1. Liturgy As Act of Hospitality and the New Evangelization

3. Why the decline? Secularized Culture Secularized Culture Priest Sex Abuse crisis Priest Sex Abuse crisis Poor liturgy Poor liturgy Lack of faith in families Lack of faith in families Lack of catechesis Lack of catechesis People find God in other places: mountains, family, riding a bike: “I don’t need church to experience God.” People find God in other places: mountains, family, riding a bike: “I don’t need church to experience God.” “Catholic Church is not keeping up with the signs of the times!” “Catholic Church is not keeping up with the signs of the times!” “I meet Jesus elsewhere.” “I meet Jesus elsewhere.”

4. Synod on the New Evangelization  “ Event to energize Christian communities”  Provide concrete answers to the many questions facing the Church today  To compare experiences and share observations on situations and approaches for action (NE,5)

5. The New Evangelization While NE is primarily concerned with bringing back those already baptized, NE is also the vision for moving forward, the renewal of energies for those who have faith to proclaim the Good News, to live and share faith with othersWhile NE is primarily concerned with bringing back those already baptized, NE is also the vision for moving forward, the renewal of energies for those who have faith to proclaim the Good News, to live and share faith with others

6. Evangelization means inviting people into Evangelization means inviting people into [Biblical] stories as the definitional stories of our lives and thereby authorizing people to give up, abandon, and renounce other stories that have shaped their lives. “Perspectives on Evangelization” “Perspectives on Evangelization” Walter Bruggeman Evangelization

7. Evangelization  NE 18 The Christian faith is not simply teachings, wise sayings, a code of morality or a tradition. The Christian faith is a true encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ.  NE 18 Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction. […] Since God has first loved us (cf. 1 John 4:10), love is now no longer a mere ‘command’; it is the response to the gift of love with which God draws near to us.”

8. New Evangelization and the Community of Faith “A fruitful proclamation of the Word of the Gospel calls for profound communion among God’s children which is a distinguishing sign accompanying proclamation (NE, 91).” “A fruitful proclamation of the Word of the Gospel calls for profound communion among God’s children which is a distinguishing sign accompanying proclamation (NE, 91).” “Announcing and proclaiming is not the task of any one person or a select few, but rather a gift given to every person who answers the call to faith. Transmitting the faith is not the work of one individual only, but instead, is the responsibility of every Christian and the whole Church, who in this very activity continually rediscovers her identity as a People gathered together by the Spirit to live Christ’s presence among us and discover the true face of God, who is Father (NE, 92).” “Announcing and proclaiming is not the task of any one person or a select few, but rather a gift given to every person who answers the call to faith. Transmitting the faith is not the work of one individual only, but instead, is the responsibility of every Christian and the whole Church, who in this very activity continually rediscovers her identity as a People gathered together by the Spirit to live Christ’s presence among us and discover the true face of God, who is Father (NE, 92).” “The best place to transmit the faith is a community nourished and transformed by the liturgical life and prayer (NE, 97).” “The best place to transmit the faith is a community nourished and transformed by the liturgical life and prayer (NE, 97).”

9. Who are we? And they devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. […] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts and praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42, 46 -47)

10. New Evangelization “The Acts of the Apostles illustrates that a person cannot convey what is not believed or lived. The Gospel cannot be transmitted in a life which is not modeled after the Gospel or a life which does not find its meaning, truth and future based on the Gospel.” (NE, 91)

11. Three Elements of Good Liturgy HospitalityHospitality HymnodyHymnody HomiliesHomilies

12. Hospitality “The friendly and generous treatment of guests or strangers” (Oxford University Press) “The friendly and generous treatment of guests or strangers” (Oxford University Press)

13. Scripture Abraham and Sarah Abraham and Sarah Feeding of the multitudes Feeding of the multitudes Samaritan woman Samaritan woman Canaanite woman and daughter tormented by a demon Canaanite woman and daughter tormented by a demon The Beatitudes The Beatitudes Invited to the banquet: “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.” Invited to the banquet: “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.” Washing of the feet Washing of the feet Opening of the deaf man’s ears and mouth Opening of the deaf man’s ears and mouth

14. ENCOUNTER In each of the Gospel stories, someone encounters the hospitality of Christ.In each of the Gospel stories, someone encounters the hospitality of Christ. Jesus extends himself to others.Jesus extends himself to others. Jesus becomes for others the love of God, the compassion of God, the mercy of God.Jesus becomes for others the love of God, the compassion of God, the mercy of God.

15. How do we encounter christ in the liturgy? To accomplish so great a work, Christ is always present in his Church, especially in its liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only through the person of his minister, … but especially under the Eucharistic species, … he is present in his word, since it is he himself who speaks when the scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for he promised: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). SC, 7 WordWord EucharistEucharist Person of the MinisterPerson of the Minister ASSEMBLYASSEMBLY

16. Who sits in your pews? Take a moment to consider who might be the guest or stranger sitting in your pews on Sunday – what are their needs? Why are they there?Take a moment to consider who might be the guest or stranger sitting in your pews on Sunday – what are their needs? Why are they there? How are we aware of those who gather with us on Sunday? How do we attend to them?How are we aware of those who gather with us on Sunday? How do we attend to them?

17. Mane Nobiscum Domine Pope John Paul II “We cannot delude ourselves: by our mutual love and, in particular, by our concern for those in need we will be recognized as true followers of Christ (cf. Jn. 13:35; Mt. 25:31-46). This will be the criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged (no. 28).”“We cannot delude ourselves: by our mutual love and, in particular, by our concern for those in need we will be recognized as true followers of Christ (cf. Jn. 13:35; Mt. 25:31-46). This will be the criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations is judged (no. 28).”

18. Reflection and Sharing When have you encountered Christ in and through the liturgy?When have you encountered Christ in and through the liturgy? How is our parish community and our liturgy an encounter with Christ?How is our parish community and our liturgy an encounter with Christ? How does my ministry communicate Christ’s presence?How does my ministry communicate Christ’s presence? How does our parish evangelize through the liturgy?How does our parish evangelize through the liturgy?

19. Evangelization and Hospitality “The best place to transmit the faith is a community nourished and transformed by the liturgical life and prayer (NE, 97).”