Evangelisation

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• Evangelisation
• Mission in our Parish

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Evangelisation Mission in our Parish

• What comes to mind when you hear the word
  evangelisation?
• How does this fit in with our parish mission
  statement?

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Evangelisation a Catholic way of life!

• 28 May 2009 Pope Benedict XVI
• the command to evangelize is not just for a few,
  but for all the baptized.
• "pastoral co-responsibility that, in the name of
  Christ, all of us are called to carry out.
• Lay people called to be more than collaborators
  and be 'co-responsible' for the being and action
  of the Church.
• A common responsibility, the common mission
• "the future of Christianity and the Church of
  Rome is also the commitment and the testimony of
  each one of us."
• (http//zenit.org/article-26023?lenglish)

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Evangelii Nuntiandi

• On Evangelisation In The Modern World
• Pope Paul VI
• To encourage fresh efforts to proclaim the Gospel
  to the people of today.

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Why a document on evangelisation?

• The Christian message answers the life questions
  that humanity raises
• The Gospel message is a commission, not an
  optional extra, for the Church.

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Jesus Evangelisation

• Evangelisation is at the heart of Jesus mission
• Jesus evangelises through his incarnation, life,
  teaching, gathering sending of disciples,
  death, resurrection, ascension
• Jesus, the first greatest evangeliser calls
  the Church to its essential mission vocation
  evangelisation by being the channel of the gift
  of grace

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The message of evangelisation includes

• the preaching of the mystery of evil and of the
  active search for good
• the search for God Himself through prayer
• prayers of adoration thanksgiving, communion
  with the Church of Jesus Christ, through
  experiencing Gods grace in the sacraments

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The message of evangelisation takes life into
account

• the unceasing interplay of the Gospel and of
  man's concrete life, both personal and social
• family life without which personal growth and
  development is hardly possible
• about life in society, about international life,
  peace, justice and development

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Life Evangelisation

• Evangelisation does not consist only of preaching
  doctrines
• Evangelisation must touch life
• Life earthly and spiritual
• in this world and the next
• is given a new meaning in light of the Gospel
• and the life of the Christian is empowered by God
  through the sacraments

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Methods of Evangelisation

• witness of an authentically Christian life
  which involves love of God and neighbour.
• Talking to others about Jesus.
• Wholeheartedly accepting being transformed by
  the Good News
• Communion fellowship within the community of
  faith
• Going forth on mission evangelisation

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Opportunities for Evangelisation

• Living in the civilization of the image,
• we should use for the purpose of transmitting
  the Gospel message, the modern means which this
  civilization has produced and other forms of
  communication.
• Using the opportunities of innumerable events in
  life and human situations
• to tell of what the Lord has to say in this or
  that particular circumstance.

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Methods of Evangelisation Using the Mass Media

• See Evangelii Nuntiandi, 45 46
• Use the mass media for the service of the
  Gospel
• It is through them that she proclaims from the
  housetops the message
• a modern and effective version of the pulpit.
• Must be balanced with a person-to-person
  dimension
• which Jesus the apostles themselves used

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Christians Evangelisation

• We must be constantly evangelised ourselves
• The Gospel is vitally important
• for nourishing Christians
• for helping Christians to mature in their faith
• Other Christians
• In this same spirit, we are called to evangelise
  to Christians who are not in full communion
  with us.

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Who then has the mission of evangelising?

• See Evangelii Nuntiandi, 15
• The whole church the People of God
• Each individual Christian (acting in the name of
  the Church)

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Diversity of evangelizing tasks

• See Evangelii Nuntiandi, 70 - 72
• Lay people (EN, 70)
• Families (EN, 71)
• Youth (EN, 72)

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Laity Evangelisation

• Lay people are called to evangelisation
• in conjunction with their priests
• in the service, growth and life of church
  communities
• in the exercise of various ministries according
  to the grace and charisms given by the Lord
• with an openness to prayer (meditation)
• with an openness to ecclesial ministries capable
  of renewing and strengthening the evangelizing
  vigour of the Church

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Preparation for Evangelisation

• It is important to prepare, train and equip
  ourselves properly for evangelisation
• all workers of evangelisation
• those in the ministry of the Word
• Example training in the art of speaking for
  preachers catechists
• Importance of inner work
• especially prayer

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Evangelisation relies on the Holy Spirit, who

• See Evangelii Nuntiandi, 75
• at Pentecost enabled the apostles to evangelise
• explains to the faithful the deep meaning of the
  teaching of Jesus and of His mystery
• acts in every evangelizer who allows himself to
  be possessed and led by Him.

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Evangelisation relies on the Holy Spirit, who

• places on the evangelisers lips the words
  which he could not find by himself
• predisposes the soul of the hearer to be open
  and receptive to the Good News
• without Him the most highly developed forms of
  evangelisation are quickly seen to be quite
  valueless.

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Other obstacles to evangelisation

• Not working together in unity
• Lack of fervour

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Diocesan Mission Statement

• Proclaim
• The Good News of Jesus in our words actions
• Respond personally
• To Gods unique love for each of us
• Love each other
• Live with each other in the love of Jesus

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Diocesan Mission Statement

• Celebrate
• And share our Catholic faith life experience
• Educate
• Our people in our Catholic story and beliefs and
  their implications for our lives

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Diocesan Mission Statement

• Serve
• Each other, the community and all creation in
  justice love
• Seek unity
• With our fellow Christians and meaningful
  dialogue with people of all faiths

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Buzz Session

• Some thoughts to ponder
• Did you learn anything new or surprising?
• What did you agree/disagree with? Why?
• What do you think about evangelisation now?
• Does your parish/ministry have a mission
  statement that reflects the elements of
  evangelisation?