We live in a diverse world There are some seven billion people in the world who live in 195 different countries. They speak about seven thousand different languages and belong to countless ethnic and cultural groups. People look, speak, think, act and relate differently from one place to another. With so much diversity, is there anything that could be said of all people everywhere? More than twenty religions in the world proclaim some version of the GOLDEN RULE: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’

Unity for all God’s family The unity of God’s family was broken by Original Sin. Diversity became a source of disunity among God’s people. God desires that the unity of the entire human family be restored. God promised that one day he would restore his original plan of Creation and thereby save the world. God fulfilled that promise in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God. Jesus is the Savior of the world, and, through his Church, the unity of the family of God is to be restored.

Dignity and Salvation for all Any kind of social or cultural discrimination in basic personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social condition, language or religion, must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design. —Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church In the Modern World, no. 29 Identify five things you have in common with other people. How many cultural backgrounds do you claim? How would the Golden Rule be helpful in a community made up of a wide diversity of people?

The work of a ‘new evangelization’ ‘Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary use words.’ What do you think St. Francis meant by this statement? For a long time many Christians thought the work of evangelization was the work of sending missionaries to faraway places to preach the Gospel to people who had never heard of Jesus and the Gospel. Pope Paul VI proposed a ‘new evangelization’. The Pope’s teaching was‘new’ in stipulating that the Church is not just to announce the Gospel to non-Christians, but to all people, including those already baptized.

The work of a ‘new evangelization’ Pope Paul VI taught the message of ‘liberating salvation’. This includes: working for the full human development, both spiritual and physical, of people; bringing the values of the Gospel and the teachings of Christ into society; proclaiming by our words and deeds that God invites all people to live in communion with him who created them; to live just and holy lives. The Church’s work of evangelization is the work of the whole Church for the whole world. Evangelization is the vocation of all the baptized wherever they live.

In the spirit of the Apostles Jesus was about thirty years old when John the Baptist, the son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, was proclaiming that the reign of God‘is near’. When priests and Levites asked John, ‘Who are you?’, John replied by quoting the prophet Isaiah,‘I am the voice of one crying out into the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord.”’ (John 1:22–23) John continued, ‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’ (Matthew 3:11)

In the spirit of the Apostles John the Baptist was Jesus called and the last of the Old gathered disciples to Testament prophets and join him in fulfilling his the first evangelist. mission. These first disciples became known as the Twelve. John announced Jesus to be the ‘promised one’ of God, the savior of the World. THE TWELVE APOSTLES Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus.

In the spirit of the Apostles Apostle: The title traditionally given to those specially chosen by Jesus to preach the Gospel and to whom he entrusted responsibility for guiding the Church. The Apostles showed the human side of the Church. They sometimes missed the point of Jesus’ teaching. They vied for power and recognition. Thomas doubted Jesus; Peter denied him and Judas betrayed him.

Sharing the message of Salvation The members of the early Church gathered together to support one another, to celebrate Eucharist, to hear and live by the apostolic teachings. The essentials of the Apostles’ teachings have come down to us in the Apostles’Creed. The Church teaches that the Apostles’ Creed is ‘a faithful summary of the Apostles’ faith’.

Sharing the message of Salvation The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Sharing the message of Salvation Today, the Pope and other bishops in union with him continue to pass on the teachings of the Apostles The Holy Spirit is always leading the Church in her understanding of and living of the Good News. Jesus told the disciples that proclaiming the Gospel might cost them their lives. We must be open to accepting whatever it costs to live as faithful disciples of Jesus.

Maryknoll Lay Missioners Maryknoll Lay Missioners is a Catholic organization inspired by the mission of Jesus to live and work with poor communities in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Maryknoll Lay Missioners describe their vocation in this way: ‘We strive together for justice, peace and fullness of life. Our ministries are offered in response to the needs of the people with whom we live and work, and with respect for the integrity of all creation.’ ‘We celebrate the ‘We proclaim the holiness of everyday hope of resurrection.’ life.’