Evangelization: Resources for Getting Started Stewardship and Evangelization Conference 2015
Joy of the Gospel Life grows by being given away, and it weakens in isolation and comfort. Indeed those who enjoy life most are those who leave security on the shore and become excited by the mission of communicating life to others. (EG, 10)
EvANGELization
Spiritual Being Part human, part spiritual Communicate with the spiritual inside of people
Do not be afraid or Peace be with you Peacemaker
Servants Angels told Joseph to go home by a different route to protect Jesus. Angels ministered to Jesus in the dessert
Messenger Angel Gabriel to Mary before the birth of Jesus Angels at the tomb with Mary Magdalene
Evangelization Documents
Ad Gentes Vatican II Document
Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church Privilege to proclaim the Kingdom of God Called through Baptism, given gifts in Confirmation and nourished by the Eucharist to carry Christ to all people. 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. (Matt 28:19)
Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church Everyone is called to the work of the evangelizing mission of the church. Missions were formed to plant the Church among people who did not yet believe in Christ establishment of the Office of the Church Propagation of the Faith An invitation to a deeper renewal so that we might share in the missionary work of the church.
Photo Credit: CNS file photo of Pope Paul VI and Cardinal Karol Wojtyla Evangelii Nuntiandi Pope Paul VI
The church exists to evangelize. Pope Paul VI
On Evangelization in the Modern World Written by Pope Paul VI on the 10 th anniversary of the close of the Second Vatican Council One year after the Third Assembly of the Synod of Bishops At the end of the 1975 Holy Year which the church strived to proclaim the Gospel to all people.
On Evangelization in the Modern World Answers the Questions: In our day, what has happened to the hidden energy of the Good News, which is able to have a powerful effect on man s conscience? To what extent and in what way is that evangelical force capable of really transforming the people of this century What methods should be followed in order that the power of the Gospel may have its effect?
On Evangelization in What is Evangelization: the Modern World Renewal of Humanity bringing the Good News into all strata of humanity; the purpose being an interior change Evangelization of all Primary importance is the witness of life Need for explicit proclamation Entry into a community of faith
On Evangelization in the Modern World Content of Evangelization: Witness to the Father s love The salvation of Jesus Christ at the center of the message Sign of hope Touching life as a whole Message of liberation Linked to human advancement No reduction or ambiguity
On Evangelization in Methods of Evangelization: the Modern World Witness of Life Living Preaching Liturgy of the Word Catechetical Utilization of Mass Media Indispensable personal contact Sacraments Popular Piety
Beneficiaries of Evangelization Beneficiaries of Evangelization: Everyone Despite all obstacles To those far off Renewed proclamation to a dechristianized world Non-Christian religions Support for the faith of believers Non-believers Non-practicing Multitudes
Beneficiaries of Evangelization Everyone
On Evangelization in the Modern World Spirit of Evangelization: Action of the Holy Spirit Authentic Witness of Life Search for Unity Servants of Truth Animated by love With the fervor of the Saints
On the morning of Pentecost she watched over with her prayer the beginning of evangelization prompted by the Holy Spirit: may she be the Star of the evangelization ever renewed which the Church, docile to her Lord s command, must promote and accomplish, especially in these times which are difficult but full of hope. Mary Star of Evangelization
The church exists to evangelize. Pope Paul VI
Redemptoris Missio - Pope John Paull II
In 1983, he addressed the Catholic bishops of Latin America in Haiti and called for a New Evangelization: The commemoration of the half millennium of evangelization will gain its full energy if it is a commitment, not to reevangelize but to a New Evangelization, new in its ardor, methods and expression. This marked the first time Blessed John Paul II used the term New Evangelization as the theological concept of proclaiming the Gospel anew to those already evangelized. He called for new ardor, methods and expression of evangelization, ones that engage the present-day culture and modern man. New Evangelization New in its ardor, methods and expression
Evangelii Gaudium Apostolic Exhortation to the Bishops, Clergy, Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today s World.
