The Vine. E-Newsletter of the. Office for Evangelization. Eight is not enough The eight working committees of the. Office for Evangelization

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1 Volume 1 Issue 2 I A M T H E V I N E. Y O U A R E T H E B R A N C H E S. J O H N 1 5 : 5 SEPTEMBER 2010 Inside This Issue: Bishop s Corner 2 The Promise & 3 Pitfalls of Evangelization Online Why Catholic? 4 Tell Us Your E-Story 5 Eucharistic Adoration 6 Parishes & Schedules Soles For Faith K Run A Quick Journey 11 Through the Bible The Vine E-Newsletter of the Office for Evangelization Eight is not enough The eight working committees of the Office for Evangelization In this issue we will reflect on the endeavors of three working committees of the Office for Evangelization. The eight committees formed in 2008 use as a framework the US Conference of Catholic Bishops document: Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan for Catholic Evangelization in the United States. ( The Bible Studies Committee s goal is to implement Paragraph 93 of the Bishops document: To foster an appreciation of God s Word in the lives of all Catholics. We began by sponsoring a one-day Bible Timeline Seminar with Jeff Cavins in March Tremendous attendance at this event prompted us to plan future similar offerings. In October of 2009 we began promoting to all parishes in the Archdiocese A Quick Journey through the Bible, an offering of Ascension Press, which is an eight week overview of the Bible from a Catholic perspective. View this study at A few months later we invited people from around the Archdiocese to discover the Big Picture of the Bible by attending The Great Adventure Bible Timeline DVD Study, held at the Archdiocesan Center from January 2010 to June This is an exciting 24 week video study which covers salvation history from Genesis through the formation of the early Church. Look into this study at Attendees came from many parishes in the Archdiocese. rcanevangelizationcommunity.org/flyers/bible.pdf The Communications Outreach Committee seeks to implement Goal II: To invite all people...to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so that they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith. and also Par. 126 of Goal III: To involve the Catholic Church, on every level, in the media. Media outreach can be a very effective way to reach out to all people with Christ s message of reconciliation. With today s media-driven society in mind, the Communications Outreach Committee has launched these initiatives: * Evangelization website with event and program information and also links to numerous faith building resources * Office for Evangelization official e-newsletter * Recruitment of volunteer photographers for events run by the Office for Evangelization * Facebook page * Twitter: * YouTube: * Blog:

2 The Vine Page 2 Cont. from Page 1... The Faith Sharing Groups Committee seeks to fulfill Paragraph 100 of Goal I: To foster active and personal religious experience through participation in small-group and other communal experiences in which the Good News is shared, experienced, and applied to daily life. In 2006, RENEW International s Why Catholic:Journey through the Catechism and The Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association s Disciples in Mission programs were offered to the parishes of the Archdiocese to promote and build small faith sharing Christian communities. This Archdiocesan wide offering was coordinated by the Office for Evangelization and run from 2006 through 2009 in 44 parishes throughout the Archdiocese. There was a final Celebration of Small Christian Communities Mass and EXPO on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart with the EXPO at the Archdiocesan Center. Stay tuned for more exciting news from three other working committees. In our October e-newsletter we will discuss our Family Outreach Committee, Lay Movement Partnership Committee and Parish Partnership Committee. Bishop s Corner CONNECTEDNESS "I am the vine, you are the branches John 15:5 To be connected means to be exchanging life, energy or information. In the old days people used to say that they heard it through the grapevine. That is where information was exchanged. Most of the time it meant rumor and gossip. Today, when we think of being connected, exchanging information, we think of the information superhighway. It spreads across the globe. We now can be connected with anyone anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds. The grapevine has become electronic. However, even though our connections have improved, it does not mean that we have become better or that our communication has improved. Jesus, however, speaks of another type of connection. This connection does not need electronic devices or modern technology. He speaks of our connection with him and with the Father. If we are not bonded, connected, with God, we will not bear fruit. If we don't bear fruit, we will be cut down and thrown out. If we are cut out, we will die. We must remain connected with Jesus. Barren, dead branches are good for nothing but fuel for fire. Believers who do not love or keep the commandments are like dead wood. Branches can only survive and bear fruit if they remain connected to the vine or the tree. Our generation has become so accustomed to relying on modern technology that it places less value on our human connection and dependence on each other and on our reliance on God. Technology has given us a false sense of autonomy and security, as if we are self-sufficient and can do it all alone. This culture of modern technology and independence has borne a society that has become so secularized that for many there is no longer a need for God, religion, church or prayer.

