Faithful God,
During this Easter season
we stand in astonishment at the empty tomb.

Your mercy and power,
evident in raising Jesus to life
are more than we can comprehend.

RENEW International, which has developed Catholic faith-sharing resources for small groups for more than 40 years, has become the administrator of CUSA, an apostolate of people with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

G. Gregory Tobin has been appointed president and publisher of RENEW International by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, archbishop of Newark. Greg Tobin succeeds Sister Terry Rickard, O.P., president of RENEW since 2009.

A Christmas Prayer

O loving God,
through the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ,
you have touched humanity with grace.
As a child, he delighted us, and as a man
he taught us to be grateful for our lives on earth
and for the promise of life forever in your presence.He taught us to love one another without reservation
and to love and care for the earth and its produce,
the gifts we received from you in creation.
He gave us an example to imitate,
an example of self-sacrifice,
an example of gratitude to you,
an example of commitment to love and peace and justice.
As we celebrate his Nativity,
we thank you for all of these gifts,
and we pray for those who suffer today from poverty or illness.
We thank you for the company of our family and friends
and for the food and drink that sustains us
as we continue to live as his disciples.
We make this prayer in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Greg Tobin
President of RENEW International
Christmas 2021

Click HERE to download a printable copy to share.

Good and gracious God,

We come again to the time we set asi

de for gratitude.

We have much to be thankful for, even amidst our challenges.

We thank you for the gift of our lives

and for all those scientists, doctors, nurses, and caregivers

who fight for the lives of those affected by this pandemic.

Bless their lives and their work.

Good and gracious God, you showed us the importance of fathers when you chose Joseph to care for your Son.

Bless all the fathers who share your unconditional love with their children.

Bring comfort to those fathers who have lost children, or are estranged from their children, and all those who mourn the loss of their beloved fathers.

RENEW International, a Catholic not-for-profit organization based in Plainfield, N.J., will hold its annual fundraising gala on June 10, 2021 at the Pleasantdale Château, West Orange, N.J.

Good and gracious God,

We thank you today for the gift of Motherhood, brought to perfection in our holy mother, Mary.

We ask you to bless all mothers, who show your face to the world through their love.

We ask you to comfort those who bear the pain of losing a child and those for whom motherhood is a broken dream.

Bless with your peace those who mourn the loss of their mothers or suffer wounds from a mother’s imperfections.

Sister Terry Rickard, O.P., has announced that she will resign as president and executive director of RENEW International, after 18 years of service, effective December 2021.

RENEW is a leader in development of Catholic small-group programs designed to renew personal faith and parish life. Millions of people speaking more than 40 languages and dialects have participated in RENEW small groups using programs that include Why Catholic?, ARISE Together in Christ, and Healing Our Church. RENEW seeks to evangelize young adults through Theology on Tap and a new online sacramental parent-preparation program entitled Baptism Matters.

Under Sr. Terry’s leadership, RENEW established a satellite office in South Africa that continues to flourish. In the past year, RENEW acquired the Parish Catalyst program, which offers learning communities and monthly webinars for pastors and parish leaders to help their parishes thrive. RENEW is currently working with Bishop W. Shawn McKnight and the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, to develop Grateful Living: The Joy of Stewardship. A program that includes webinars, a learning community for pastors and staff, and a faith-sharing process and book for small groups. Grateful Living will eventually be available to all dioceses and parishes.

 Sr. Terry, a Dominican of Blauvelt, New York, joined RENEW in 2002. She became executive director in 2006 and president in 2009, following the late Monsignor Thomas A. Kleissler, who founded RENEW more than 40 years ago. She will take a sabbatical to discern her next ministry.

The Board of Trustees of RENEW is conducting a national search for a successor. View the job listing HERE.

Board President Eric Dill, speaking on behalf of all of the trustees, said, “I would like to thank Sr. Terry for her many years of devoted and faithful service to RENEW International, and for the inspirational leadership, vision, and commitment to excellence that she exemplified in her role as president and executive director. Her contributions to RENEW’s success were immeasurable and outstanding in every way.’’