"Hiding away in our churches..."?

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

What a statement! ""Hiding away in our churches might bring us some consolation," ... "but it would render Pentecost vain. It is time to throw open wide the doors and to return to announcing the resurrection of Christ, whose witnesses we are." These were part of an address by the Vatican's leader in new evangelization:

SYDNEY, Australia, AUG. 10, 2012 (Zenit.org)...The president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella touched in his address on Christ as the center of the new evangelization, and the importance of the Year of Faith for the amplification of the new evangelization.

He also gave insights into the challenges posed to evangelization by the particular culture of today. For example, he noted the "seduction of preachers who, lacking the necessary intellectual preparation, play insistently upon the chords of sentiment, putting forward utopias which, while promising every form of happiness, leave people in even greater loneliness."

"Today," he observed, "God is not denied, but is unknown. In some respects, it could be said that, paradoxically, interest in God and in religion has grown. Nevertheless, what I note is the strong emotive connotation ...]; there is no interest in a religion and much less for the theme of the 'true religion'; what seems to count are, rather, religious experiences. People are looking for different modalities of religion, selected by everyone taking up that which they find pleasing in the sense of ensuring for them that religious experience which they find more satisfying on the basis of their interests or needs at the moment."

In such a context, the 60-year-old Italian archbishop said, "The new evangelization requires the capacity to know how to give an explanation of our own faith, showing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the sole savior of humanity. To the extent that we are capable of this, we will be able to offer our contemporaries the response they are awaiting."

... Archbishop Fisichella affirmed, "We need to direct our reflection towards the meaning of life and death, and of life beyond death; to face such questions, those affecting people's existence and determining their personal identity, Jesus Christ cannot be an outsider. If the proclamation of the new evangelization does not find its power in the element of mystery which surrounds life and which relates us to the infinite mystery of the God of Jesus Christ, it will not be capable of the effectiveness required to elicit the response of faith."

The Vatican official also admitted that evangelization requires sacrifice. "Hiding away in our churches might bring us some consolation," he said, "but it would render Pentecost vain. It is time to throw open wide the doors and to return to announcing the resurrection of Christ, whose witnesses we are."

"The road to be followed is by no means easy. ... The trials will be numerous," Archbishop Fisichella affirmed...

Toward the end of his reflection, Archbishop Fisichella cited a speech made by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger a few days before his election as Benedict XVI.

"What we need at this time of history," the future Pope said, "are people, who, through a faith which is enlightened and lived out in practice, make God credible in this world … We need people who keep their gaze fixed upon God, learning from there what true humanity is. We need people whose intellect is enlightened by the light of God and whose hearts God may open up in such a way that their intellect may speak to the intellect of others and that their hearts may open the hearts of others. Only through people who are touched by God can God return to humanity."

"Hence," Archbishop Fisichella proposed, "the new evangelization starts from here: from the credibility of our living as believers and from the conviction that grace acts and transforms to the point of converting the heart. It is a journey which still finds Christians committed to it after two thousand years of history.

Full text can be read [HERE](http://www.zenit.org/article-35359?l=english)

 

[McDale721]

Yes, yes, yes

 

[RPRPsych]

Bold words, but they needed to be said.

Thanks for sharing this!

 

[MariaChristi]

Yes, yes, yes

Dear McDale,

Thanks for your reply. Is your parish involved in any “evangelistic efforts” at present, any Adult Faith Formation leading to evangelization; or any efforts toward educating people on the coming “Year of Faith”? Is your Bishop making any effort toward getting people “out of the pews with hearts burning to share Jesus” ? Please share what’s happening (or not happening) where you are. Thanks.

 

[MariaChristi]

Bold words, but they needed to be said.

Thanks for sharing this!

Dear RPRPsych,

Thanks for your reply. “Bold words” are easier than “bold deeds”. I noticed in your reply your heading indicates your self-description as “lazy”. Please, prayerfully and earnestly revise who you think you may have become! You may be honestly revealing your shortcomings, (and I too admit to being lazy), but we can’t give the impression that it is OK to let that be. We need to overcome, and fight against what Pope Benedict has described as “drowsy” discipleship in his book Jesus of Nazareth.

We need zeal in our Catholic Church after the example of the saint whose Feast day we celebrate today. St. Maximilian Kolbe was not “lazy” even before he stepped up to take the place of another prisoner in the Nazi death camp. He died as he lived and so shall we all. As the Archbishop said “evangelization requires sacrifice”. By God’s Grace we need to make good choices. We need to pray, especially to Mary, Star of the New Evangelization.

Father Maximilan had been a zealous champion of the Immaculata and was already on his way to becoming the saint he was called to be before he was arrested by the Nazi soldiers. All of us are called to be saints – each of us has been created unique and unrepeatable. Each of us has a gift (or gifts) which no one else can bring to the Church and to the world of our time. We were baptized into Christ and given all we need to be saints, and each of us will need to answer for how we have responded to all the graces we have received.

