CRHP Testimonials

If you’re considering giving CRHP a chance, and would like to speak with someone who was also once also in your shoes, considering this event, and took the leap, then you’re invited to read through the following thoughts that your parishioners have shared. Feel free to call or e-mail any of them to ask questions if you’d like. You’ll find a common theme in each of these independent submissions – these folks are definitely glad they went!

Kevin Cain
(678) 578-3006
kevinc@real-star.com

Time after time, I would sit at Mass and listen about a gift that was being offered to me in a program called C.R.H.P. When parishioners and C.R.H.P. veterans would speak about how the experience affected their lives, I would wonder if I too could feel that gift and have my life changed as well.  I could feel my daughter’s glance or stare knowing she wished for me to be blessed with this experience also. Perhaps she knew I needed change and how it might affect my relationships within my own family.  Well, the Sunday came when during an invitation / “pitch” during Mass and most importantly, yet another well placed right elbow from my daughter, Kendra, to my left side, convinced me that today, I will sign up for the upcoming C.R.H.P event. more...

Tom Miller
Home:  770-645-8709
Cell: 678-463-2376
tfmiller@bellsouth.net

CRHP has given me a wonderful sense of Community within St. Andrew.  It's wonderful to look around the church during Mass and realize that I know many of the men and families sitting there with me.  This would never have been the case if it weren't for the CRHP experience.  The feeling of Fellowship is also amazing.  I wish every member of St. Andrew would participate.  What a great thing that would be!

Bob Wood
Home: 770-569-2803
Cell: 678-427-0845
woodbl@comcast.net

 I am a member of St. Brigid’s, but was invited to attend CRHP by a very good friend from St. Andrew.  I did not know what to expect but by the end of the weekend I was a changed person.  The CHRP experience made me want to continue to grow closer to Christ.  I am now in the process of helping to bring the gift of CRHP to my parish.  Thanks St. Andrew! 

Greg W. Smentek
770-645-2307
gsmentek@bellsouth.net

Christ Renews His Parish is simply a gift one gives to oneself. We all at times feel alone and lost. The renewal process brings you together with others at St Andrew who are also in need of renewal, suffering from a personal loss, or simply in need of sharing their spiritual feelings. The process to me was a ray of sunshine and added new meaning to my faith. It is now your turn to receive the gift.  

Leyda Martinez
770 643 0189
leyda@charter.net

The CRHP retreat help me to see the beautiful, spirit filled community we have a St. Andrew.  Getting involved and attending a retreat made me a part of that community.  Now I always see friends at mass.  Worship is no longer a solitary event.  That is the social aspect.   I can not begin to tell about all the spiritual gifts I’ve received by getting to know my CRHP sisters.  It is an experience one can only know by attending.  No matter what anyone of us can say you have to experience it for yourself.  After all, we are each on our own spiritual journey and we each have to take our own walk with Jesus.  Won’t you start that walk with us in CRHP?

Keith Thurston
Home: 678-352-0024
Cell: 404-543-1247
kthurston@att.net

CRHP.... while it immediately gives us the opportunity to know our fellow parishioners; personally, it laid down the stepping-stones to understanding and admiring the beauty of Catholicism and Christianity.  It is an experience that I will always cherish. 

Bonnie Petrukovich
770-642-6810
tpetrukovich@bigfoot.com

I have been very involved with different ministries at St. Andrew, knew lots of people but after going to CRHP this experience has brought me closer to God.  I was like the “Martha” doing and working at church and now I try to be a little bit like “Mary” taking the time to pray, listen and be there for my fellow members at St. Andrew.

Lisa O'Rourke
770-998-1358
lisa00@chartner.net

It was difficult to put it in so few words. I will always be grateful for being in CRHP 1 (the first weekend the retreat was held at St. Andrew)
Life: CRHP brought me back to my roots.
Spirituality: CRHP gave me back the unconditional faith and belief that I had as a child, which in turn brought me a new and deep relationship with GOD.
Our Parish: CRHP getting to know more people which lead to having very close friendships that I will always hold dear.

Christy Medina
(770) 521-2857
cvmedina@comcast.net

To describe my relationship with our God before Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) was like keeping that relationship in a box…a nice box, maybe even a precious jewelry box, only to be opened on Sundays, times of gratitude, often during times of need. That was about it. Like a jewelry box, only to be opened when needed. more...

Judith Cote
770-992-0391
jcote@att.net

"I was a reluctant participant at first, with many questions and filled with anxiety because I wanted to know what was going to happen before I committed to the weekend.  I realize now that no one was keeping "secrets" from me but merely allowing me to enjoy the weekend with no pre-conceived expectations.  I now realize that this was indeed the best thing they could have done for me personally.  I was allowed to open my heart to the Lord and let Him come to me on His terms, which is how it should be.  This was truly the best retreat and experience I have ever been a part of."  What are you waiting for?

Philip Cote
770.992.0391
etoc1@att.net

Christ Renews His Parish and Beyond

Mid-winter of 2005 there was an announcement at mass that St. Andrew Church would sponsor a retreat for the men of the parish. My wife, Judith, and I attended the Cursillo and Marriage Encounter retreats about 25 years earlier. These retreats were spiritually uplifting and renewed our faith. So, I knew a little bit about what to expect from a retreat. more...

In February 1994, I joined St. Andrew parish.  For the next 10 years, I went to mass on Sunday.  I had no involvement with the parishioners.  My spiritual and personal life was at a stand still.  I wanted to grow closer to Jesus but needed someone to show me how to get started.  A weekend about Christ Renews His Parish came along at the perfect time for me.  Now I am involved with the parish, my spiritual growth has improved and I have new friends at every mass.

If you’re considering attending the weekend, one of the best analogies I can draw to the process that I went through in considering whether I was going to attend this weekend or not is in the book, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. You’ve probably read it either long ago as a child, or you might read it to your kids now. Would you, could you go to CHRP in a boat, would you could you, on a goat? I would not, could not on a boat, I would not could not on a goat……..no matter how you sliced it, I wasn’t up for spending a precious weekend at church (especially if the weather forecast looked good). Once I did make up my mind to give this thing a shot, let me assure you, I found this event to be truly one of the most impactful things I’ve done in my 39 years here on this spinning ball called Earth. It’s a great place to slow down for a few hours, listen to what God’s probably been trying to tell you for a while, but you’ve been too busy with everything else that’s so important, just like I was. Take the leap, you won’t regret it.

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