3 Volume 1 Issue 2 Page 3 E-vangelization: The Promise and Pitfalls of Evangelization Online It is no secret that evangelization has become a priority throughout the Church since the Second Vatican Council. In the encyclical Redemptoris Missio Pope John Paul II wrote that evangelization is the primary service which the Church can render to every individual and to all humanity in the modern world. Mass media technology today provides the Church a fantastic opportunity to engage in this evangelization, communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truths of our faith. Contributed by: David de la Fuente Commenting on John Paul II s call for the New Evangelization, Avery Cardinal Dulles singled out several key characteristics of this New Evangelization, including preaching the centrality of Christ, communicating the social doctrine of the Church, and converting cultures. Today, our culture is communicated powerfully through the Internet; this is where ideas are disseminated quickly and expansively. Fortunately, many within the Church are making their presence felt on the internet. One could call an Internet-based approach e-vangelization, and such an approach has tremendous promise. The Internet provides the means of communicating the rich patrimony of our faith to a wide variety of people, and it can be seen as a means of re-inhabiting the virtual realm and giving Internet usage a greater purpose. Virtually all of the Western world relies heavily on the Internet to obtain news, make transactions, and communicate with others. In education, online courses are growing in popularity and effectiveness. Online catechesis can be just as, if not more effective. Ultimately, one must recognize that the Internet is both a tool and a battleground, where Catholics will need to work hard to cultivate an ethics of communication grounded in charity and truth, and be prepared to engage in apologetics with fellow Christians, atheists, and people who might argue while having no interest in the Church. In addition, Catholic e-vangelists will be challenged to combat an Internet culture of pornography and vulgarity. This makes St. Peter s admonition so vital: Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15-16). David de la Fuente is a graduate student in the Master of Theological Studies program at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry and a member of the Communications Committee of the Office for Evangelization.

4 The Vine Page 4 E-Share From 2006 to 2009 the Office for Evangelization coordinated the offering of Why Catholic: Journey through the Catechism at 44 parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark. RENEW International fosters spiritual renewal in the Catholic tradition by empowering individuals and communities to encounter God in everyday life, deepen and share faith, and connect faith with action. Why Catholic: Journey through the Catechism is a four year adult faith formation process solidly based on Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and updated to include citations from the newly published United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. The 48 sessions cover Catholic beliefs, sacraments, morality, and prayer. The sessions occur in a prayerful small community setting. All elements of the program are offered in both English and Spanish. The response in the Archdiocese was very encouraging and parishes had numerous participants. Among the more active Why Catholic? parishes were St. Cecilia in Kearny, St. Philip the Apostle in Saddle Brook, Saint Joseph of the Palisades in West New York, Blessed Sacrament in Elizabeth, and St. Mary of the Assumption in Elizabeth. St. Cecilia s in Kearny had 20 groups for a total of 280 people. These people responded to a call to deepen their faith and wish to continue the program according to Fr. Yuvan Alvarez, Parochial Vicar, St. Cecilia s. St. Cecilia s participated in the full four-year program. I was baptized Catholic but didn t understand my faith until now. Why Catholic? participant Silvana Santacruz, of Blessed Sacrament parish in Elizabeth, who coordinated nine small communities with over 100 people, recounted how, as a direct result of this program, two couples decided to marry in the Catholic Church after being civilly married for 14 and 17 years. Other fruits of this endeavor were greater participation in the life of the parish as liturgical ministers, ushers or choir members and a return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Personal testimonies: As pastor, I am grateful to RENEW for offering us this wonderful means of revitalizing our Community of Faith and aiding us in our efforts to bring the Good News to all. Rev. Bob Antczak, Pastor, St. Paul the Apostle, Jersey City, NJ I m very proud to be a Catholic now. Together we can change the world. I was baptized Catholic but didn t understand my faith until now. My family sees a change in me for the better. I had not received the Sacrament of Reconciliation since I was preparing for my First Communion. I recently received the Sacrament because I learned its importance and have experienced the grace of forgiveness. Forgiveness purifies the soul. Why Catholic Participants Blessed Sacrament Parish, Elizabeth, NJ