Please let us pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of His Mercy.

 

[kkollwitz]

Our youthgroup consciously & explicitly trains & educates the teens to evangelize. I do the same in my 6th grade catechism class. Cradle Catholics attend our RCIA program for the same reason. Equipping oneself to evangelize is part of parish culture; and the fruits of that evangelistic culture are the converts brought into the church each Easter.

 

[RPRPsych]

Dear RPRPsych,

Thanks for your reply. “Bold words” are easier than “bold deeds”. I noticed in your reply your heading indicates your self-description as “lazy”. Please, prayerfully and earnestly revise who you think you may have become! You may be honestly revealing your shortcomings, (and I too admit to being lazy), but we can’t give the impression that it is OK to let that be. We need to overcome, and fight against what Pope Benedict has described as “drowsy” discipleship in his book Jesus of Nazareth.

We need zeal in our Catholic Church after the example of the saint whose Feast day we celebrate today. St. Maximilian Kolbe was not “lazy” even before he stepped up to take the place of another prisoner in the Nazi death camp. He died as he lived and so shall we all. As the Archbishop said “evangelization requires sacrifice”. By God’s Grace we need to make good choices. We need to pray, especially to Mary, Star of the New Evangelization.

Father Maximilan had been a zealous champion of the Immaculata and was already on his way to becoming the saint he was called to be before he was arrested by the Nazi soldiers. All of us are called to be saints – each of us has been created unique and unrepeatable. Each of us has a gift (or gifts) which no one else can bring to the Church and to the world of our time. We were baptized into Christ and given all we need to be saints, and each of us will need to answer for how we have responded to all the graces we have received.

Please let us pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of His Mercy.

Very well said. Thanks for the wake-up call

 

[MariaChristi]

Our youthgroup consciously & explicitly trains & educates the teens to evangelize. I do the same in my 6th grade catechism class. Cradle Catholics attend our RCIA program for the same reason. Equipping oneself to evangelize is part of parish culture; and the fruits of that evangelistic culture are the converts brought into the church each Easter.

Dear kkollwitz,

May the Lord continue the good work He has begun in your parish! Would that more parishes had that “evangelizing culture” of which you speak! Thanks for your reply.

Please let us continue to pray for the Church, and all those in most need of His Mercy.
Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us.

 

[MariaChristi]

Very well said. Thanks for the wake-up call

Dear RPRPsych,

Thanks for receiving my words in the spirit in which they were given!
Are you going to revise your profile now? Maybe you can be: “No longer lazy Catholic”? Or “Wide-awake Catholic” ? What “bold words” will you choose??? Pray to the Holy Spirit and Our Lady. Happy Feast of the Assumption to you and to all who read this thread!

 

[McDale721]

Dear McDale,

Thanks for your reply. Is your parish involved in any “evangelistic efforts” at present, any Adult Faith Formation leading to evangelization; or any efforts toward educating people on the coming “Year of Faith”? Is your Bishop making any effort toward getting people “out of the pews with hearts burning to share Jesus” ? Please share what’s happening (or not happening) where you are. Thanks.

Hi MariaChristi,

I’ll have to let you know when I join new parish. I’m in the middle of moving to Dayton, OH so my wife can start PhD in Theology. She was the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at our old parish in NJ. The pastor there fully supported the new evangelization. The bishop also supports too, but I’m not as familiar with what was being done at that level.

When we get to Dayton, we’ll be looking around for a parish that supports the new evangelization and hopefully also has Theology of the Body base.

Blessings, Mike

 

[RPRPsych]

Dear RPRPsych,

Thanks for receiving my words in the spirit in which they were given!
Are you going to revise your profile now? Maybe you can be: “No longer lazy Catholic”? Or “Wide-awake Catholic” ? What “bold words” will you choose??? Pray to the Holy Spirit and Our Lady. Happy Feast of the Assumption to you and to all who read this thread!

Let me think of the best wording, and then I’ll get back to you!

 

[kkollwitz]

“Fired-up Catholic” would allude to the action of the Holy Spirit. That’s how I describe Pentecost in my class: the H.S. got the apostles FIRED-UP!

 

[MariaChristi]

Let me think of the best wording, and then I’ll get back to you!

Great! I’ll be praying to the Holy Spirit and Our Lady, for you, and with you!

 

[MariaChristi]

Hi MariaChristi,

I’ll have to let you know when I join new parish. I’m in the middle of moving to Dayton, OH so my wife can start PhD in Theology. She was the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at our old parish in NJ. The pastor there fully supported the new evangelization. The bishop also supports too, but I’m not as familiar with what was being done at that level.

When we get to Dayton, we’ll be looking around for a parish that supports the new evangelization and hopefully also has Theology of the Body base.

Blessings, Mike

Dear Mike,

What wonderful news! Is your wife enrolled in the University of Dayton, by any chance?

May the Holy Spirit lead you to the place and to the people He desires you to serve. If you can’t find one a parish that supports the new evangelization, He may send you to help them learn more about the Church’s Mission to evangelize.

