Where did we go wrong?

[edwest2]

I encourage all of you to be solution oriented.

Mother Mary Teresa Tallon began the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate in 1920.

Frank Duff of Ireland who started the Legion of Mary “… whose mission was to help laypeople fulfill their baptismal promises and be able to live their love for Christ and his Church in an organized structure, supported by prayer and fellowship.” This in 1921.

And here is the more recent work of Stella Marie Jeffrey who seves as the director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Fargo, N. D. "She began visiting homes in the early 1990s when then Bishop James Sullivan organized a diocesan program called Open Doors and Hearts. The goal of the program, Jeffrey told OSV, was to have every home of a registered Catholic visited.

Did you know there is a Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association?

Or Sister Alff, “coordinator of parish evangelization at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has led workshops for parish groups interested in evangelizing their neighbors.”

– Source: Our Sunday Visitor newspaper, April 27, 2008.

We are told to encourage one another. We need to talk to each other about the problems and challenges we face living as Catholics in a secular world. We need to get to know the person sitting next to us in Church instead of just getting into our cars and going home after we put in our one hour (or whatever) weekly obligation. We need to be Catholic 7 days a week.

For too long, we have been told by the secular world: “Keep your beliefs to yourself!” For a time, the rallying cry for the pro-abortionists was “Get your beliefs off my body!”

Pope Benedict has stressed that the Good News that we have is meant to be shared with others. But the secular world will browbeat you. They will say, “You Catholics think you’re better than other people!” “You bigots!” “Don’t try to shove your beliefs down my throat!”

Talk to your parish priest. Get his guidance. Pray to God for guidance. Find a way to reach people.

As Mother Teresa said: “If you can’t feed 100 people, feed one.” Don’t go out already thinking that only a few might listen. A few is infinitely better than none. Pray to the Holy Spirit for the spiritual and mental and emotional strength you’ll need.

God bless,
Ed

 

[LilyM]

"ERose:

That is not really a good question here.

It’s a very relevant question. Faith must last us all the way into the next world. No use being a fervent Christian if you fall away after a few years. No use evangelizing if you don’t create lifelong Christians either.

Yes, but St. Francis did not hide that he was Catholic. All people who met him knew that there was something special about this man.

Yes but what came out as being special about him was NOT his Catholicism - most everyone he came across was Catholic like he was, it totally wasn’t an issue even. His main life’s work was in converting nominal or lukewarm Catholics into good Catholics, not in evangelising non-Catholics. His one mission to the Holy Land to convert Muslims was NOT a stirling success, if his failure to convert the Sultan is any indication.

What stood out was his love and practical help for other people and his imitation of Christ in poverty among other things.

I’m not saying start wearing t-shirts everyday or a rosary around your neck, but somewhere they need to know who you are. Remember the parable about a candle covered bears no light.

If you behave well and set a good example, that in itself will lead people to ask (and hopefully ask YOU) what makes you that way, which is when you tell them about your faith. If you didnt do so with your friends it was probably because they weren’t living the life as fully and openly as they should.

And if, not being or seeming any different to anyone else (as it appears they didn’t) they’d told you in so many words that they were Catholic, would their example have inspired you to become Catholic anyway?

 

[edwest2]

No one can know ahead of time, who will remain Catholic. Enough of this defeatist attitude. Read the parable of the sower of the seed. Some fell and the birds of the air ate it, some fell on stony ground and sprouted but having no root, withered, but some fell on good ground and brought forth ten, twenty, a hundred fold.

The farmers who used to sow their fields this way did not know which seeds would grow and which would wither and which would be eaten by birds. The same applies here. No seed sowing and you are guaranteed zero harvest.

God bless,
Ed

 

[whatevergirl]

**Where did we go wrong? When did we stop caring about the salvation of the non-believer? When did we stop evangelizing to the world as whole. Would the Apostles be proud of our current status quo? We forgot something along the way, it seems. Am I wrong? **

You ‘location’ is unusual…what do you mean by that?

 

[whatevergirl]

I think if we look at the US, we can perhaps see the protestants more at work with evangelizing, than its Catholic counterparts…but not so in other parts of the world. We sponsor a young girl from the Philippines, and she writes to us as to how her life has changed from the ministry that brought us together. (I’m paraphrasing) I think that without so much Catholic missionary work (perhaps that is our term for evangelization?) many many people throughout the world wouldn’t have a Bible, or a clue how much Christ loves them, and wants to commune with them.

