ARISE at St. Elizabeth's Parish
For Questions & Participation, please contact:
Steve Reilly, ARISE Parish Coordinator
St. Elizabeth Parish
Phone:617-696-1354 / Email:steve_reilly@verizon.net
or
Laura Kessler
Phone:617-696-3789 / Email:LKessler@ifb.org
For detailed information, please visit Renew International.
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ARISE Program Seasons - 2009 to 2010
Each ARISE Season will center on a major gospel and are as follows:
Season I Encountering Christ Today - completed
Season II Change Our Hearts - completed
Season III In the Footsteps of Christ - completed
Season IV New Heart, New Spirit - completed
Season V We Are the Good News! - Sign up starts Fall 2010
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New members can join during any Season. There are no special requirements to join. Just come listen to the words of the Bible, get perspectives from your group members, and share your perspective if you like.
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What is the ARISE Program?
ARISE is an ambitious, three-year renewal program that the Archdiocese of Boston hopes will revive the spiritual commitment of parishioners.
Designed specifically for the Boston Archdiocese, the small-group study sessions will run through November 2010. The ARISE Program is expected to involve tens of thousands of members in about half the parishes in Eastern Massachusetts, with the goal to enliven parishes.
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What can I hope to get from participating in ARISE?
ARISE is a process of spirituality that enables people to deepen their faith, develop a closer relationship with Christ, grow in community, and reach out in service to others.
The ARISE process helps participants apply the spiritual standards of Christ in all areas of life. It emphasizes people living in good relationship with one another and making concrete connections with the gospel to their life situations.
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Why small groups?
One of the first things that Christ did in his public ministry was to gather a community around him. He left his followers with the presence of the Spirit and the gift of companionship.
- Small communities foster faith and encourage active participation in the broader life of the Church.
- Small communities enable people to grow in their relationship with Christ within a climate of trust. Participants read Scriptures, share faith, pray and support one another in their faith journey.
Groups may decide to meet at the homes of group members or the church, which ever they find more conducive to heartfelt exchanges and dialogue. No member is obligated to host a group, and groups includes about 10 participants.
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What can I expect of my group?
The small group setting of the ARISE Program will provide for face-to-face gathering of fellow parishioners. The groups will invest time with one another for the common purpose of applying gospel values to every aspect of their lives.
It provides the opportunity to discuss and hear other perspectives on such issues from others that may help to understand liturgies more clearly.
The small groups allow for true human relationships, and make it possible to live communion more intensely, not only within themselves, but also with our St. Elizabeth parish community, and with the entire Boston Diocesan.
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What does the program entail?
Each Seasonal Program of ARISE is six weeks.
Parishioners are assigned to a group, and each group meets weekly (for approx 1 to 1.5 hrs) to study the Bible and discuss how to live out Christian teachings more deeply, from sharing their faith with others, and being more active in social missions. These meetings will help people hear and share the Scripture with new ears, open minds, making it more present in their lives. The ARISE program holds great promise to inspire Catholics to deeper participation.
ARISE can help parishes deal with "a variety of challenges," including the loss of thousands of churchgoers in recent years. Some small groups then decide to do something together as a group, something that helps them live out the word of scripture while giving service to others.
Participation in any season does not require prior or subsequent participation. However, it is hoped that parishioners will value their experience and exchanges and continue to grow with each new season, perhaps bringing family or friends, or even starting a new group and becoming a leader.
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