Lent. The weekly ninety-minute meetings involved input and discussion on topics such as “Why We Gather for Sunday Eucharist,” “What Happens at Sunday Mass,” and “The Dynamic Role of the Holy Spirit.” Each meeting closed with the group using lectio divina to pray with one of the readings for the upcoming Sunday Mass. “This group and the readings, especially lectio divina, have convinced me to want to follow Jesus more.” Parishioner, Garden City, SC Many small group leaders collected evaluations from the participants during the final meeting during Lent. Twenty-three parishes sent their evaluations to Paulist Evangelization Ministries and 131 small group participants gave their feedback through a survey on the Living the Eucharist website. Paulist Evangelization Ministries gathered a total of 1,286 responses from small group members. The feedback on Living the Eucharist small groups has been extremely positive, with a large majority (87.6%) of the respondents rating the program “Excellent,” or “Very Good.” “Best program in our parish in decades.” Parishioner, Grand Rapids, MI “The entire experience was exceptional. Everyone shared with great honesty and conviction. It was such a wonderful experience. I did not want it to end.” Parishioner, Forest Grove, OR
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