ATLANTA--Sixty priests took part in a retreat at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers Oct. 20-23 in personal preparation for the RENEW 2000 process that will unfold in many parishes of the archdiocese from 1998 through 2000.

The retreat was presented by Father Shaun McCarty and Sister Cheryl Erb of the RENEW International Service Team and the focus was upon the "jubilee spirituality" that is at the heart of RENEW 2000. It was the largest archdiocesan gathering of priests for a retreat, according to Father Richard Kieran, who has been asked to coordinate the implementation of the program by Archbishop John F. Donoghue. RENEW 2000 is a process of preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 using Scripture and small faith-sharing groups in parishes.

The next phase will be the orientation workshop in RENEW 2000 for parish leaders being offered on Friday, Nov. 7 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Alpharetta from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and being repeated on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Atlanta from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Saturday workshop will be offered both in English and in Spanish.

Fifty-eight parishes were signed up for the orientation session as of Oct. 27 and the registration process is still open. Parishes are invited to have their pastor and three or four lay leaders in attendance. Each parish is also asked to bring a disposable map of the parish and scissors. To make reservations for the day, contact Father Kieran at St. Anna's Church, Monroe, fax number (770) 267-0465, phone number (770) 267-7637.