Bishop Gielen addresses global webinar on parish renewal

Bishop Gielen and Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David from the Philippines shared their insights during a 60-minute online event on July 3 titled “Hope on the Horizon: A Global Celebration of Parish Renewal”.

The webinar, organised by Alpha International and Divine Renovation, also featured testimonies from people in different nations who have seen their parishes come alive.

Bishop Gielen reflected on his experiences as a priest, saying that he had always been less accepting of “maintenance” mode in a parish, and had always tried to ensure there was outreach.

Referring to the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand, Bishop Gielen said “We are a small bishops conference, and we often challenge each other about that . . . questioning is this about maintenance or is this about mission?”

While maintenance is important, it is not at the centre of the Gospel call, he said.

The webinar emphasised many times that hope comes from an encounter with the person of Jesus. Asked how parishes can become places of hope for people at every stage of life and faith, Bishop Gielen said: “We have the Good News and the Good News is the truth that Jesus is Lord and that our first call [is] to introduce them to the person of Jesus.”

Thinking back to his time as a priest, Bishop Gielen said he would say to people who wanted their children to attend a Catholic school and to grow in faith that the children need to know Jesus. He asked some of these people if they would return to their faith and if they would attend an Alpha course. Of those who did, Bishop Gielen saw great changes in their lives.

“And our parish became a place of healing for them, a place of encouragement for them.”

Priests and parishioners have to work together in parish renewal, Bishop Gielen added. The Church is at her best when people’s gifts are shared and put at the service of the Gospel, and when clergy and laity learn from each other, he said.

Lay involvement has grown in the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and it has been a gift, Bishop Gielen added. 

“I’m very hopeful about what our parishes can offer for the future,” he said.

He praised Divine Renovation as an ordered way of creating a good culture in a parish and in a diocese.

Cardinal David encouraged the formation of new ministries in the Church whenever historical and pastoral circumstances change. He warned against ministries becoming institutionalised to the point where they lose their original charism.

The cardinal noted Pope Francis’ reminder that the Church does not exist for itself but for the world.

FULL STORY

Hope on The Horizon: A Global Celebration of Parish Renewal (Divine Renovation/YouTube)

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