The Vine. E-Newsletter of the Office for Evangelization. The Office for Evangelization is 5 Years old in 2010!

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1 Volume 1, Issue 1 I AM THE VINE. YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. JOHN 15:5 July 1, 2010 The Vine Inside This Issue: Bishop s Corner 2 Great Adventure 3 Bible Timeline New Evangelization 4 Missionary Project Pentecost Mass 5 Soles for Souls 6 5K Run Around the 7 Archdiocese Announcements 7 Resources 7 Mailing List Request 7 Commission 8 Members E-Newsletter of the Office for Evangelization The Office for Evangelization is 5 Years old in 2010! Welcome to the first issue of the Archdiocese of Newark s Office for Evangelization Newsletter. A brief history about the Office: In 2004, Archbishop Myers asked Bishop da Cunha to lead a Task Force on Evangelization. The task force met over the course of one year and made several recommendations, one of which was for the Archbishop to write a Pastoral Letter on Evangelization which was titled The Way, the Truth and the Life - (March 2005). Another recommendation was to hire a Coordinator for Evangelization. The Office for Evangelization opened its doors in January of 2005 with Liliana Soto-Cabrera as its coordinator under the direction of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, Vicar for Evangelization. Soon after, the Evangelization Commission was formed as an advisory group to the office. The Evangelization Commission is comprised mostly of directors of different pastoral offices of the Archdiocese of Newark. The focus of the Office from its inception has been to help the Archdiocese as a whole view all ministry through the lens of Evangelization using as a framework the Bishops document, Go and Make Disciples, A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States. Cont. on page 2. Goals of the Office & Commission 8 GABT Pictures & Testimonials 9

2 The Vine Page 2 Cont. from Page 1... The first projects for the office were to develop a website and to coordinate the Why Catholic? and Disciples in Mission programs. Soon after that, the plans began for a Festival of Faith which focused on the first Goal of the Bishop s document, which is: To bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others. Over 800 people attended the conference-type event which included presentations in Spanish and English by dynamic speakers; an expo of various ministries and a cultural celebration festival celebrating our Catholic identity. It has been a very busy five years for the Office. In the Fall of 2008, eight working committees were established including the Bible Studies Committee, Communications, Lay Movements Partnership, School of Evangelization, Family Outreach, Faith Sharing Groups, Parish Partnership, and Outreach to Inactive Catholics which includes the Soles for Souls Running Team, New Evangelization Missionary Project (NEMP) and the Parish Evangelization Cell System. In the next few editions of this newsletter we will list the past and future activities of these committees. Stay tuned. Bishop s Corner - WELCOME! Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me. (Mt. 10: 40). If we want to be successful evangelizers, we must be people who welcome. We cannot afford to be an unwelcoming church. Not only because it is unchristian, contrary to the teaching of the Gospel, but also because our church grows and fulfills its mission, by being a community that welcomes all those who are waiting to find an open door so that they can enter and encounter Christ. In the pastoral letter the Bishops of the US and Mexico published in 2000 entitled Strangers no longer: Together on the Journey of Hope the bishops said: The Church must, therefore, welcome all persons regardless of race, culture, language, and nation with joy, charity, and hope. It must do so with special care for those who find themselves regardless of motive in situations of poverty, marginalization, and exclusion. Welcoming the stranger, a characteristic of the early Church, remains a permanent feature of the Church today. Welcoming the stranger is thus intrinsic to the nature of the Church itself and bears witness to its fidelity to the gospel. Christians must in fact promote an authentic culture of welcome. Our mission is first and foremost to evangelize and we cannot evangelize unless we are a church that welcomes. People will not join us; they will not be inspired to accept Jesus and embrace the faith, unless they feel welcome into the church, in our parishes and in our liturgical celebrations. In the Church no one is a stranger, and the Church is not foreign to anyone.

