What is WATCH?

WATCH (We Are The CHurch) is a parish spiritual renewal weekend that was designed in 1987 by Deacon Don Efinger, a permanent Deacon at St. Thomas Parish, Peoria Heights, Illinois. He along with several others developed this unique program that focuses on God, Self and Neighbor. It was designed to help people realize that:

• A personal relationship with God is both important and necessary. It is strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church and by being actively involved in the parish
• There is strength in community and it is important for people to know and support each other on a deeper level
• People, not buildings make up the Church
• Each one of us is unique and has been given gifts and talents that are important to the Church

A WATCH weekend offers a person time to look at themselves, strengthen their relationship with Christ and with their fellow parishioners in a non-judgmental, peaceful and loving atmosphere. WATCH is a co-ed weekend with participants going home at night. It begins on Friday evening at 7:00 pm and the evening is over by 10:00 pm. Saturday starts at 8:00 am with mass and ends about 10:00 pm with a 90 minute break in the afternoon. Sunday begins at 8:00 am with morning prayer and the weekend is over at 3:30 pm on Sunday afternoon. All meals and materials are provided with a fee charged or a good will offering at the end of the weekend. The impact of WATCH on a parish or church is powerful. Not only does it enable its members to strengthen their relationship with God and with each other but it also offers many other benefits:

• It creates a welcoming parish that reaches out to the un-churched and potential new members. It helps to serve as a tremendous Evangelization Tool. People of all faiths can be invited to participate in the weekend. The un-churched or people who are searching for a church can experience the feeling of a strong Christian family who cares about their needs.
• It is a wonderful tool for the integration of new parishioners into the church especially RCIA candidates. New parishioners and RCIA people will make new relationships and feel a part of a strong Christian community.
• It builds a community of faith with people supporting each other on a deeper level with the feeling of 'family'. Because of a stronger relationship with God and a real commitment to a faith community, parishioners will become more involved in activities of the parish.
• It is a lay directed program therefore clergy involvement can be as much or as little as the clergy desires.