But, here on American soil, I can see where that is a bit different, although Pope JP2 called for a ‘new evangelization,’ perhaps this just might take time.

 

[ERose]

I encourage all of you to be solution oriented.

Mother Mary Teresa Tallon began the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate in 1920.

Frank Duff of Ireland who started the Legion of Mary “… whose mission was to help laypeople fulfill their baptismal promises and be able to live their love for Christ and his Church in an organized structure, supported by prayer and fellowship.” This in 1921.

And here is the more recent work of Stella Marie Jeffrey who seves as the director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Fargo, N. D. "She began visiting homes in the early 1990s when then Bishop James Sullivan organized a diocesan program called Open Doors and Hearts. The goal of the program, Jeffrey told OSV, was to have every home of a registered Catholic visited.

Did you know there is a Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association?

Or Sister Alff, “coordinator of parish evangelization at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has led workshops for parish groups interested in evangelizing their neighbors.”

– Source: Our Sunday Visitor newspaper, April 27, 2008.

We are told to encourage one another. We need to talk to each other about the problems and challenges we face living as Catholics in a secular world. We need to get to know the person sitting next to us in Church instead of just getting into our cars and going home after we put in our one hour (or whatever) weekly obligation. We need to be Catholic 7 days a week.

For too long, we have been told by the secular world: “Keep your beliefs to yourself!” For a time, the rallying cry for the pro-abortionists was “Get your beliefs off my body!”

Pope Benedict has stressed that the Good News that we have is meant to be shared with others. But the secular world will browbeat you. They will say, “You Catholics think you’re better than other people!” “You bigots!” “Don’t try to shove your beliefs down my throat!”

Talk to your parish priest. Get his guidance. Pray to God for guidance. Find a way to reach people.

As Mother Teresa said: “If you can’t feed 100 people, feed one.” Don’t go out already thinking that only a few might listen. A few is infinitely better than none. Pray to the Holy Spirit for the spiritual and mental and emotional strength you’ll need.

God bless,
Ed

Amen.

 

[ERose]

Yes but what came out as being special about him was NOT his Catholicism - most everyone he came across was Catholic like he was, it totally wasn’t an issue even. His main life’s work was in converting nominal or lukewarm Catholics into good Catholics, not in evangelising non-Catholics. His one mission to the Holy Land to convert Muslims was NOT a stirling success, if his failure to convert the Sultan is any indication.

What stood out was his love and practical help for other people and his imitation of Christ in poverty among other things.?

Yes you are correct it wasn’t his Catholicism is was his Christianity that stood out. St Francis’ life long goal was to be as Christ-like as possible. He did not hide his goal. People knew he was up to something and they went and found out. Thus you have the Fransicians and the Sisters of St. Clare.

If he hid himself and his goal, do you think that he would have gathered so many followers.

Also it is very obvious that God did call him to the lukewarm and the fallen-away, not to actual missionary work as Christ sent others to do such as St. Paul, St. Patrick, etc.

If you behave well and set a good example, that in itself will lead people to ask (and hopefully ask YOU) what makes you that way, which is when you tell them about your faith. If you didnt do so with your friends it was probably because they weren’t living the life as fully and openly as they should.

Or maybe they just assume you are another Baptist or Pentecostal or etc; or just a nice person who gets along well with others.

And if, not being or seeming any different to anyone else (as it appears they didn’t) they’d told you in so many words that they were Catholic, would their example have inspired you to become Catholic anyway?

It worked for the Pentecostals initially so who knows.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Let’s not make quick assumptions about converts.

No one has so far.

 

[donmaximuso27]

No one has so far.

Sorry, when I read your statement, “If you spoke to no Catholic about the Church, how did you come to the Catholic Church? Did God give you a private revelation?”, it just sounded sarcastic, and it had the tone that such a revelation is impossible. But, you can never really know the tone on forums, unless is it extremely obvious. My bad.

 

[guanophore]

We had a mission recently at our church and the priest who was speaking spoke quite directly about how “unfriendly” Catholics can be. Even my wife commented on some of the parishioners’ responses recently when she told them of our recent conversion to the Catholic faith. The replies were sometimes lackadaisical at best. Quite sad, really. Granted, there have been a few enthusiastic replies.

In our former Protestant church, new converts were greeted very enthusiastically and most were genuine.

I’ve also noticed that a lot of parishioners don’t even take off their coats during Mass and some leave immediately after receiving Christ. I think they’ve lost their sense of home within the Church.

