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RENEW MY CHURCH
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Archdiocesan Website

Evanston Grouping Update

​Dear Evanston Catholic Community,

The time is upon us. July 1, 2022 is here and our parishes are officially unified as of this date with St. Athanasius and St. Joan of Arc coming together and St. Mary and St. Nicholas coming together. These changes that were brought on after the discernment of the Renew My Church process brings new opportunities for growth, vitality, and a space for young people! As members of the Body of Christ, a unified body of many parts, we are asked to bring forward our unique gifts and talents for the building of God's Kingdom. In uniting, our parishes are coming together on even ground and are embarking on a shared journey together. Luckily, all of our Evanston worship sites are remaining open for worship! We have some truly beautiful worship spaces on our campuses and it makes me very happy that we will be able to continue enjoying them. 

This moment, though seemingly quick for some, has been a long time coming for us. United Catholic Youth Ministries (UCYM) was formed with this moment in mind. For four years, UCYM has worked hard building disciples, inspiring witness, and building communities of youth, young adults, and families. UCYM celebrated its fourth birthday in March and, with it, reflected on the many joys and incredible challenges faced with regional, multi-parish ministry. Now, we turn to the parishes at large and stand ready to help. We stand ready to be a positive force that can help drive positive changes needed to reawaken our parishes, especially for young people. 

Transitions are a time of great excitement, but also a time of great uncertainty. If you are feeling weary, sad, angry, and are not yet seeing the positive behind these changes, please know you are not alone. Our staff has gone through pastoral accompaniment training and many of our staff members are ready at any moment to sit down and talk with you, should you feel like you need someone to listen. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our staff at www.ucym.org/connect. 

As Fr. Kevin McCray has been praying a lot lately with us in the Sir Francis Drake prayer called "Disturb Us, Lord," I hope we are all disturbed. I hope we are disturbed to the preconceived feelings we have because of rumors we heard about "that other place," the discomfort in thinking about worshiping at a site other than the one we know all too well, the uneasiness in thinking about participating in a ministry that didn't start at the parish you knew, and to the comfort we have because we think everything is "good enough." We know all too well that our parishes have a lot of excellent work ahead to bring new energy to families, youth, young adults, clergy life, music, liturgy, religious education, peace and justice efforts and advocacy, outreach to those on the margins, and so much more. May we be open to the grace to be disturbed. 
​
​Disturb us, Lord when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

​Amen.
 
On the journey with you,
 
Your UCYM Pastoral Support Team
Mirka Gallo, Mayra Salazar, Faith LaVoie, James Holzhauer-Chuckas, ObSB
Renew My Church Decision
File Size: 472 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

DecisiĂ³n de Renueva mi Iglesia
File Size: 479 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Evanston Priest Statement
File Size: 195 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

view the recording
​

What is Renew My Church?

​A CALL TO REBUILD: to address the challenges of our time, we are called by Jesus to rebuild. Renew My Church is a vision and strategic plan guiding our response to this call for renewal. This spiritual revitalization will reclaim what is most central and sacred to our faith and breathe new life into our methods of sharing the Gospel. In this way, we can provide people a Church and a home for their faith that is marked by more faithful discipleship, a loving community, and an inspired source for witness. so that those for whom we pray are brought home to a Church that is marked by greater discipleship, loving community, and inspiring witness.

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Praying before the San Damiano cross, St. Francis of Assisi heard Jesus call to him: “Go repair my Church, which, as you see, is falling completely into ruin.”
Similar to the call of St. Francis, we, the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Chicago, are called by Jesus Christ to renew His Church. All of us. Not just our bishops. Not just the pastors and priests. Every one of us – “he who has ears, let him hear.” As a family in faith, we must respond to His call as a family.
At first, St. Francis initially took this to mean he was to repair the church buildings of San Damiano. However, he eventually discerned that Jesus was calling him to rebuild the spiritual life and vitality of the entire earthly Church. Likewise, we must see that the future of the Catholic Church is bigger than any of our parish buildings.


This icon of Jesus helps us remain focused on three very important realities as we renew our faith lives, parishes and Archdiocese:
  • It portrays Jesus speaking to us even though he is dying, which serves as a reminder that we need not be afraid to take up this work even if it costs us something, for Jesus is with us always.
  • Jesus is surrounded by others, highlighting the fact that, as we take up the challenge of renewal, our unity should not be diminished but strengthened.
  • Jesus is also featured as the Risen One at the top of the cross – a sign of hope to us that in this renewal, which will require us to die to ourselves and familiar patterns, Jesus is offering us new life and vitality for the future.
Allow the image of St. Francis hearing Christ call to him from the San Damiano cross to guide your own prayers as we take up the work of renewal together.

Parish Town Hall Meetings

Tuesday, October 12th at 7:00 pm
St. Joan of Arc Parish
St. Mary Parish
St. Nicholas Parish*

Thursday, October 14th at 6:30 pm
Sheil Catholic Center (Evanston campus)

Sunday, October 17th at 12:30 pm
St. Athanasius Parish

*session is bilingual

Our Evanston Institutions

St. Athanasius and St. Joan of Arc Parish

​Unified as of July 1, 2022

Fr. Kenneth Anderson, Pastor
Fr. Paul Stemn, Associate Pastor

Main Campus/Office
1615 Lincoln Street
Evanston, IL 60201
​847-328-1430
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St. Athanasius Church
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St. Joan of Arc Church
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St. Athanasius School
learn more

