Parish evangelization: Step One

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PeterJohn

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Id like to hear any ideas no matter how basic on how to evangelize our own parishes(which is where we are supposed to sart) please feel free to add onto someone else’s ideas.
 
I’ll start lol.

A bible study for strenthening the root of catholic beliefs for 16-40 year olds.
 
Invite a neighbor to join you to go to Church, and go out for coffee or something afterwards. I think a lot of people would be willing to go to Church more if they had a friend to go with. It’s because of the lack of community in parishes that keep people out. Stronger and more closer communties have a larger turnout at Mass from what I’ve observed.
 
When you have coffee and donuts after Mass sit at a table where you see a couple sitting alone, or where there are empty chairs and introduce yourself, asking others their names. Then you can get to know them by asking them where they are from, how long they have been in the parish etc.

Sharing something with them about a group you are in and inviting them to it can help…or even where in another parish they are soon to be presenting a Catholic Bible Study and those interested can call that parish office and register and ask questions. (In my area not every parish organizes and plans for a Bible Study.)
 
Here in Spain, there is a great need for evangelisation. But where to begin? I am so interested in these ideas!!! I would suggest a bible meeting for those who attend the Holy Mass. After that, maybe invite speakers, such as Michael Voris to our Parish. He is such a good speaker and he knows so much about Catholicism.
 
Is your opinion of the way to fill the seats at a bible study, a buddy system?
 
A good first step would honestly be anything that gets parishoners to think that being Christian in the Catholic Faith is more than spending an hour at Mass. The evangelical megachurches have much success with small groups - and these are usually Bible Studies of a sort but directed towards a specific goal like understanding fatherhood, or keeping chastity or avoiding defilement in the world or trusting God. Whatever activity can be done that’s focused on the Teaching even if not explicitly so like a history lesson can only help. Focusing on Spirituality also helps. I will tell you that our heaviest-attended events at my college Newman Center were the informal prayer circles that met up pretty often - usually once a day and during Finals up to four times a day.

Also food helps attendance always. But that’s group events.

Evangelization has to start with at least one person. It doesn’t have to be formal - just get the permission of your priest if you’re doing anything that may be construed as trying to take authority. I’ve actually been wanting to start a lay apostolate for busy people - the spirituality is very individual (prayers you say at work, things you do by yourself) but realize that without a social component the apostolate is just a bunch of us hanging out on the internet for more time.
 
They key is small groups I believe in any chuch. I came from a very large Methodist church and unless you found a small group or activity you could be lost as well, just like larger parishes. Of course we always had coffee and doughnuts but otherwise it was the people who got involved that got to know each other and inviting friends is key. One blessing of my new Church and parish is an amazing RCIA program with an incredible Deacon dedicated to our group. We are truly a family and parishioners come just to hang out waiting to see if anyone needs a sponsor or to help out in any way. It is really impressive and I plan to be one of those parishioners that gives back by helping out the program next year. So we have our own small group as we enter the Church which was better than I could have hoped for. Also attending Morning Mass in our parish is its own informal small group- it is the same crowd most mornings and they were wonderful to me as I went through RCIA and they would seem me there- I stay for Rosary too which has helped me get to know people. But I think the key is really to invite others to these activities because it is typically the same people who attend these things and my Catholic parish is no different in that respect than my former Methodist church.
 
PeterJohn said:
Id like to hear any ideas no matter how basic on how to evangelize our own parishes(which is where we are supposed to sart) please feel free to add onto someone else’s ideas.
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I think one of the first steps is to make sure you have a strongly cathecized parish. I have found that the more people actually know about their faith the more passionate they become and the more willing they are to share it. Bible studies are good but I would also add that you can put pamphlets up for people to take and read. Near the pamphlet rack put a “What do you want to learn about?” form and have people write in topics that they are curious about so that you can find pamphlets that directly addresses those issues.

I know of some free pamphlets sites if anyone wants them. Just shoot me a PM.

Also, this website might help…

fatherpeffley.org/docs/30Ways.pdf
 
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