How can we make the Catholic Church more "evangelical"?

[coolcatholicguy]

Some ideas could be more parish youth groups, youth conferences, adult conferences, and anything else that would make it easier to interact with The Catholic Church.

Any ideas are welcome!

 

[jwinch2]

Some ideas could be more parish youth groups, youth conferences, adult conferences, and anything else that would make it easier to interact with The Catholic Church.

Any ideas are welcome!

As it so happens, I just read an article on this topic the other day. I have attached it below and while it was focused on the involvement of the laity in the Dominican order, it discusses the evangelical movement in detail and makes many references to how the Catholic Church can use those same strategies. Hope it helps!

Jason

 

[onmyknees]

I think we need to have our priests give homilies on why we need to evangelize and how to do it in charity and without turning people off.

And yes, We definitely need to teach the youth groups how to evangelize.

 

[Edward_H]

We need to pray more, suffer with a more sporting spirit, offer sacrifices for those lukewarm right near us, do more favors for those people, live more joyfully, and know our doctrine cold.

If we do this - and we practice patience - and ask God for opportunities to help…God will give us very small and natural opportunities to evangelize those people who He puts in our lives.

 

[Alan55]

The U.S. Bishops’ chief document on evangelization, “Go and Make Disciples,” includes an extensive list of evangelization-related activities. It’s worth a good read.

 

[Jonathan_V]

More Evangelical? Really? No.

IMHO, that is the last thing the Catholic Church should do. I just had an experience at a youth conference where I didn’t really feel like a Catholic, I felt more like a Protestant, because there was not one minute of silence during Adoration, and the Emcee kinda worked everyone up into a frenzy afterwards. Wasn’t as great an experience as it should have been.

 

[jwinch2]

More Evangelical? Really? No.

IMHO, that is the last thing the Catholic Church should do. I just had an experience at a youth conference where I didn’t really feel like a Catholic, I felt more like a Protestant, because there was not one minute of silence during Adoration, and the Emcee kinda worked everyone up into a frenzy afterwards. Wasn’t as great an experience as it should have been.

Don’t confuse “evangelical” with what happens in Mass or during Adoration. I thing in this thread the discussion is focused on bringing people to the Church and how we can better do that.

 

[Jonathan_V]

I don’t think you understood me. My experience in Adoration and afterwards (I never said anything about Mass) was that it didn’t feel as Catholic as it should feel.

During Adoration, there wasn’t any period of silence where you could sit and listen for Jesus to speak to you. (This wasn’t my major gripe, and I’m not trying to make Adoration look Evangelical or whatever. It just did not feel as Catholic as it should have been.) After they had processed out, the Emcee basically shoved his own type of worship down our throats telling us to yell out whatever we were thinking at the moment, and by not giving us time to be by ourselves with Jesus. In other words, there was too much noise.

We can bring people into the Church by showing them what Catholicism is all about, not making Catholicism look more Evangelical or Protestant or whatever. You do need to have a common ground that both parties can relate to, but it can’t be your religion.

 

[jwinch2]

We can bring people into the Church by showing them what Catholicism is all about, not making Catholicism look more Evangelical or Protestant or whatever. You do need to have a common ground that both parties can relate to, but it can’t be your religion.

I did understand you and I agree with the statement I quoted from yours 100%. I would never suggest that we make Catholicism look more protestant or evangelical although there is a valid evangelical tradition in the Church. I think we the point of the thread was more in line with the “New Evangelization” and what methods we can use to better bring people to the Faith and spread the Good News. This is something our Protestant brethren are quite good at, particularly the role of the laity in the process of evangelization, and there are definitely lessons which we could learn and utilize within the faith tradition of the Catholic Church to better spread our message of God’s truth.

 

[Monica4316]

Just give them opportunities to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist, at Adoration, make the Mass beautiful and moving and where people know they’re there to worship God… no need to make anything more casual, even if that brings in more numbers, it’s not about the numbers but about how deep a person’s conversion is. Also there is great need of catechesis and explanation of the Catholic traditions so people would see how deep Catholicism is and why the teachings are as they are. Also, show Christ in our actions, show His love to everyone.

God bless

 

[fred_conty]

Hi Jwich2,
Above you said:
what methods we can use to better bring people to the Faith and spread the Good News. This is something our Protestant brethren are quite good at,​

What methods are those they are using?

 

[jwinch2]

Hi Jwich2,
Above you said:
what methods we can use to better bring people to the Faith and spread the Good News. This is something our Protestant brethren are quite good at,​

What methods are those they are using?

Hi!

The PDF I attached above does a good job of discussing some of those issues. I recommend checking it out. Its only a few pages long but contains some good info on the subject.