Rural Canterbury parish revitalised by Divine Renovation

Parish priest Fr Tien Cao and parishioners spoke in a video on Divine Renovation’s YouTube channel recently. Fr Cao explained that when he first started at the parish, there were few volunteers, and it was proving difficult to unite communities such as Fairlie and Twizel that are more than 100km apart.

“I felt a bit lonely like I’m doing everything by myself, and I thought to myself – I needed help,” Fr Cao said.

A parishioner admitted on the video that theirs was a “quiet, declining” parish. Fr Cao said he “started to complain and then I started to pray and now I start to ask for help”.

He used a Divine Renovation approach, saying he had been accompanied, and was indebted to it.

“One of the greatest fruits of being on this journey of Divine Renovation is inviting people to take up the ministries in the community, and they are excited about it,” Fr Cao said.

“Evangelisation affects the whole parish – firstly, the parish priest, secondly my servant leadership team and next will be the whole parish, because evangelisation demands us to look outwardly. So it shifts our whole focus.”

Parishioners say new life is being breathed into the parish. One said that “when Fr Tien arrived, you get drawn in, which is a good thing”.

Fr Cao admitted that the work was tiring, but said the Lord had given him new strength and energy and had sent new people.

“They pick me up, drag me along,” Fr Cao said. “You think that I inspire others, but I am inspired by those around me, by my team, by my own parishioners, who want to see things differently in the parish.”

FULL STORY

Answering the call of renewal in rural New Zealand! (Divine Renovation/YouTube)