Suggestions for evangelisation

[Bob_Crowley]

I was wondering if anybody here had suggestions regarding local evangelisation. I’m asking for two reasons - the first is that I’m a member of the local St. Vincent de Paul conference. As we visit people, I become convinced a lot of them are going nowhere if they don’t get to know Christ. And in any case, most of them are not Christians, with all the risks of eternal judgment that entails.

The other item is that it’s obvious that some of these people are lonely, and they have limited resources to do much about it. It seems there’s an opening for cheap social events organised around the church.

Has anybody here had any experience with local evangelisation from a Catholic perspective? Secondly how do you get them to stay when for example a Protestant Church down the road might offer far more seeker friendly and sociable programs? I stay because I believe - there are times though when I get a bit fed up with the poor homilies, lack of musical effort, and so on.

Any suggestions from a mainly Catholic viewpoint?

 

[rep140]

There is a book, “Reclaim the Fire”, that offers suggestions on evangelization. It addresses this as a parish effort, but does have suggestions that an individual can also use. If you go to Amazon you can probably find it. The ISBN number is978-0-87946-315-3.

Regarding keeping people interested in the Mass I think it important that you emphasize that it is a spiritual experience that is meant to transcend what we have here on earth. It is not entertainment. Our current pastor means well, but often I feel like he is a master of ceremonies and not leading us in prayer. I don’t know how to tell him this.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

There is a book, “Reclaim the Fire”, that offers suggestions on evangelization. It addresses this as a parish effort, but does have suggestions that an individual can also use. If you go to Amazon you can probably find it. The ISBN number is978-0-87946-315-3.

Regarding keeping people interested in the Mass I think it important that you emphasize that it is a spiritual experience that is meant to transcend what we have here on earth. It is not entertainment. Our current pastor means well, but often I feel like he is a master of ceremonies and not leading us in prayer. I don’t know how to tell him this.

I might see if I can get the book from a local Catholic bookstore.

It’s not so much a case of “keeping” the people interested in the mass, as about getting them interested in Christ and the Church in the first place. The sort of people I’m talking about may have had no exposure to the Church whatsoever, other than the building they pass down the street.

Thanks for your suggestion though.