Agenda. Opening Prayer. from Chapter 5 Spirit Filled Evangelizers 2/1/2014. Joy of the Gospel. Faith Study Session Five January 30, 2014

Transcription

1 Faith Study Session Five January 30, 2014 Agenda Intro / Opening Prayer Review Chapter 5 Why We Need to Evangelize? Good News Discussion Questions Closing Prayer 1 2 Opening Prayer Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace. Amen. Spirit Filled Evangelizers Spirit filled evangelizers are evangelizers fearlessly open to the working of the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit also grants the courage to proclaim the newness of the Gospel Jesus wants evangelizers who proclaim the good news not only with words, but above all by a life transfigured by God s presence No words of encouragement will be enough unless the fire of the Holy Spirit burns in our hearts 3 4 1

2 Renewed Missionary Impulse Spirit filled evangelizers are evangelizers who pray and work The Church urgently needs the deep breath of prayer Evangelization is no easier or more difficult than in the early days of the Church Personal encounter with the saving love of Jesus The best incentive for sharing the Gospel comes from contemplating it with love Enthusiasm for evangelization is based on the conviction that the Gospel offers us the truth about God, about man, and about how we are to be set free from sin and death It is impossible to persevere in a fervent evangelization unless we are convinced from personal experience 5 6 The spiritual savor of being a people To be evangelizers of souls, we need to develop a spiritual taste for being close to people s lives We need to enter fully into the fabric of society Benedict XVI has said that closing our eyes to our neighbor also blinds us to God Every person is worthy of our giving every person is immensely holy and deserves our love The mysterious working of the risen Christ and his Spirit Some people do not commit themselves to mission because they think that nothing will change and that it is useless to make the effort that is a self destructive attitude New difficulties are constantly surfacing results are few and changes are slow, and we are tempted to grow weary But the Gospels tell us that the kingdom of God is already present in this world and is growing, here and there, and in different ways 7 8 2

3 The missionary power of intercessory prayer One form of prayer moves us particularly to take up the task of evangelization and to seek the good of others: it is the prayer of intercession Saint Paul s prayer was always full of and in communion with people When evangelizers rise from prayer, their hearts are more open; freed of self absorption, they are desirous of doing good and sharing their lives with others Mary, Mother of Evangelization With the Holy Spirit, Mary is always present in the midst of the people On the cross, Jesus gave Mary not only to the young disciple John, but he also gave her to us to be our mother The Church looks to Mary as a model of evangelization 9 10 Jesus command 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. Mt 28:19 Pope John XXIII: When convening the 2 nd Vatican Council Purpose of the council was to find a way of presenting the perennial truth of the Gospel in a more effective way to a world that was turning away from the Church

4 Pope Paul VI: On Evangelization in the Modern World Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize Pope John Paul II: New Evangelization Called for a New Evangelization that we must rekindle in ourselves the impetus of the beginnings and allow ourselves to be filled with the ardor of the apostolic preaching which followed Pentecost Pope Benedict XVI: Synod Pope Francis: Convened a Synod for a New Evangelization new in it s ardor, methods and expression. Apostolic Exhortation November 24,

5 Go and Make Disciples USCCB, 1992 Disciples Called to Witness USCCB, 2013 A NATIONAL PLANAND STRATEGYFOR CATHOLIC EVANGELIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES THE NEW EVANGELIZATION What has changed? Many Catholics no longer practice their faith 31% of Americans were raised Catholic (1 in 3) Today less than 24% identifies as Catholic (1 in 4) 27% of American Catholics called themselves strong Catholics; down more than 15 % since the mid 1980 s These statistics are alarming! A Sign of the Times U.S. Catholics per Parish (in Year 2010) Catholic at some point in life 5,452 Now identify as Catholic 77% (23% no longer identify as Catholic) Of those who identify as Catholic % attending Mass Christmas and Easter 68% % attending Mass weekly 24% % adults very involved in the parish outside of Mass 4%

6 Attending Mass (2007) By Generations Builders Ages 65+ ( < 1946) 45% Boomers Ages ( ) 20% Gen X Ages ( ) 13% Millennials Ages (1984+) 10% Exodus of the Young Marriage 60% 40% not married in the church Where do they go? Small percentage turn to non Christian faiths (e.g. Jewish, Muslim) Unaffiliated Moved to a Protestant faith St. Michael s Parish Registered Households mid 1990 s 1550 households / 4400 members households / 3927 members Attending Weekend Mass mid 1990 s / / City of Lake Jackson Census , , ,

7 Parish ENVISION Questionnaire Why do we need to evangelize Jesus word Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. Mt 28: What is it? Calling each person to deepen his/her faith, to have confidence in the Gospel, and possess a willingness to share it Actively inviting the unchurched and the de churched to experience God s love through the Catholic Church Why should we want to do it? Because we have experienced the love of Christ we want to share it

8 A new way of being and living for each of us Respond to our baptismal call by going beyond attending Mass weekly and living right We must be active in Church ministries We must invite others to the join us on the journey Those who are faithful and need to be renewed with increased catechesis Those who have never heard the Gospel proclaimed Those who are baptized but have lost the practice of their faith Special Focus: Welcoming Everyone is Made to Feel Welcome by: Parish Staff Formation Team Greeters & Ushers Hospitality Teams Every Parishoner! Special Focus: Re Inviting Extend an invitation to the de churched Family Co Workers Friends Neighbors Jesus word While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. Lk 15:

9 Challenges to Evangelizing Society / culture in America Attitudes fuel our reluctance Fear How can we accomplish this? No Longer Business As Usual! We have to re imagine our individual roles the role of the parish In Summary Jesus command By re proposing the Gospel message we can bring about: A renewal of faith and vigor within our faithful Re engagement with inactive Catholics (de churched) Outreach to the un churched Positive impact on community / society You will be my witnesses... To the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8b

10 GOOD NEWS! A Time to Act! While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? Acts 1:10 11a Small Group Discussion Questions How would my parish change if we viewed all our activity through the lens of Evangelization? How do we invite/move the 80% of parishioners who are registered, but not involved in the parish, Catholics who are no longer identify themselves with the church and the unchurched to a [deeper] relationship with Christ as disciples? Closing Prayer Gracious and merciful God, we pray that through the Holy Spirit all Catholics may hear the call of the New Evangelization and seek a deeper relationship with your Son, Jesus. We pray that the New Evangelization will renew the Church, inspiring all Catholics to go forth and make disciples of all nations and transform society through the power of the Gospel. We pray for all members of the Church, that we heed the words of Christ do not be afraid and strengthened by the Holy Spirit s gift of courage, give witness to the Gospel and share our faith with others. We pray that we may become like the father of the prodigal son filled with compassion for our missing brothers and sisters and run to embrace them upon their return. We pray that all people yearning to know Christ and the Church may encounter him through the faithful who witness to his love in their lives. Loving God, our Father, strengthen us to become witnesses to the saving grace of your Son, Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 39 Amen

11 41 11