3 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Great Adventure Bible Timeline Study 2010 In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. -Genesis 1:1-2. Thus began our Great Adventure on January 6, The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation, is Step One of the Great Adventure Foundational Study Series produced by Ascension Press. Jeff Cavins, the creator of The Great Adventure Bible Study System, gave exciting and inspiring weekly commentaries captured on DVD. Each participant received a Bible Timeline Study Kit which consisted of a 48-page workbook, Study Set Questions and Responses, Bible Timeline Bookmark and Chart and Member Bead Wristband. The 24-week course was offered by Liliana Soto-Cabrera and Maureen Srinivasa of the Office for Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Newark. They were assisted by co-facilitators Cosmelina Almonte and Diannah Hedgebeth. The class met every Wednesday for 24 weeks. Each session began with small group discussion of Bible selections and ended reconvening as a large group to watch and listen to Jeff s explanations on DVD. Father Bill Halbing, Chair of the Office for Evangelization s Bible Study Committee was available on various occasions to answer questions. Our Bible Study group was blessed with members of various ethnicities and professions. The group sessions were thought-provoking and enlightening. On numerous occasions, we felt we could use more time together to finish our discussion. Jeff utilizes a very simple, yet cohesive method to study the narrative books of the Bible. Although some of the homework assignments were time-consuming, everyone did their best to complete them. The Archdiocesan Center became a haven for basic theological study while nourishing new acquaintances and a deeper interest in God s Word. Some members have volunteered to be facilitators for future Great Adventure offerings and others plan to use the knowledge gained to assist in their parish catechism classes. The general consensus of the study group is simply that we have only just begun to delve into the Story of Our Salvation. Great Adventure Bible Timeline Pictures and Testimonials can be found on Page 9. Whether or not January 6, Feast of the Epiphany, was set as the starting date for the course purposely, I really do not know. But, through God-incidence, each of the members has experienced an epiphany. The time for conversion arrived and we began a journey of love towards perfection towards sainthood. This journey does not end with the completion of the course. It has only begun. We pray that we, unlike the two men from Emmaus, will be able to notice Jesus continuous presence in our daily lives, and, like them, go out and share what we have read The Word; seen -Miracles; heard God s Voice; and tasted The Eucharist. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3: 18 Belkys B. Tejedor Great Adventure Bible Study Participant

4 The Vine Page 4 New Evangelization Missionary Project N E M P New Evangelization Missionary Project Join other Catholic Christians in an apostolic mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ following extensive training in door-to -door evangelization. MISSION To help restore inner-city Catholic parishes and communities through a corp of volunteer missionaries dedicated to door-to-door evangelization and follow-up in the spirit of Pope John Paul II s call for a new evangelization. Ongoing, training sessions. Parish interest meeting required to schedule training. The institution of the parish, however, retains its importance and needs to be preserved. For this, there is a need to keep looking for ways in which the parish and its pastoral structures can be more effective in urban areas. " Pope John Paul II Ecclesia in America, 1999 Archdiocesan Center 171 Clifton Ave., Newark, NJ The Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey consists of approximately 1.3 million Catholics. It includes Newark and four New Jersey counties, and lies in the outskirts of New York City. This area is home to people of numerous ethnicities and nationalities, contributing to a rich cultural and ecclesiastical environment and is one of the fastest growing dioceses in the United States. For more information and to apply, contact: Liliana Soto-Cabrera Office for Evangelization or visit:

5 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5 Pentecost Mass 2010 PENTECOST SUNDAY Most Rev. Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., Auxiliary Bishop of Newark and the archdiocesan Vicar for Evangelization, was the main celebrant May 23, 2010 at the Pentecost Sunday Mass at Queen of Peace Parish, North Arlington. It was a day to celebrate the rich diversity in the archdiocese as faithful representatives of various ethnic apostolates, lay movements, communities and associations came forth to worship in their colorful garb. To underline the grand diversity on display at Mass, the general intercessions were read by members of the different ethnic apostolates of the Archdiocese of Newark in 11 different languages, including Chinese, Creole, Igbo, Polish, Korean, Slovak and Portuguese. It is through our diversity that we are enriched, Bishop da Cunha said during his homily. We are one family. We must continue serving together to strengthen one another. The Holy Spirit unites us. The Holy Spirit will continue to change the world one heart at a time. Catholics traditionally celebrate Pentecost Sunday as the birthday of the Church. Excerpt from The Catholic Advocate (June 9, 2010).

6 The Vine Page 6 Soles For Souls 5K Run 2010 Soles For Souls Mission Statement Based on John Paul II s New Evangelization new in ardor, methods and expression, the Archdiocese of Newark s Soles for Souls Catholic Running Team presents an opportunity for evangelization in the running community. By building small Christcentered running communities, members experience a new way to pray, give glory to God through their running experience and also offer the joys and sacrifices of training/ running for special intentions and deeper conversion to Christ. Find Soles for Souls on Facebook

7 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 7 Save the Date Fall 2010! Soles For Souls 5K Run October 2, 2010 Hispanic Heritage Mass October 3, 2010 Stewardship Day October 16, 2010 Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Washington, DC October 23, 2010 Fr. John Corapi at the Prudential Center October 30, 2010 Bishop Joseph A. Francis Award Lunch November 6, 2010 Nourishing Your Faith Dinner November 10, 2010 Catechetical Convocation November 13, 2010 Announcements Find us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: Watch us on YouTube: Resources On our website you will find: Soles for Souls information. For download you will find: Small Faith Sharing Groups Resource Pamphlet, Eucharistic Adoration Schedule Pamphlets, Events flyers and so much more! Great Adventure Bible Studies: Mailing List Request If you would like to be added to our mailing list for Events, Newsletters and much more, please complete the form below and mail to the address provided. NAME: ADDRESS: CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE: TELEPHONE: Mail completed form to: Archdiocese of Newark Office of Pastoral Life Marissa Acosta 171 Clifton Avenue Newark, New Jersey 07104