Saint John XXIII Parish

Unified as of July 1, 2022

Fr. Jean-Philippe Lokpo, Pastor
Fr. Jose Manuel Ortiz, Associate Pastor
​
Main Campus/Office
806 Ridge Avenue
​Evanston, IL 60202
847-864-1185
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St. Mary Church
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St. Nicholas Church
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Pope John XXIII School
learn more

Other Evanston Catholic Institutions

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Sheil Catholic Center
learn more
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The Academy at St. Joan of Arc
learn more

Evanston Grouping Session Updates and Documents

RMC Overview
File Size: 3466 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File

First Session Update
File Size: 76 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Second Session Update
File Size: 64 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Fourth Session Update
File Size: 141 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Scenarios Document
File Size: 197 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Documento de escenarios
File Size: 176 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Scenarios and Discernment
File Size: 679 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File

Parishioner Feedback Form
File Size: 48 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


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UCYM to Participate in Renew My Church

As a ministry that was designed with Renew My Church in mind, UCYM will take part in the Renew My Church process by being part of the discussions that will discern the direction our grouping will go. UCYM is a ministry not tied to one parish and is built on the idea of church as the people and that UCYM doesn't exist in a building or one parish campus, but wherever its people are. James Holzhauer-Chuckas, ObSB will represent UCYM in the discussions and regularly discuss the process with UCYM staff, leaders, and participants of our programs.

Have questions about Renew My Church? Talk to James!
email James
call james

Contact & Visit Us

San José Sánchez del Río Center | Main Office
St. Nicholas Campus of St. John XXIII Parish
1108 Washington Street
Evanston, IL 60202

St. Francis of Assisi Center | Satellite Office
St. Athanasius Campus of St. John Newman Parish
​UNDER CONSTRUCTION
2510 Ashland Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201

Phone: 847-719-9071
Email: 
​office@ucym.org

Mailing and Delivery Address
806 Ridge Avenue
c/o UCYM Office
Evanston, IL 60202

Main Office Hours
Monday 3-8 pm
Tuesday 3-8 pm
Wednesday 3-8 pm
Thursday 3-8 pm
Friday 3-9 pm
Saturday by appointment
Sunday by appointment

Quick Links

Closed on Sunday Podcast
​​Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Leadership Academy
Protection of Youth & Children
Renew My Church
Quinceañera Ministry
​
SEED
Youth Group

Connect with Us


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​WATCH OUT FOR SPAM!

Any email sent from us will either be sent by Flocknote (mail@flocknote.com) or by a member of the UCYM staff or Ministry Team using an email address firstname@ucym.org. Please send other email to Spam and please let us know at office@ucym.org if you receive any spam messages so that we can alert others to a possible scam.

​© United Catholic Youth Ministries. All Rights Reserved.

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  • About UCYM
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
    • Protection of Children & Youth
    • Who We Are
    • Leadership >
      • Our Team
      • Boards and Councils
      • Join Our Team!
    • Calendar
    • Renew My Church
    • Donate
    • News & Updates
    • Store
  • For Youth
    • Start Here
    • Anti-Racism Pilot
    • Leadership Academy >
      • Start Here
      • Leader-in-Training
      • Saints-in-Training
      • Discipleship Learning
      • Peer Ministry
      • Youth Minister Formation
    • Campus Ministry
    • Archdiocesan Programs >
      • Holy Fire
      • NCYC
      • Totus Tuus
      • Spirit Day
    • For Children >
      • Children's Liturgy of the Word
      • Confirmation
      • Religious Education
      • Vacation Bible School
    • Retreats >
      • Emmaus Retreat
      • Kairos
      • Metanoia
      • Offline
      • 24-Hour No Phone Retreat
    • Youth Council
    • Youth Group
  • For Young Adults
    • Start Here
    • 20s & 30s Group
    • Alpha
    • College Outreach
    • Podcast
    • Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
    • SEED
    • Theology On Tap
    • World Youth Day 2023
    • Young Adult Council
  • Hispanic Ministry
    • Start Here
    • Consejo Hispano
    • Hispanic Celebrations >
      • Day of the Dead
      • Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Our Lady of Guadalupe
    • Pastoral Juvenil
    • Quinceañera Ministry
    • Resources >
      • V Encuentro
      • USCCB
  • Prayer
    • Start Here
    • Lectio Divina
    • Click to Pray
  • Service
    • Start Here
    • Care for Creation >
      • Start Here
      • Archdiocese of Chicago
      • Community Garden
    • HER Drive
    • Snack Drive
    • SNAP Gap
  • Resources
    • Advent
    • Archdiocesan Agencies >
      • Start Here
      • Amate House
      • Care for Creation Ministry
      • Catholic Relief Services
      • Domestic Violence
      • Kolbe House Jail Ministry
      • Pastoral Migratoria
      • Respect Life
      • St. Kateri Center of Chicago
      • USCCB
    • Covid-19
    • Equality for Women in the Church
    • LGBTQ+ Community >
      • AGLO
      • God Is On Your Side: A State from Catholic Bishops Protecting LGBTQ Youth
      • New Ways Ministry
      • Outreach - An LGBTQ Catholic Resource
    • Mental Health Awareness
    • National Eucharistic Revival
    • Need to Talk?
    • Partnerships >
      • Blessed Sacrament Youth Center
      • Catholic Athletes for Christ
      • Coalition to End Homelessness in Evanston
      • Evanston Cradle to Careet
      • Evanston Latinos
      • Interfaith Action of Evanston
      • Laudato Si' Action Platform
      • New Ways Ministry
      • Tyler Clementi Foundation
      • Sheil Catholic Center
    • Synod on Synodality
    • Vocations >
      • Start Here
      • Cava
      • Archdiocese of Chicago
      • USCCB
  • Staff Login