In-house Evangelization

[NHInsider]

I would like to generate some discussion of things we as individuals are doing or can do to evangelize/catechize our Catholic brothers and sisters. A frequent, recurring subject in the Apologetics forum is the weak catechesis that often makes nominal Catholics “ripe fruit” for evangelical/pentecostal outreach. And as I said over there,

to be honest, it’s hard to suggest that a person’s soul is in better condition if they’re nominally Catholic and functionally pagan than if they are practicing Pentecostals or Evangelicals.

Pope John Paul II often spoke of this need, particularly in Europe, but I think we are probably all familiar with the problem in our own parishes - people who really don’t know the difference between praying to saints and worshipping them, who really do think they can/must earn their way into heaven, who have their kids baptized but never come to Mass, etc. We can’t expect our dwindling number of priests and religious to develop new programs and new outreaches. So what can we do? What are you doing? Can we share with each other?

(note - I debated whether to put this here or in Apologetics, and if the Moderators think it’s in the wrong place I’ll certainly understand if it gets moved).

 

[Canto]

May I start singing Handle’s Hallelujah chorus! This is so very, very important

The way I truly learnt about Catholicism was trawling throught the various apologetics pages on the internet. I have always been Catholic but in terms of truly understanding things the internet was massive help.

A pipe dream I probably don’t have the time or abilitiy but am trying none the less is to create the following site

Part 1 covers apologetics. The Immaculate Conception for example is defined in the gist and then support from scripture and fathers is given and explained. Than all the objections no matter how silly are explained away.

Part 2 has things like abortion, contraception the body etc and explains the gist of Church teaching, how it is science and common sense and love based and is NOT restrictive and just some old Pope guy telling us what to do with ‘our’ bodies.

Part 3 Takes Bible verses used against the Church (i.e. Christ’s condemnation of tradition) and explained in the Catholic way.

Part 4 Dispels common myths like the inquisition, Church is anti science, has zillions of dollars, opresses women, thought etc and how the Church is vital in the world and can save us from the madness of life and bring some sweet repose.

Part 5 Most importantly deals with the Mass/Eucharist. If you understand the Eucharist how could you ever leave the Church. And for Mass go-ers chant and incesne and facing east and the power of the OF.

Part 6 a decent Bible translation

I think that’s it. I know we have the CCC which is GREAT and the ye old Douay Rhehims, but a free one stop shop where people can learn what the Catholic Church ACTUALLY believes without all the mumbo jumbo.

 

[Tepeyac]

I think one of the reasons Catholics can be “ripe fruit” for evangelicals, etc. is that so many don’t make the connection between what Christians believe and what Catholics do. What I mean is, a lot of times former Catholics will say things like, “When I was a Catholic I didn’t get any Bible, now at this church they’re focused on the Bible” even thought the Mass is full of Bible quotations, paraphrases, etc. plus the readings. Or they’ll say that they now have a personal relationship with Jesus but it never seemes to occur to people that’s what Holy Communion and things like the Sacred Heart are. So I guess one strategy is to somehow make people realize that all the stuff they’re looking for elsewhere was right here all along hidden in plain sight. What exactly that strategy is, I’m not sure yet .

 

[NHInsider]

May I start singing Handle’s Hallelujah chorus! This is so very, very important

The way I truly learnt about Catholicism was trawling throught the various apologetics pages on the internet. I have always been Catholic but in terms of truly understanding things the internet was massive help.

-snip for length-

I think that’s it. I know we have the CCC which is GREAT and the ye old Douay Rhehims, but a free one stop shop where people can learn what the Catholic Church ACTUALLY believes without all the mumbo jumbo.

I think this is a great idea, particularly useful for my kids’ generation. The trouble of course is the old “on the Internet, no one knows you’re a dog.” There are already many apologetics sites and many anti-Catholic sites, and no way for the beginning seeker to know what’s real and what’s fake and what’s weak . . .

I think one of the reasons Catholics can be “ripe fruit” for evangelicals, etc. is that so many don’t make the connection between what Christians believe and what Catholics do. What I mean is, a lot of times former Catholics will say things like, “When I was a Catholic I didn’t get any Bible, now at this church they’re focused on the Bible” even thought the Mass is full of Bible quotations, paraphrases, etc. plus the readings. Or they’ll say that they now have a personal relationship with Jesus but it never seemes to occur to people that’s what Holy Communion and things like the Sacred Heart are. So I guess one strategy is to somehow make people realize that all the stuff they’re looking for elsewhere was right here all along hidden in plain sight. What exactly that strategy is, I’m not sure yet .

Yes, this is absolutely true. How do we reach those people? How do we capture their interests and feed them as Jesus commanded so that they are able to respond to the sheep-stealers and to properly catechize their kids?

 

[kvw]

I would like to generate some discussion of things we as individuals are doing or can do to evangelize/catechize our Catholic brothers and sisters.