5 Volume 1 Issue 2 Page 5 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: Life Issues Seminar Defending the Gospel of Life Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Newark & Archdiocesan Pro-Life Commission PRESENTS LIFE ISSUES SEMINAR DEFENDING THE GOSPEL OF LIFE How can I Defend Life in My Vocation? Saturday, October 2, 2010 QUEEN OF PEACE HIGH SCHOOL/CHURCH NORTH ARLINGTON 11AM MASS MOST REV JOHN W. FLESEY, Regional Bishop for Bergen County FR. JOHN GRIMM, Assoc Prof. of Christian Ethics, SHU, Panel Discussion Registration Required by September 24, 2010 Please call: General Admission - $10 Students $5 Parish Pro-Life Contacts $5

6 The Vine Page 6 Eucharistic Adoration Parishes & Schedules Throughout Hudson, Bergen, Essex, and Union counties, many parishes of the Archdiocese of Newark have opened their doors for Eucharistic Adoration to the people in the community. All are welcome. Parishioners and friends may find more information in English and Spanish on Eucharistic Adoration Parishes & Schedules on the Archdiocesan website at Archdiocese of Newark Office for Evangelization Parish Partnership Committee Eucharist is reserved in churches or oratories to serve as the spiritual center of a religious community or parish community, indeed of the whole Church and the whole of mankind, since it contains, beneath the veil of the species, Christ the invisible Head of the Church, the Redeemer of the world, the center of all hearts, by whom all things are and by whom we exist. He is in the midst of us day and night; He dwells in us with the fullness of grace and of truth. He raises the level of morals, fosters virtue, comforts the sorrowful, strengthens the weak and stirs up all those who draw near to Him to imitate Him, so that they may learn from his example to be meek and humble of heart, and to seek not their own interests but those of God. Excerpt taken from Pope Paul VI, Mysterium Fidei (On the Mystery of Faith) (September 3, 1965), no.68, 67 A R C H D I O C E S E O F N E W A R K O F F I C E F O R E V A N G E L I Z A T I O N C L I F T O N A V E N U E N E W A R K, N E W J E R S E Y Phone: Fax: sotolili@rcan.org Website: Eucharistic Adoration pamphlets can be downloaded from

7 Page 7 Volume 1 Issue 2 Soles For Faith 5K Run 2010 Archdiocese of Newark Soles For Faith Mission Statement Based on John Paul II s New Evangelization new in ardor, methods and expression, the Archdiocese of Newark s Soles for Faith 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 Faith on Facebook I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 Event Soles for Faith 5K Run, 3K Walk and Kids Dashes Date Saturday, October 2, 2010 Location Branch Brook Park, Newark, NJ Elwood Ave. entrance Schedule Registration 7:45 a.m. 5K Run and 3K Walk 9:30 a.m. Kids Dashes 10:30 a.m. Awards Ceremony 10:45 a.m. To Benefit Amenities Information On-line Registration Run the Race! Scholarship Fund for Inner City Children The Office for Evangelization Custom T-Shirt DJ Random Prizes Refreshments Liliana Soto-Cabrera sotolili@rcan.org Call for mail in registration or download from our website. The Soles for Faith 5K Run/Walk is open to all and will benefit The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children (SFIC) and the Office for Evangelization. Since 1983 SFIC has been providing partial tuition scholarships to enable low-income children living in the inner cities and urban areas of Essex, Union, Hudson and Bergen counties to attend private and parochial schools. The Office for Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Newark seeks to guide people to an understanding, knowledge and close relationship with God through various programs and evangelization resources. Parishes and Schools throughout the Archdiocese of Newark are especially encouraged to participate. We are currently seeking sponsors: any level accepted. For more information and to receive a sponsor packet, please sotolili@rcan.org.

