What is evangelization that is not weird?

Photo by Oneinchpunch

3 thoughts on “What is evangelization that is not weird?”

  1. Based on my experience with catechumens, Evangelization can only happen when first and foremost we do a lot of listening. We listen to the stories they tell and questions that they ask. By trying to understand where they are coming from then we can begin to evangelize not so much in words but by examples from the parish community.

    1. Absolutely agree with the importance of listening. Would add this likely involves many encounters and genuine, non judge mental, wholly attentive listening. You are already conveying welcome before any verbal invitation.

  2. When I directed the RCIA for the Diocese of Ft Wayne-South Bend I soon realized that one of the big questions was and is “where do the inquirers come from?” “On Evangelization in the Modern World” came out during that time. I realized that we needed to reach out to others. We need to realize that what we believe is Good News and witness to that. Not all inquirers have the Thomas Merton story. So I became Executive Director of the National Council for Evangelization, the organization that worked with the NCCB to promote evangelization. In a nutshell, Pope Paul VI said that everything we do is (or should be) evangelization. The silos that we have between religious education and liturgy and community service and so much more all need to be seen as evangelization. Evangelization is the “umbrella” over all our ministries. But people did not want to leave their silos
    Then came the “come home again” efforts that were eventually named “new evangelization.” But we were mostly reaching out to those who have left the Roman Catholic church for one reason or the other. We wanted to “welcome them back.” We were still looking inward. Ane we have “roped those people in” who cannot be married in the church unless they become Roman Catholic.
    We have yet to reach out to the unchurched or the “noners” (those who have no religion affiliation). In our increasingly secular world, this is where we should be evangelizing! This takes courage! It takes truly believing that our Faith is indeed Good News that we want to share with others. Often times those who journey through the RCIA are the zealous ones who have discovered the Good News through the process and are willing to share it. Getting fired up about our faith is amazing. The catechumenate process is a means to that.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!
Continue shopping
0