The Year of Faith October 11, November 24, 2013 [Insert presenters name here]

Three Legged Stool (Thanks to Dan Mullhall) FAMILYFAMILY SOCIETYSOCIETY PARISHPARISH INSTRUCTION

Whats different about our society, culture and Church today?

RESEARCH Erosion in Mass Attendance (entire Catholic population): 75% in % in % in % in % in 2011 Generational Profile of our Church: Pre Vat. II Vat. IIPost- Vat. II Mill. (Born before 1940) ( ) ( ) ( ) % 33% 34% 23% Generations Attending Mass weekly or more: % 35% 26% 15% % 31% 29% 23%

What implications can you draw from this research? What are you experiencing in your parish that reflects this research? What do we need to do to welcome others into relationship with Christ?

EVANGELIZATION From the Hebrew word, basar to proclaim the good news or joyful tidings

Some important background: The ancient concept of the ministry of evangelization has been reintroduced and redefined since Vatican II Ecumenical Council and the 1975 Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi (The Gospel Must Be Proclaimed) by Pope Paul VI. Evangelization is not a Protestant phenomenon and it is not a specialized activity reserved to a few experts, but it is the basic right and duty of all believers.

Paul VI in Envangelii Nuntiandi says, May these words succeed to give a fresh impulse to everyone, the whole People of God assembled in the Church, so that each one of them may followa straight course in the message of the truth, and may work as a preacher of the Gospel and acquit himself perfectly of his ministry(EN 5). The whole Church is missionary, and the work of evangelization is a basic duty of the People of God (EN 59). Evangelization is my fundamental responsibility as a Catholic Christian.

What is evangelization? The official definition of evangelization comes from Pope Pauls Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Nuntiandi. For the Church, evangelizing means bringing the Good News into all the strata of humanity, and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new... The purpose of evangelization is... interior change... the Church evangelizes when she seeks to convert, solely through the divine power of the message she proclaims, both the personal and collective consciences of people, the activities in which they engage, and the lives and concrete milieu which are theirs (EN 18).

Grass-roots Definitions of Evangelization Evangelization is loving people into the Kingdom! Evangelization is inviting people into a loving and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which is then nurtured by a loving and caring Catholic faith community. Evangelization is the process of extending oneself in order to nurture the spiritual well-being of another person.

There is an urgency to evangelize and catechize. Pope Benedict XVI calls for the Year of Faith to contribute to a renewed conversion to Jesus Christ and to the rediscovery of faith so that the members of the church will be credible and joy-filled witnesses to the risen Lord in the world today. Apostolic Letter of Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 2011 The door of faith (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace. To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime (1). Blessed John Paul II called it The New Evangelization.

What is the New Evangelization?

Blessed John Paul II described three different kinds of evangelization: Mission ad gentes: Latin for to the nations. This is a situation where Christ and his Gospel are not known. Christian communities: In these communities the Church carries out her activity and pastoral care. This is the ongoing evangelization of those fervent in the faith. New Evangelization: The new evangelization pertains to a very specific group of people: fallen-away Christianswhere entire groups of the baptized have lost a living sense of the faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church, and live a life far removed from Christ and his Gospel. In this case what is needed is a new evangelization or a re-evangelization.

Church documents and experience teach us: (Practical Applications) Evangelization and Catechesis cannot exist apart from each other. Evangelization and Catechesis must be adapted to every age and stage of life. It does not mean the end to systematic, developmental religious education. Rather, religious education is just one of the many ways we are evangelized and learn about our faith throughout our lives. Evangelization is a lifelong process, not a program.

1 The parish is the curriculum: everything we do- from liturgy, to social outreach, to the way people are greeted in the parish, to the look of the parish newsletter and website, evangelizes. Vibrant Liturgies are the ultimate experiences of faith, where the Word of God, the Good News, is proclaimed, received, learned, celebrated and lived. Evangelization is the ministry of conversion; of witness; of building relationships with Christ and each other.

The pastors vision and the commitment to evangelization are fundamental. That doesnt mean he has to do all the work, but he must be the guiding force and the cheerleader!

Jesus is the model of the New Evangelization. He called individuals one by one; he entered into personal relationships. He proclaimed the love of God to individuals, in homes, communities, territories, and it continued to spread from those whom He encountered.

What do we need to do to celebrate the Year of Faith and the New Evangelization?

Suggestions from the Vaticans Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Read Pope Benedicts Letter Porta Fidei. Intensify the celebration of the Eucharist. Study the Catechism and make it and catechetical resources more widely available to parishioners. Priests offer homilies on: the encounter with Christ, the fundamental contents of the creed, and faith and the church. Promote missions and other popular programs. Create small communities of faith that help parishioners understand the Catechism better. Communicate your experience of fath and charity to people of other faiths and no religion at all.

Suggestions from the Diocesan Pastoral Council Focus on catechetical activities, particularly intergenerational with materials at kids level. Train all in parish how to welcome. Each parishioner invites one other person to participate in the parish. Involve church associations outside the parish and invite members into parish involvement. Bulletin suggestions on everyday evangelization. More Bible studies for all ages.

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