Joy of the Gospel Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved. (EG 6) For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others? (EG 8)
Joy of the Prophets: Joy of the Gospel You have multiplied the nation you have increased its joy (Isaiah 9:3) Shout aloud and sing for joy (Isaiah 12:6) Get you up to a high mountain, O herald of good tidings to Zion; lift up your voice with strength, O herald of good tidings to Jerusalem (Isaiah 40:9)
Joy in the New Testament: Joy of the Gospel Rejoice is the angel s greeting to Mary (Lk 1:28) Mary makes John leap for joy in his mother s womb (Lk 1:41) Mary s song of praise, My spirit rejoices in God my Savior (Lk 1:47) John says about Jesus as he begins his ministry, For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. (Jn 3:29)
Joy of the Gospel The Joy of Jesus: Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (Lk 10:21) I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete (Jn 15:11) You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy (Jn 16:20) But I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you (Jn 16:22)
The Joy of the Disciples: Joy of the Gospel The disciples rejoiced (Jn 20:20) at the sight of the risen Christ They ate their food with glad and generous hearts (Acts 2:46) Wherever the disciples went there was great joy (Acts 8:8) Paul s jailer and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God. (Acts 16:34)
Joy of the Gospel Even when it is in tears that we must sow and may the world of our time which is searching, sometimes with anguish, sometimes with hope, be enabled to receive the good news from ministers of the Gospel whose lives glow with fervor, who have first received the joy of Christ. (EG 10)
Joy of the Gospel God never tires of forgiving us Forgive one another seventy times seven times Personal dignity bestowed on us by God s love
Joy of the Gospel Fills the heart and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness An invitation to all for a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ or at least an openness to letting him encounter them.
Go and Make Disciples USCCB
Goal #1 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
Goal #2 To invite all people in the United States, whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith.
Goal #3 To foster gospel values in our society, promoting the dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good of our society so that our nation may continue to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ
Forming Intentional Disciples Sherry A. Weddell Book Available at Our Sunday Visitor
Five Thresholds of Conversion Initial Trust Spiritual Curiosity Spiritual Openness Spiritual Seeking Intentional Discipleship
Initial Trust A person is able to trust or has a positive association with Jesus Christ, the Church, a Christian believer, or something identifiably Christian. Trust is not the same as an active personal faith It is a bridge without a bridge, people will not move closer to God
Spiritual Curiosity A person finds himself intrigued by or desiring to know more about Jesus, his life and his teachings or some aspect of the Christian faith. This curiosity can range from mere awareness of a new possibility to something quite intense.
Spiritual Openness A person acknowledges to themselves and to God that they are open to the possibility of personal and spiritual change
Spiritual Seeking The person moves from being essentially passive to actively seeking to know the God who is calling them. The seeker at this stage is engaged in a spiritual quest, seeking to know whether he or she can commit to Christ and the church
Intentional Discipleship This is the decision to drop one s nets, to make a conscious commitment to follow Jesus in the midst of the church as a missionary disciple
Living Our Relationship with Jesus Christ The next step in creating a culture of discipleship is to create multiple, overlapping opportunities for people to personally encounter Jesus in the midst of his Church. (p219 Forming Intentional Disciples)
Initial Trust Festivals & Parish Fun Events Community Dinners School Open Houses Public Events Funerals Catholic Media Television, Radio, Website, Social Media
Spiritual Curiosity Hospitality and Welcome Inquiry Sessions Sessions on Basic Christianity (ALPHA) Vacation Bible School Presence in Community Activities Outreach to the poor Programs and media campaigns for those returning to the church (Catholics Returning Home, A Evening of Confession, Landings, Awakening Faith)
Spiritual Openness The witness of a missionary disciple RCIA Spiritual Development Programs (Retreats, Catechetical Sessions, Faith Formation Sessions, Missions) Sacraments (Communal Confession & Anointing of the Sick)
Spiritual Seeking Outreach helping those who are least among us Works of justice Communal Prayer Liturgy of the Hours Rosary Prayer and Eucharistic Adoration Eucharistic Liturgy
Intentional Discipleship Parish Ministries and Groups Liturgies that send us forth to be missionary disciples Small Groups or Small Christian Communities Prayer groups Sessions on how to live one s discipleship (Charism & Gift Discernment) Teaching how to be a witness How to have a Threshold Conversation How to tell the story of your faith Evangelization Retreats or Missions
Rebuilt and Tools for Rebuilding Change from Maintenance to Mission No more Business as Usual Stop the consumer attitude among parishioners Discover who is missing Timonium Tim Reaching out to the lost or unconnected
Joy of the Gospel When the Church summons Christians to take up the task of evangelization, she is simply pointing to the source of authentic personal fulfillment. For her we discover a profound law of reality: that life is attained and matures in the measure it is offered up in order to give life to others. This is certainly what mission means. (EG 10)
Terrie Baldwin Diocese of Cleveland Office of Evangelization 1404 East 9 th Street Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 696-6525, ext. 2540 tbaldwin@dioceseofcleveland.org www.facebook.com/evangelization