8 The Vine Page 8 Evangelization Commission Members Most Rev. Edgar M. da Cunha, Vicar for Evangelization Rev. Msgr. Richard J. Arnhols, Vicar for Pastoral Life Rev. Marc Vicari, Vicar for Family Life Rev. William Halbing, Pastor, St. Antoninus Parish Rev. Thomas A. Dente, Director, Office of Divine Worship Sr. Patricia Lucas, Director, African American, African & Caribbean Apostolate Mr. Ron Pihokker, Director, Catechetical Office Mr. Richard de la Fuente, Steward, BLD Community Mrs. Reina Basualdo, Associate Director, Hispanic Family Life Pope Paul VI s Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi On Evangelization in the Modern World December 8, 1975, #14 We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church. It is a task and mission which the vast and profound changes of present -day society make all the more urgent. Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists to evangelize. Mrs. Lynn Gully, Associate Director, Stewardship Mrs. Liliana Soto-Cabrera, Coordinator for Evangelization Sr. Marilyn Minter, CSSF, Associate Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Goals of the Office for Evangelization & the Evangelization Commission * To create an awareness in the Archdiocese of the importance of seeing all efforts through the lens of evangelization. * To align all efforts in the Archdiocese with the Goals of the Bishops document, Go and Make Disciples, A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States. * To help parishes become evangelizing parishes. An evangelizing parish is one where the goals of Go and Make Disciples are implemented and where there is a shift in the life of the parish from maintenance to mission. "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Mt 28:19-20)

9 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 9 Testimonials from GABT Participants Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha and Jeff Cavins at the Great Adventure Timeline one day event in March 2008 Bible Study Participants Bible study has made me more attentive to the readings and homilies in church. I feel I can better understand the message of the Lord because of this study. I m a bit of a worrier and realize now that if I put my trust in the Lord, it should help solve my worries. If I am worrying, then I m not fully trusting! Virginia R. I ve read the Bible often through my life and have always concluded that certain (large) parts just have no application for me. However, during this study, I ve been made aware of how incredibly alive the Lord has been (in all of the Bible) as each part that I have read has made sense now as an integral part of a sequential big picture - our salvation. This study is a major gift from God for my life. I m forever grateful. Joseph M. I pay more attention to the readings at Mass. Instead of worrying, I place my concerns in the hands of the Lord. Also, it supports my faith and beliefs. Evelyn C. The Bible study has put names, events and places into proper context. I never had a clear understanding of the Old Testament. More Catholics should know about the connection between the Old (prophecy) and the New (fulfillment of the prophecies). Rich C.

10 The Vine Page 10 Testimonials from GABT Parish Participants 2010 St. Joseph Parish, Oradell/New Milford "The study of Matthew helped me to understand the relationships among many of the readings I encounter as a lector during the Mass. This has enhanced my understanding & enjoyment of the Mass." "Studying Matthew with the guidance of Jeff Cavins helped to clarify our Catholic faith's roots in Judaism & its fulfillment in Jesus as the Messiah predicted by the Old Testament." "Matthew brings the Mass to life." "Never attended a session (either the Timeline or Matthew) that I did not learn something new. Has greatly enhanced my understanding of the Bible, the history of the times, and how the life of Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament." "There is something for everyone in the Bible: mystery, intrigue, sensuality, scandals, hope, redemption, etc. It has the best plot of any book available today. The Matthew series was tremendously helpful for my lesson preparation for my CCD classes." Our Catholic Identity Should Catholics participate in reading horoscopes? The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that all forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone. CCC 2116 The next time someone asks you what your sign is, answer: I m under the sign of the Cross!

11 Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 11 Tell us your E-story. How are you evangelizing in your daily life? What are you doing as an individual, as a part of a ministry, as a parish or as a lay movement? NAME: PARISH/MINISTRY ADDRESS: CITY, STATE, ZIPCODE: TELEPHONE: ************************************************************************************************************************ My E-story: Mail to: Archdiocese of Newark Office for Evangelization 171 Clifton Avenue Newark, New Jersey Or sotolili@rcan.org Holy ground Evening Prayer and Eucharistic Adoration Come Join Us ~ All Ages Welcome The Lord said to him, Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. Exodus 3:5 Sacred Heart Church Chapel Archdiocese of Newark Kearny Retreat Center 499 Belgrove Drive. Kearny, NJ Last Saturday of every 7:30 PM Beginning September 25, 2010 And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Luke 24:30-31

12 Archdiocese of Newark Office for Evangelization 171 Clifton Avenue PO Box 9500 Newark, NJ Phone: Fax: Website: Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha Vicar for Evangelization Liliana Soto-Cabrera Coordinator for Evangelization Maureen Srinivasa Ministry Assistant MISSION STATEMENT The Office for Evangelization serves as a resource for programs, courses, workshops, and consultations intended to complement and enhance the evangelizing efforts in the Archdiocese of Newark.