We don’t let this discourage us because we are overjoyed simply to be receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord in the Eucharist. I just think its sad that many don’t realize what they have and they don’t seem interested in getting to know their brothers and sisters in the family.

Personally, we are hoping to help in developing a sense of community within our parish. Under the guidance of our rector, we have a small group that is meeting once a month after Sunday Mass to share and discuss particular topics of study. I’m praying that our enthusiasm will be contagious and perhaps we can light a spark to re-ignite the flame in a few others.

I think the key is to diligently pray for God to show us ways that we can be “Jesus” to others and then act on it. It could take weeks, months, or years, but we pray in faith, believing that we have already received it. God is faithful.

I have never encountered any Catholic Evangelism more powerful than EWTN. Really, we need to start by evangelizing the cradle Catholics in our own pews.

The purpose of the leadership is to equip the saints, who are supposed to do the work of the ministry:

Eph 4:11-13
11 And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God

I agree with you that prayer is the best place to start.

 

[crenfro]

**Where did we go wrong? When did we stop caring about the salvation of the non-believer? When did we stop evangelizing to the world as whole. Would the Apostles be proud of our current status quo? We forgot something along the way, it seems. Am I wrong? **

Here’s my 2 cents:

-check Genesis, when Adam & Eve were bounced out of the garden of Eden

-whenever we choose self over love of God and conforming our will to His

-not since Jesus came, might not be happening much in your neighborhood but elsewhere evangelization is full steam ahead

-depends on whose status quo you’re referring to…of course the apostles wouldn’t be pleased with anyone who was indifferent towards our Lord and Savior

-I think you’re somewhat right, but you sound very disillusioned with some of the examples of the Catholic Church you’ve come into contact with…

I guess I’d tell you, since you’re dealing with the part of the Catholic Church which is made up of human beings, therefore the part of the Catholic Church which has feet of clay, you’re going to see awry things in the Catholic Church now and then… which doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong place…

an idea that helps me when I get disillusioned, is from the 12 step programs, and it asks
“DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM OR THE SOLUTION?”

It’s a good question to ask yourself when you’re examining your conscience and struggling to be honest with yourself about your real motives… sure helps me in my struggle to be honest…

I usually leave Mass when everybody else does. People terrify me, I get really nervous when I talk to people in any kind of social setting because I suffered through terrible bullying and rejection for years - not just one experience, but for YEARS- as a child, so I don’t care to socialize after Mass.

Also, I’ve noticed that frequently socializing after Mass is done in cliques, but I do appreciate the occasional “Hello, where the heck have you been, you person you!” by someone who may have done a kindness to me or who I did a kindness for in the past. I’ve also seen socializing done after church, and yes, in a Catholic church, by people who are considering political office, and by some of the younger crowd who are looking for a mate.

When I was in my 20’s and I didn’t know it was wrong to participate in a religious service other than a Catholic one (no one ever told me, and I’ve been through 16 grades of allegedly “Catholic” education!), I remember a lot of socializing going on in this non-Catholic religion I was investigating. I remember this particular young gentleman talking to a group of us young ladies, and somehow the prettiest young lady in our group seemed to have the most interesting and well-thought out dogma. I decided if that’s how this religion worked, it wasn’t for me.

So maybe some of the socializing that appears to be going on isn’t always so well-intentioned…

I do agree with you that there’s a lot of indifference in a lot of the Catholic churches in the U.S. I’ve gone out of Mass with tears streaming down my face and sometimes I’ve thought if my carotid artery was spurting blood in parabolas no one would notice…

I don’t know when or if some or the majority of nominal Catholics in the U.S. will wake up. I do know that pointing a finger and criticizing never motivated me much, but love always did as does a good example.

I also think there’s been something wrong with some of our Catholic leaders in the U.S., and the effect has trickled down over the years. I see evidence of correction in this trend beginning however.

So I guess I’ll quit rambling and tell you to stick with it. At some point, you asking “hello, you person you!” might make a difference to someone coming out from Mass, with tears maybe starting to stream down their face.

Or maybe you need to tell your pastor about it, or, if he’s too busy, the bishop, or, someone in one of the many parish groups.

And don’t forget to discuss this with the Lord. And also, start to read some spiritual books. There are some great ones and plenty to choose from.

I’m so sorry you had to experience disillusionment in a place that ought not to have room for something so sad as that.

And thanks for making me think.

Many blessings.