Christ Renews His Parish at St. Barnabas
The Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreat program, also known as Welcome, is a spiritual renewal process designed to help parishioners deepen their faith and build a stronger community within their parish. The program involves an overnight weekend retreat where participants engage in fellowship, faith sharing, hospitality, music, individual, group activities, and Mass. At St. Barnabas Parish in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago, this tradition thrives, fostering connections and spiritual growth among women.
Eight Themes of Transformation
The retreat is structured around eight themes, each centered on personal stories shared by fellow parishioners about Christ's profound impact on their lives. These themes—Renewal, Prayer, Scripture, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Discipleship, Witnessing, and Community—help participants reflect on their spiritual journeys and build meaningful relationships with others in the parish.
A Legacy of Faith
Christ Renews His Parish has been around since 1969, with Katie Durkin Kelly's parents participating in the 1980s. Katie, now a retreat lead at St. Barnabas Parish, shares that the program was brought back to St. Barnabas 20 years ago and has been an annual tradition ever since. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has continued to thrive, thanks to the support of Fr. Jim and the welcoming spirit of the parish community.
A Weekend of Faith and Fellowship
The most recent retreat at St. Barnabas occurred on February 22-23, 2025. Participants began their journey at 8 a.m. on Saturday with a light breakfast, followed by a day filled with activities centered around the eight themes. These activities included skits, posters, and poems that emphasized these themes in their daily lives. Meals were home-cooked, and frequent breaks were provided to ensure a relaxed and enjoyable experience. The last theme on Saturday was reconciliation, allowing participants to reflect on their spiritual growth.
The retreat experience extends beyond the scheduled activities. Participants sleep in the school and have a team celebration on Saturday evening, where they can mingle and enjoy each other's company. The group continues with witness testimonies on Sunday and engages in heartfelt discussions.
Kelly emphasizes the importance of community in the CRHP program: "This is a way of getting people involved in the parish; it makes you want to go to Mass and helps to keep the parish active." The retreat strengthens individual faith and fosters lasting friendships and a sense of belonging within the parish.
Personal Journey
Kelly's journey with CRHP began when she moved to St. Barnabas and sought a way to connect with the community. As a paramedic with the Chicago Fire Department and a PhD candidate in leadership, Katie has faced numerous challenges in her life, including her brother's life-changing accident, the loss of a good family friend, and her diagnosis with MS. Despite these hardships, Katie found solace and strength through the CRHP program.
"I needed something to reaffirm my faith, going through CRHP and hearing these experiences gave that to me," she shares. Katie's experiences have shaped her approach to organizing the retreats, and she credits CRHP with making her a better paramedic and person.
The Impact of CRHP
The impact of the CRHP retreats on participants is profound. Katie describes the transformation she witnessed among participants: "Saturday morning, people wonder why they are here. By Saturday afternoon, they start to loosen up with activities. Sunday morning, friendships have been born. Sunday night, everyone is hugging and can't wait to come back to the meetings."
Katie offers advice for anyone considering leading a retreat: "Encourage people to go experience it." She believes that the CRHP program has the power to inspire and transform lives, just as it has done for her and countless others.
As the St. Barnabas community continues to grow and evolve, the Christ Renews His Parish retreat program offers faith, hope, and community for all who participate. With each retreat, new connections are forged, strengthening the bonds that make St. Barnabas a truly special place.
