CRHP: Christ Renews His Parish

By Patrick Gribben
Patrick P. Gribben is a member of the Catholic Community of St. Jude, DeWitt, and serves as a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Diocesan Coordinating Commission. He also coordinates the Share the Wealth project.

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What is CRHP? CRHP, acronym for Christ Renews His Parish... frequently pronounced “chirp”... is a renewal process designed to evangelize the participants to progress in their faith, overcome obstacles to spiritual growth, and become more committed to discipleship. Experience has show that the latter often leads to greater involvement in various parish ministries.

A two-day event, it is conducted by 13 or 14 team members who themselves are veterans of the process. They present the program for 20 or so participants over a fairly intense 30-hour weekend schedule. St John the Evangelist Parish in Fenton operates four programs – two each for the men and the women — staggered throughout the year. The parish is about to undertake its 7th such program for men and its 6th for women. Experience shows that prior to their CRHP experience, about half of the participants had not been significantly involved in parish ministries.

This powerful weekend is a blending of presentations by team members, discussions, “gutsy” sharing experiences, chapel visitations, scriptural study, and time for reflections.  It begins early on a Saturday morning, runs throughout the day, and recesses after Mass later that evening. The participants stay on site overnight, resume the program Sunday morning, and conclude with a liturgical service in the afternoon. There is a follow-up session a few weeks later called “An Evening of Discipleship”. At that time, the participants return to provide feedback of their reactions to the process and its impact on them. If so inclined, they are offered the opportunity to enlist as team members for subsequent CRHP programs.

Background: Nationally, CRHP reportedly has been in operation for some 30 years and in about 800 parishes. In the Lansing Diocese, St Patrick Parish, Brighton introduced CRHP seven years ago and then assisted St John the Evangelist Parish in Fenton in introducing it to its parishioners three years ago. In three years of operation, CRHP has had about 210 participants.
Shortly after launching the program in Fenton, St Patrick Parish team members helped to initiate it at Holy Family Parish, Grand Blanc. St Joseph Parish in Dexter began CRHP with the support of a team from Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Carmel, Indiana.

Resources Required: If there was an operative motto for CRHP at St John Parish, it would be: “CRHP, done by the parish for the parish in the parish!” The participants sleep on cots at the parish with meals prepared for them by volunteers. Accommodations and meals are provided without charge at what affectionately is labeled the “St John Hilton”. Program preparation time for the team members is significant over a six-month time frame.

According to Bill Flick, Adult Education Facilitator at St John Parish, out-of-pocket expenses (food, etc.) average about $700 per weekend. In addition, cost for the manual used by the team members is about $35 each. Experience, however, has shown that the manuals can be reused a number of times before needing replacement.

The four Lansing Diocese parishes that have been involved with this program strongly endorse it and seek to propagate its introduction in other parishes by offering outreach support. Through what is called its “Continuation Committee”, St John Parish will provide an experienced team of members to help get the effort off the ground in parishes where interest is shown. The other CRHP parishes are also available for similar support.

Although larger parishes may have a built-in advantage with a larger population from which to draw participants, smaller parishes can certainly achieve equally satisfactory results through collaborating with parishes of similar size.

Outcomes: According to Reverend David Harvey, pastor of St John the Evangelist Parish in Fenton, parishioners who participate in CRHP tend to:
• take their life roles more seriously
• attend daily Mass more often
• bond more closely within the parish community
• experience a significant difference in their lives and relationships
• become more involved in parish ministries.

Persons to Contact:
• William Flick, Adult Faith Formation Facilitator
St John the Evangelist Parish
600 North Adelaide Street, Fenton, MI 48430-1829
Phone: 810-629-1985
Fax: 810.629.2302

 • Mary Ann Helie, Director of Adult Education•
St Patrick Parish
711 Rickett Road, Brighton, MI 48116-1824
Phone: 810-229-9863
Fax: 810.220.0730

• Marinell High, Director of Religious Education
St Joseph Parish
3430 Dover, Dexter, MI 48130-1409
Phone: 734-426-8483
Fax: 734.426.6451

• Ellen Venos, Director of Adult Education
Holy Family Parish
11824 South Saginaw, Grand Blanc, MI 48439-1322
Phone: 810-694-9072
Fax: 810.695.0063