Lately I have been buying and donating apologetics CDs, as well as some Catholic children’s, teens’ and adult religious books. Other parishioners are donating their materials too. Some of them are now in the lending library at the church, and the rest of the CDs have been put at church store in a CD cardboard display case. It will take some time, I think, for parishioners to discover these resources, and even longer for us to hear feedback. Our next challenge is getting the word out that these resources are available, probably primarily through church bulletin announcements and word of mouth.

The Catholic Society of Evangelists has CDs for $1 apiece: www.catholic-soe.org/order.html. St. Joseph’s Communications has some CDs for $3 apiece: www.saintjoe.com/departments.asp?dept=47. The Mary Foundation has CDs for free: secure.catholicity.com/cds/.

I am eager to hear what others are doing to evangelize.

 

[NHInsider]

Great sources, thanks! I’m thinking that I’m going to meet with the Evangelization Director at my parish just to chat and see what she’s thinking and whether there is a place for me there, and/or to tell her that I’m feeling I should do something in this area.

I’m teaching Confirmation this year but I’m not at all sure that it is where God wants me.

 

[BRZ]

Hey NH, glad to see you started this thread but I don’t see many ideas as of yet which is unfortunate. I have been seriously thinking about this exact same problem. I think websites are great but it isn’t enough. There is no guarantee that people will go to those websites. I think people need a more hands on and personal approach. It is truly a shame that so few Catholics are educated the way they should be. I am a teacher and I think the best way to get the knowledge out there is by teaching. So what exactly do I mean? Well…

This is rather difficult and I have only begun thinking on how it could be implemented or if it would be possible at all given how difficult it is in these days to find enough help, money and time. I think we need to have classes, sort of like RCIA but for those who are Catholics. Something more advanced, something where people can get the answers they need, talk about the things they are confused about and also generally build some sort of community togetherness that may be lacking. Unfortunately this task seems monumental in implementation. I was sort of thinking about how for example there are lay orders, such as the Knights of Columbus, who help people and such. What if we could start a lay organization that basically taught Catholics what it means to be Catholic? Perhaps this is just idealism but it is something to seriously think about. Perhaps we could discuss the idea further with like minded individuals.

 

[jwatza]

We have Catholic Bible studies at our parish. I am currently using the Great Adventure Bible study program for teens by Jeff Cavins company called T3 (Teen Timline). It is an excellent program and easy to facilitate because the meat of it are talks given on dvd which are very engaging to teens. It teaches the 14 narrative books in the Bible, relating the Bible story from beginning to end and is full of connecting things in Scripture with what’s going on in the Mass…I am learning right along with the teens.

Our Deacon is running an adult Bible study by Fr. Mitch Pacwa.

With our past pastor, the parish offered a 4 night basic Catholic teaching class for new members of the parish.

 

[NHInsider]

We have Catholic Bible studies at our parish. I am currently using the Great Adventure Bible study program for teens by Jeff Cavins company called T3 (Teen Timline). It is an excellent program and easy to facilitate because the meat of it are talks given on dvd which are very engaging to teens. It teaches the 14 narrative books in the Bible, relating the Bible story from beginning to end and is full of connecting things in Scripture with what’s going on in the Mass…I am learning right along with the teens.

Our Deacon is running an adult Bible study by Fr. Mitch Pacwa.

With our past pastor, the parish offered a 4 night basic Catholic teaching class for new members of the parish.

All great ideas. I’m pulling stuff together and I’m planning to make an appointment to meet with the Director of Evangelization at our parish. (I think the fact that her title has recently been upgraded to that is an indication that the Pastor is serious about this.) I know that “who facilitates” is always an issue (we used to have 3 resident priests here for this 5-town parish, now we have a pastor who has retired from being a school principal and a rotating rota of weekend assistants). I’m capable but I’m only one person. So I like the idea of some of these programs that have speakers on dvd or other such, so volunteers who are willing but not sure of their own teaching ability might be able to lead. . .

I’ve been teaching Confirmation classes and I love teenagers, but I’m acutely aware that of the dozen kids I’m meeting with every other week, only 3 or 4 are practicing their faith. Their parents drive them to class but won’t take them to Mass. At best I hope I’m planting seeds that will bear fruit years from now.

Personally I don’t believe in Confirming 15 year olds anyway. Either give Confirmation with baptism like the Orthodox do or make it a truly adult sacrament. These kids haven’t yet gone through the developmental stage of questioning their upbringing and configuring their own personae. A few of the older ones are beginning to, they ask real questions and are engaged in discussion. The others are just marking time.

But I digress. . . .

 

[ComingHome6]

How about utilizing your church bulletin (with your Pastor’s approval, of course)? A short beginning apologetics article could be placed in each week’s bulletin. It’s already being produced and distributed, so there would be no additional cost involved. Just a thought…

 

[NHInsider]

Actually our Pastor writes such a column (as did our previous Pastor, and I used to fill in for him occasionally when he was away). I do think it’s effective as pretty much everyone reads the bulletin - if they’re coming to Mass.

I’m wondering about catechesis of parents tied to baptism and first communion? Although I hate the coercion factor.

