Thirty men from St. Joseph Parish spent the weekend of Dec. 11-12, 2004, at Monsignor Donovan High School in Athens, taking part in St. Joseph’s second “Christ Renews His Parish” weekend for men.

CRHP has existed for more than 30 years. Recommended by the renewal office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the program, founded in 1969, has been the primary instrument of personal and parish renewal in more than 700 parishes in 29 states and Italy.

Fundamentally, CRHP provides an opportunity for Catholics to say “yes” to a closer and deeper relationship with God. At Monsignor Donovan, St. Joseph parishioners who had previously completed a CRHP weekend led the program. More than two dozen men from the parish served this year’s attendees, assisted by a group of volunteers from Holy Trinity Parish in Peachtree City.

Christ Renews His Parish gives participants the chance to learn about God through the lives and experiences of other Catholics, and it provides an atmosphere for spiritual growth through prayer and personal reflection.

Those attending the weekend celebrated Mass on Saturday and Sunday, and the sacrament of reconciliation was offered Saturday evening. Throughout the rest of the weekend, the men shared conversations and thoughts on the demands of everyday life in family, work and other situations.

CRHP emphasizes continued growth in Christian life during daily contacts with others. The weekend is intended to further personal conversion and community, ministry, prayer, healing and holiness, spiritual growth and Gospel service.

Plans are underway for the third CRHP men’s weekend at St. Joseph’s, which will be held in the spring. The parish held its second CRHP weekend for women Jan. 8-9.

Men interested in being a part of the next CRHP men’s weekend should contact Father David McGuinness, pastor, or Father Dayro Rico, parochial vicar, at the parish office at (706) 548-6332. Information is also available at www.stjoesonline.org.