Approaches to Evangelization2011 Clergy Conference

Opportunities for Evangelization

Evangelization, then, has different implications depending on our relationship to Jesus and his Church. For those of us who practice and live our Catholic

faith, it is a call to ongoing growth and renewed conversion.

For those who have accepted it only in name, it is a call to re-evangelization.

For those who have stopped practicing their faith, it is a call to reconciliation.

Opportunities for Evangelization

For children, it is a call to be formed into disciples through the family's faith life and religious education.

For other Christians, it is an invitation to know the fullness of our message.

For those who have no faith, it is a call to conversion to know Christ Jesus and thus experience a change to new life with Christ and his Church.

(Go and Make Disciples, U.S. Catholic Bishops) 

Four-Scenario Faith Formation & Evangelization

Scenario 4 Uncommitte

d & Participating

Scenario 1 Vibrant Faith

& Active Engagement

Scenario 3 Unaffiliated

& Uninterested

Scenario 2 Spiritual but

Not Religious

Opportunities for Evangelization1. Through Faith Formation:

Whole Community & Intergenerational Faith Formation Family Faith Formation

2. Through Sacraments, Milestones, & Rites of Passage3. Through Sunday Worship4. Through the Use of Digital & Web 2.0 Technologies 5. Through Targeted Initiatives

Evangelization with the “Spiritual but Not Religious” & the “Unaffiliated and Uninterested”

Evangelization with the “Participating Occasionally but Not Spiritually Committed”

Empowering People of Vibrant Faith to Share their Faith with Others

Presentations1. Intergenerational/Whole Community Evangelization

& Faith FormationParish Presentation: Sacred Heart, Southbury Parish Presentation: St. Mark, West Hartford

2. Family Evangelization & Faith FormationParish Presentation: Assumption, Woodbridge

3. Evangelization & Faith Formation with Hispanic Communities

Parish Presentation: St. Rose, Meriden4. Evangelization & Faith Formation using Web

Technologies Parish Presentation: St. Peter Claver, West Hartford

Think in the Four-Scenarios

Scenario 4 Uncommitte

d & Participating

Scenario 1 Vibrant Faith

& Active Engagement

Scenario 3 Unaffiliated

& Uninterested

Scenario 2 Spiritual but

Not Religious

Empowering the Community to Share their Faith

Evangelization is…

 “The heart of evangelism is having an alive relationship with God, being part of a church you love, and caring that people outside the

church find what you’ve discovered.”(Martha Grace Reese)

Empowering the Community to Share their Faith

Step One. Church Leader’s Study: Unbinding the Gospel

Step Two: All-Church Saturation Study: Unbinding Your Heart: 40 Days of Prayer & Faith Sharing. 1. six-week, small group program2. pray each day’s scripture and prayer exercise and

work with a prayer partner3. study a chapter of the book with their small

group4. worship with sermons, music, and prayers

centered on the week’s chapter

Empowering the Community to Share their Faith

Step Three: An Experiment in Prayer and Community: Unbinding Your Soul. 1. a no-obligation experience of substantial spiritual

discussion, prayer and community for people who aren’t connected with a church

2. each church member invites 1 friend/family member into a four-week small group experience with short study chapters, an individual prayer journal, prayer partner activities, and group exercises

3. each church members invites their friend/family member to participate in church life (Sunday worship, programs, etc.)

Evangelization & Sunday Worship

Extend Worship into Everyday Life

Share ItBlog/ForumAfter Mass

In ProgramsFamily Conversation Activity

Study ItTaking Faith Home Insert

Homily Video + Study GuideDaily Readings

Scripture Commentaries Online Bible Study

Live ItLiving the Message DailyLiving Christian Practices

Service Ideas for the Week

Pray ItWeekly Table Prayer

Praying with the SaintsAM & PM Prayer

Sunday Worship

Extend Worship into Everyday Life

Sunday Worship

Everyday Life

Creating Pathways for Spiritual Growth

Christianity 101

Introduction Dinner: Is there more to life than this?1. Week 1: Who is Jesus?2. Week 2: Why did Jesus die?3. Week 3: How can we have faith?4. Week 4: Why and how do I pray?5. Week 5: Why and how should I read the Bible?6. Week 6: How does God guide us?7. Week 7: How can I resist evil?8. Week 8: Why & how should we tell others?9. Week 9: Does God heal today?10. Week 10: What about the Church?11. Weekend: Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit

do? How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can I make the most of the rest of my life?

Christianity 101

Catholicism 101Our Lady of Soledad Catholic Parish

Mini-Retreat 101: “Catholics Alive!” “What does it mean to be a follower of Christ?”

Mini-Retreat 201: “Alive and Growing Spiritually!” maturing in the Catholic faith

Mini-Retreat 301: “Alive and Gifted!”discerning how to serve God in ministry

Mini-Retreat 401: “Alive in the World!” living as witnesses for Christ, as contagious Catholic Christians

Mini-Retreat 501: “Alive to Praise God!” Catholic worship and the sacraments

Catholicism 1011. Spirituality: What’s the

Buzz?2. Who is Jesus?3. Do We Need the Spirit?4. Can I Accept God’s Mercy?5. Can Mass Make My Life

Meaningful?6. The Church and Me

Paulist Evangelization

Ministries

Catholicism 101

Sacraments

Baptism Process

Faith Formation

with Parents before

Baptism

Preparation for and

Celebration of Baptism

Faith Formation

After Celebration of Baptism

Baptism

Mentors

Faith Practices @ Home

Prayer, Rituals, Bible, Family Conversation,

Service

Parent Faith Formation &

Parenting Skills

Workshops CoursesOnline ResourcesSupport Groups

MilestonesBaptism Anniversary, First Prayers, Start of

School

Family Learning Programs

Church GatheringsSmall GroupsWorkshops

Parent/Family Online Resource Center

Families in the First Decade of Life

Family Faith Formation

Apps

Eucharist Process

Early Childhood

Faith Formation

Preparation for & Celebration of Eucharist

- Home & Parish- Parent Faith Formation

Faith Formation

after Sacramental Celebrations

Marriage Process

Faith Formation

Before Marriage

Preparation for and

Celebration of Marriage

Faith Formation

After Celebration of Marriage

Marriage

Mentors

Faith Practices

Prayer, Rituals, Bible Reading, Service, Faith

Conversations

Continuing Formation

Theology, Scripture, Spirituality

Married Life Tasks & Issues

Courses, Workshops, Online Resources

Support Groups

Quarterly Couple Gatherings

Newly Married Couples

For Your Marriage

Example: Young Adult Faith Formation

Young Adult Faith

Formation

Small Group

Studies

Weekly Gathering & Worship

Life Issues Workshops &

Online Resources

Prayer & Spiritual Practices (online,

small groups, retreats)

Justice & Service

Projects (local and global)Online

Courses

Online Audio &

Video Programs

Third Place Café

Alpha Course

Cross-generational Experiences

(worship, service,

mentoring)

Social Network & Blog

Example: Adult Faith Formation

Adult Faith

Formation

Online Course

s Audio & Video

Programs

Books & Book Clubs

Life Transitio

ns

Prayer &

Spiritual

Practices

Justice &

Service

Small Group Studie

s

Life Tasks

& Issues

Extended Learning Program

s

Faith in Art Tours

iTunes U

Online Courses

American Bible Society

Sunday ConnectionLoyola Press

YouVersion Bible App

Bible Study, Small Groups

Service & Mission Local and global

“Developmental” with increasing depth and scope:1. introduction: several hours to a full day2. short term: multi-day and local3. weeklong and national mission trips4. global expedition of one or more weeks