8 The Vine Page 8 Save the Date Fall 2010! Soles For Faith 5K Run October 2, :00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Coordinated by the Office for Evangelization s Outreach to Inactive Catholic Committee and the Soles for Faith Catholic Running Team. See flyer in this issue Life Issues Seminar October 2, :00 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Coordinated by Respect Life Office Hispanic Heritage Mass October 3, :00 p.m. From the Hispanic Forum Stewardship Day October 16, 2010 Coordinated by the Stewardship Office and the Stewardship Committee. Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Washington, DC October 23, 2010 Fr. John Corapi at the Prudential Center October 30, 2010 See flyer in this issue Bishop Joseph A. Francis Award Lunch November 6, 2010 Coordinated by the Office of African American, African, & Caribbean Apostolate Nourishing Your Faith Dinner November 10, 2010 Coordinated by the Office of Major Gifts and the Nourishing Your Faith Dinner Committee. See flyer in this issue Catechetical Convocation November 13, 2010 Coordinated by the Catechetical Office

9 Page 9 Volume 1 Issue 2 Fr. John Corapi Flyer

10 The Vine Page 10 Nourishing Your Faith Dinner November 10, 2010 In support of Faith Initiatives of the Archdiocese of Newark Stephen Doocy Co-Host of Fox & Friends Master of Ceremonies Most Reverend John M. Smith, J.C.D.,D.D. Bishop of Trenton Teresa Tomeo Catholic Author and Host of "Catholic Connection" (Ave Maria Radio) Jeff Feagles Former Punter New York Giants Cocktails: 6 PM Dinner: 7 PM (Business Attire) Silent Auction Tickets: $250 Each Table Sponsorship: $2, River Drive Garfield, NJ For more information, or to order tickets, contact: The Development Office of the Archdiocese of Newark at (973) Proceeds will be used to support the Men s and Women s Commissions, Evangelization Efforts and Catholic Education

11 Volume 1 Issue 2 Page 11 A Quick Journey Through the Bible - Coming this Spring 2011 to a parish near you Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha and Jeff Cavins at the Great Adventure Timeline one day event in March 2008 Our Catholic Identity Marriage: Unique for a Reason What do the US Catholic Bishops say about marriage? Here is an excerpt from their new initiative called Marriage: Unique for a Reason, which is found on their website at: Marriage is the lifelong, exclusive union of one man and one woman. It is more than a legal category. Marriage is a communion of persons, a communion of love between husband and wife meant to be the source of the family and society. God s vision and plan for marriage is not idealistic. That s why Jesus referred his interlocutors back to the beginning. (see Mt 19:4-6; Mk 10:6-8) We are meant for union and communion, to be in relation with others. In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, God says, It is not good for the man to be alone (Gen 2:18). God s solution to man s isolation is not to create another identical man. God s creation of the animals does not satisfy the longing Adam feels for communion. God creates woman from the body of the man and gives man and woman to each other. Then God says, For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh (Mt 19:5; cf. Gen 2:24). This is the first marriage. Marriage - Man and Woman - All Else Falls Short For help on marriage go to:

12 The Vine Page 12 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 Announcements Find us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: Watch us on YouTube: 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

13 Volume 1 Issue 2 Page 13 Stewardship Day Event ARCHDIOCESE OF NEWARK Stewardship Day Building Stewardship Saturday, October 16, :00 am 12 noon Two great locations, one great purpose! Immaculate Heart Academy Mother Seton Regional HS 500 Van Emburgh Avenue One Valley Road Washington Township, NJ Clark, NJ Registration is FREE and includes continental breakfast from 8:00 am to 8:45 am Speakers & Topics at Immaculate Heart Academy Reverend Charles Pinyan D.I.Y.-Offertory Increase Deacon Nick DeLucca Benefits of a Parish Stewardship Committee Jorge Montalvo Youth are the Cornerstone of our Future Mary Lou Balog My Personal Stewardship Journey SPANISH TRACK Reverend John Galeano Open Discussion for Parish Stewardship Committee Members Speakers & Topics at Mother Seton Regional HS Reverend Joseph D Amico D.I.Y. Stewardship Initiative Philip Hui Benefits of a parish Stewardship Committee Joan Schultz & Norma Nass How to Organize a Parish Stewardship Day Deacon Raj Srinivasa My Personal Stewardship Journey Open Discussion for Parish Stewardship Committee Members Register on-line at or call Lynn Gully at for information or registration

14 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.