Adults, young and old, need continuing formation in the Faith, and it is so good to know that you and your wife have had some good experiences with your parish and Bishop in NJ. God bless you both on your journey forward! Please keep in touch. Thanks.

 

[McDale721]

Yes, she starts classes next week at Univ of Dayton. We’re very excited (and a little anxious…).

 

[MariaChristi]

Yes, she starts classes next week at Univ of Dayton. We’re very excited (and a little anxious…).

Dear McDale,

May the Lord bless you both in this new “adventure”. While my husband was gaining his Masters in Theology, I was substitute-teaching for the first year. This allowed me to audit some of his classes, and they were wonderful. It also gave me time in the Library which was another blessing, and the best of all was the 24/7Adoration chapel on campus. He studied at Franciscan University in Ohio. The second and final year I had a full time teaching position at a nearby Catholic elementary school, so I could not spend as much time at the University, except on week-ends.

Will you be working, or will you be studying with your wife for a degree? Can you audit some classes? I use the University of Dayton’s “Mary Page” online often. I can understand the excitement. As to the anxiety, keep looking to the Lord, and let not your hearts be troubled. (John 14:1) The Lord is surely at work in your lives that you may work with Him in the lives of many others! As Pope Paul VI wrote in his “Evangization in the Modern World”: The Church exists to evangelize.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love…renew the face of the earth.
Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us.
Jesus, we trust in You.
Joseph, husband of Mary and protector of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

 

[kkollwitz]

Hey Maria, here’s an example of not hiding in church:

For a few years, there have been informal lunch circles among Catholic men [lay and religious] here. But last week one of my KofC brothers sent out an email to all the Catholic men he knew who did that sort of thing to come to one place for lunch on a given day. Here’s the edited text of the email:

Once a month Catholic men from around Greenville, especially the ones that work close or can make it for lunch downtown will be meeting for some lunch and fellowship. No sharing of feelings needed just come and shoot the breeze, meet some fellow Catholic men and practice being Catholic. This will be a great time to meet some new guys and foster some old friendships.

There are no rules, just a couple of suggestions. Keep the talk charitable and business (work related, business schemes, money making ventures) should be conducted at other times.

Please, I hope you guys can support this. The following bulletin column should be in all the local Parish bulletins soon.

Friends,

We are starting a monthly Catholic Men’s Fellowship Lunch for the Greenville area. The hope is that it will bring Catholic men together and help build up and strengthen our local Catholic community. Our hope is to foster some small groups to meet at lunch in between our monthly lunch that will study scripture and our deep and rich faith. This is not a replacement to any of the current groups already meeting in your parish but a broader outreach to all the Catholic men in our community as one Church. We would like for the below article (you can change as needed) to run in your bulletins for the weekends of July 15th, 22nd, 29th and August 5th. We will send an invite to all respondents the Monday before the lunch as a reminder. Our plan is to rotate the restaurant to other downtown Catholic-owned establishments based on our turnout and who is willing to host. We appreciate any help and most importantly all the prayers you can provide. Hopefully, we will see you there."

28 showed up that first time. Not bad.

 

[MariaChristi]

Hey Maria, here’s an example of not hiding in church:

For a few years, there have been informal lunch circles among Catholic men [lay and religious] here. But last week one of my KofC brothers sent out an email to all the Catholic men he knew who did that sort of thing to come to one place for lunch on a given day. Here’s the edited text of the email:

Once a month Catholic men from around Greenville, especially the ones that work close or can make it for lunch downtown will be meeting for some lunch and fellowship. No sharing of feelings needed just come and shoot the breeze, meet some fellow Catholic men and practice being Catholic. This will be a great time to meet some new guys and foster some old friendships.

There are no rules, just a couple of suggestions. Keep the talk charitable and business (work related, business schemes, money making ventures) should be conducted at other times.

Please, I hope you guys can support this. The following bulletin column should be in all the local Parish bulletins soon.

Friends,

We are starting a monthly Catholic Men’s Fellowship Lunch for the Greenville area. The hope is that it will bring Catholic men together and help build up and strengthen our local Catholic community. Our hope is to foster some small groups to meet at lunch in between our monthly lunch that will study scripture and our deep and rich faith. This is not a replacement to any of the current groups already meeting in your parish but a broader outreach to all the Catholic men in our community as one Church. We would like for the below article (you can change as needed) to run in your bulletins for the weekends of July 15th, 22nd, 29th and August 5th. We will send an invite to all respondents the Monday before the lunch as a reminder. Our plan is to rotate the restaurant to other downtown Catholic-owned establishments based on our turnout and who is willing to host. We appreciate any help and most importantly all the prayers you can provide. Hopefully, we will see you there."

28 showed up that first time. Not bad.

Yes, indeed – not bad at all. Hopefully this will be a way in which these men can so let their light shine that our Father will be glorified. May it be said of us in our time, as it was said before: “See how these Christians love one another”. Thanks for sharing this.