2022/03/20 Renew My Church REFLECTION

-Nicole Zenner, Director of Parish Strategy & Planning

What does this even mean and why should you care?

For us at Saint Clement, the Renew My Church process is about spiritual renewal, and it is how we will survive as a community. This spiritual renewal starts with each one of us – our belief as a Christian, our welcoming of others, and our ability to tell our story of faith. We all are at a different point in this journey, but the important thing to remember is that we are taking this journey together at Saint Clement. A crucial part of this spiritual renewal is supporting each other.

As a cradle Catholic, I was blessed with a strong Catholic faith tradition handed down to me by my parents and grandparents. But after my Confirmation at age 16, I struggled with going to Mass every week. I didn’t have time for God. That all changed after I became a victim of gun violence when I was 23. My prayers and conversations with God are what helped me overcome the hatred I felt and brought me closer to my belief in God. But looking back, I wish my spiritual community could have helped me more instead of me feeling like I had to do it alone. Have you ever felt this way too?

Granted, not everyone needs such a dramatic life event to make them believe. Overcoming the doubts and uncertainties of our every day life help to strengthen our spirit. This is just one of the reasons we encourage everyone to participate in Alpha. Alpha starts at the beginning – the beginning of our questions and the beginning of forming community.

And I might argue that having a community we feel we belong to is even more crucial right now than ever before. The first step in belonging somewhere is how we are welcomed there. First impressions count! My previous work experience in the hospitality industry proved to me that it takes everyone in the community to help welcome someone and make them feel like they belong. Every smile, every conversation, and every outreach needs to happen, at all times. Yes, for introverts like me, this can be very daunting to keep up the work of welcoming. But we are also the same ones who need that extra smile or conversation to get us to open up. Are you up to the challenge of welcoming with me?

In the Spring/Summer of 2021 we conducted Phase 1 of The Clement Way (our strategic planning) and in the Fall, our leadership team prioritized Welcome & Engagement for the next phase for our renewal. This is why you keep hearing us talk about getting involved in hospitality, getting involved at Mass, and inviting you to participate in all of our ministries and programs. We need YOUR HELP in continuing to welcome new members, our returning members, and even the long-time & engaged members to the community. As we begin Phase 2 of the work of Implementation this Spring, please reach out to me at nzenner@clement.org to get involved in this important work.

We are so blessed at Saint Clement. I am grateful to have you all as my spiritual community to help me grow in my faith, be more welcoming to others, and share my story of encountering God. Find me on the plaza after Mass, as I’d love to hear your story.