I’d love to do a series of open meetings that might attract both active and inactive Catholics and possibly seekers as well. Something that would not require a commitment of either the “every Thursday Bible Study” type or the “joining a program” type (eg RCIA/Remembering Church) but might be a lead-in to those thing for some people.

 

[Tepeyac]

Actually our Pastor writes such a column (as did our previous Pastor, and I used to fill in for him occasionally when he was away). I do think it’s effective as pretty much everyone reads the bulletin - if they’re coming to Mass.

A way to reach those who don’t come to Mass is posting the bulletin or column online. Parish websites are underrated for in-house evangelization. They can be used to reach parishioners who are shy or “non-joiners” as well as non-Catholics who are scared of just walking in to church.

I’m wondering about catechesis of parents tied to baptism and first communion? Although I hate the coercion factor.

The coercion factor makes me uncomfortable too. I know parishes want people to take the sacraments seriously but sometimes it can make it seem like jumping through a series of hoops, especially when they insist on stuff like all-day retreats. I think there’s a danger of turning allready nominal Catholics off from even more involvement.

I’d love to do a series of open meetings that might attract both active and inactive Catholics and possibly seekers as well. Something that would not require a commitment of either the “every Thursday Bible Study” type or the “joining a program” type (eg RCIA/Remembering Church) but might be a lead-in to those thing for some people.

I like the idea of open meetings for parents while the kids are in First Communion or Confirmation classes, or monthly or quarterly ones for seekers, maybe even weekly ones if a parish is able.

 

[kvw]

So what can we do? What are you doing? Can we share with each other?

At the website for the publishing arm for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (www.usccbpublishing.org/client/client_pages/bulletininserts.cfm), there are downloadable .pdf versions of parish bulletin inserts. For evangelizing the nominal Catholics and undercatechized, maybe we could use some of this material.

Scroll down to “The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.” Wouldn’t it be great to put these inserts into church bulletins, one installment at a time, prefaced first, maybe, by some kind of an announcement in the first week’s bulletin about what is to come. This Real Presence series would take six weeks of bulletins for the subject matter to be covered. But I understand a large percentage of Catholics don’t believe in the Real Presence, and maybe this could be a great starting point.

Parishes and schools have permission to download, print, and distribute these; all the bishops ask is that they please get feedback, so they can track how their inserts are being used

This website is definitely something I will bring to the attention of someone at my parish.

 

[PJM]

I would like to generate some discussion of things we as individuals are doing or can do to evangelize/catechize our Catholic brothers and sisters. A frequent, recurring subject in the Apologetics forum is the weak catechesis that often makes nominal Catholics “ripe fruit” for evangelical/pentecostal outreach. And as I said over there,

I tried two differnt kinds of programs and could generate almost no interest.

Two things have to happen. Well, I’ll take that back, three things have to happen.

The Holy Spirit must be active within your community.

The pastor and Priest must ENTHUSIASTICALLY support and PROMOTE the program.
Without this, don’t bother. Simple approval is not sufficient.

And a program has to be flexible to meet the specific needs of your community.

 

[kvw]

PJM, I appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut.

 

[PJM]

PJM, I appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut.

I just read something on a different string that I have yet to check out that could be usefull?

GOOGLE “Comming Home Network.”

I’ve heard of them before and forgot. Might be worth checking out?

You may wish to check with your Diociosen Reg. Ed. department too?

Best of luck to you!

Pat

 

[kvw]

Well, I personally helped start the Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Pittsburgh. We sponsor an annual Catholc Men’s Conference, cmfpitt.org/catholicmen2009.aspx
where real conversion of heart takes place every year;

we help form and facilitate Men’s groups at the parishes (where real learning happens). We presently have over 60 active groups in the diocese cmfpitt.org/active-groups.aspx . Some groups follow a lesson plan from a book called Signposts amazon.com/Signposts-How-…2421588&sr=1-1 and others are on a more liturgically based plan. The Sunday readings and a brief talk and questions are posted each week at channel #1 cmfpitt.org/podcast.aspx ;

we maintain a significant on-line database of great Catholic speakers, at channel #2
cmfpitt.org/podcast.aspx

and we sponsor the Men’s Battle initiative, helping men to overcome the temptations all to present in our culture. cmfpitt.org/integritychallenge.aspx

We have over 2000 men in the diocese meeting regularly (weekly or bi-weekly) to learn about their faith and help each other stay faithful. We are seeing an annual growth of about 10%. We hope that in 5 years, each of the 217 parishes in the diocese has an active Men’s fellowship group meeting regularly. These men mobilze their faith as a result of this activity and become CCD teachers, EMHCs, lectors, community volunteers, etc.; all with a sense of doing so from a desire for “holiness”.

If the husbands and fathers are not well catechised and motivated in there faith, studies show there is little chance the family will be.

We are affiliated with the National Fellowship of Catholic Men:

nfcmusa.org/

which maintains contact with almost 200 similar groups in diocese around the country.

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Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum

This sounds wonderful! I am eager to check out these websites and resources.