Correct approach to evangelizing

[JakeWI]

Hi All,

I have been part of Catholic Answers for a bit, but first time visiting this specific board. I have started helping our Parish with teaching children about the faith/faith formation. We are having this “mission” coming to our Parish shortly, and we had a presentation on this last night to get us ready.

It really has gotten me thinking about ways of evangelizing. I guess the entire thing took me out of my comfort zone a bit. Let’s just say I am not a big proponent for praise and worship music in Mass, and our Parish really doesn’t use that repertoire outside of a select few songs. A big part of this mission is “P&W” music alongside adoration and confession. I love adoration, I love taking part in confession… but having a worship band is the uncomfortable part to me.

I am trying to look at it from the point of view that it is a prayer event that is happening to take place in the church, but it is hard for me to separate it. They also mention about really trying to get in touch with people about the event to spread the word. I guess the way I tend to go about things is “gentle nudges”, not “oh you should come” in a very awkward conversation. I also never have been to an event like this, and the way I pray best typically is with total silence, incense, and God. Adding in the “powerful music” aspect, it is again hard for me to say how I would take to it in this context as I have never experienced it that way. I am not sure how I could wholeheartedly give it my all in trying to get people to come without knowing how I personally would feel either.

Again, I feel it may be more or less a comfort thing… and maybe some of you may have some good tips. I really do love the sacraments that are available to us, the many opportunities for prayer that can be offered to us (rosary, adoration, stations of the cross). It really is what makes this Church wonderful. The music piece… my one sticking point. Even outside of Mass, I am noticing… but again probably because it will be in a church setting.

Thank you all for any advice you can give me!

 

[myway]

I prefer Gregorian chant for church. Especially during mass. However I do think I could handle a Catholic Church having a band.

It probably want just be music. The band might sing and pray the rosary at the same time.

 

[ChikaisHis]

I prefer more silent adoration too but either way it will still be something to look forward to because Jesus will be there.
And even though P&W music might not be for you, it could move others into a closer relationship with God in the Eucharist, and that is a beautiful thing for anyone to watch.
As for spreading the word, there’s a difference between forcing people to come and inviting them. But I think a lot of people find some gentle nudges too gentle, to the point of being impersonal. I think the safest way is to tell someone about the event, and invite them to come. Show them you genuinely want them to go, without pushing or making them feel like you expect them to go.
Finally God has put you in this situation for a reason. Even if you are unsure I think you’ll be good if you leave it up to him

 

[Regina7]

I also don’t like praise and worship music and prefer Gregorian chant. P&W seems a little irreverent though I grew up in a conservative parish. I guess I’ve always associated P&W with the mega churches around here who seem to focus on fun and fellowship and put God after.

Disclaimer- I’m not saying that P&W are inherently irreverent, but the times I’ve personally seen it, it appears that way.

 

[Wahoowa92]

I don’t know how helpful I can be other than to say that, like you, P&W music at Mass is uncomfortable. In fact, for me, it is beyond uncomfortable. It’s a distraction, and I feel it takes away from the sacred character of the Mass. Our family has even discussed no longer attending our parish’s Sunday evening “Youth Mass” because the music is distracting. Don’t get me wrong, our band leader/cantor is excellent. And if he had a concert in the church hall, I would love to see him perform. But the Mass is the last place for a musical “performance.” Our entire focus at Mass should be on worship of the Lord and the Eucharist. And frankly, we already have “praise music” in the Mass. It’s called the Gloria. It drives me and our parish priest crazy when people clap at the end of Mass because the music is so good. I mean, they’re certainly not clapping because they just met the Lord.

In my opinion, contemporary Catholic band music can have a place in parish life. Just not in the Mass. And not at Adoration or Confession either. I would worry that it is just one more element that takes away from the sacred experience of meeting Jesus in the Eucharist or examining our conscience before confession. We already have communicants taking the Eucharist in the hand like it’s a snack cracker, Extraordinary Ministers who dress like they’re headed to the neighbors’ barbecue, parishioners who feel it’s appropriate to carry on a whispered conversation throughout the Eucharistic prayers … but I digress. I would suggest that you encourage a discussion about having the music performed at some sort of parish retreat, even if it’s just an afternoon in your parish hall.

 

[wadramli]

Hi

I’m new here . This is my first post . I’m in North Africa in a country where Christians are a minority.

I’m not really knowledgeable about theology but to me music is about friendship between those who are unequal . Talented musicians who perform impeccably and an audience finely refined and tuned by years of listening and devotion to the art. . the musician has perfect mastery of his art of and the audience have perfect mastery of appreciating/ understanding his art. Such is one way to obtain a relationship of friendship between those who are unequal , between man and god , ice-between man and Jesus .

Our priests who are indigenous Africans enter the chapel through the front door on Sunday Mass in a procession , crosses held high with women from across the tribes and clans ululating and singing the Lord praise .music is such a universal language .

I work with a nun from the order of the sisters of Comboni with Christian refugees who came and resided in the city to escape the war . we fix food and we tell bible stories and we play music and sing. We do hands and crafts .The kids love to sing . they go home and they sing. the shacks and mud homes are filled with lord praise often times …the shacks and mud homes are alive with the sound of music.

We sing read the bible. We sing pray . we sing our saddens our happiness . we sing for Jesus all the time. He is very good to us . so we sing to him . when he sings back to us magic happens. Doesn’t matter if you’re hungry, ill, sad, etc . Jesus extends his hand and says do not be sad.

I remember back in the day when my wife gave birth to my daughter , the baby would cry and my wife would sing to her and the baby would stop crying . she sang in a soft captivating voice the lord praise .moment printed in my mind to this day. Is that the same for you?

Would be really great if Catholics all over the world learn a song and come to Africa and sing it to us. We would love to have you here . come and visit with us . come let us sing together . enough with all that migration to the West from Africa . Come to Africa. if you do not know how to sing its alright .many of us don’t now how but we do sing all the same .you don’t want to sing that’s alright too

I’m going to start a data bank detailing information about each Christian family here or as many as I can. Family tree and all, which part of the country side they came from, what was it like there and what they like and what they are doing now , etc. would like to pass a file to each one of you . it would be nice if your parish priest participate in terms of presenting us to each other . we work in conjunction with the Sister of Comboni order . chances are they have center where you’re at .

I noticed many Westerners travel wanting to reach out . I’m hoping by this I will be providing an opportunity for them to reach out in terms charity begins at home .we reach out to our brothers and sisters in the faith first . I do not mean to be bold with that . I hope you will not consider it so.

I will say one thing I have witnessed . Westerners who came found it to be a rewarding experience for them and for us .happy is the hand that reachs out . so c’mon lets go global. Let me know if you’re interested .

My deepest apologies if I seem to have strayed from your topic or took advantage of it .

In Christ

 

[therese14]

Wow.

I think nowadays laptop can be a means of evangelizing too.

There are many sites that offer for example, good catholic books.

This one is just an example

goodcatholicbooks.org/