Evangelization in 2013

               Typically, I try not to copy the ideas and thoughts of other bloggers but today, I am making an exception.  In August, I heard Indianapolis Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Coyne preach and I have been following his blog – Let’s Walk Together, Thoughts of a Catholic Bishop - since.  He usually posts something very timely once a week. On his last post, he offers 25 suggestions for actions that we might consider if we are serious about evangelizing in 2013. 

               Originally, I was going to blog about five of the options that really spoke to me. I can't choose five!  There are so many great suggestions, that all of them are listed below. I think my favorite is “to talk about Jesus Christ and my faith to someone at least once a day”.   If you want to read his entire post, click on http://thoughtsofacatholicbishop.blogspot.com/. 

Quote from "Thought of a Catholic Bishop" Blog 

As a Catholic Christian committed to the Church and the work of the new evangelization, I resolve with the love of Christ in my heart and the guidance of the Holy Spirit:

- to strive to grow in my love for the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church everyday.

- to be someone who seeks opportunities to invite others to faith in Jesus Christ and then seizes those opportunities when they come.

- to try and talk about Jesus Christ and my faith to someone at least once a day.

- to strive to live as someone who seeks to love God with all my heart, with all my mind, and with all my soul and to love my neighbor as I would seek to be loved.

- everyday to wake up in the morning, put my feet on the floor, and before I stand up, bow my head in praise to God for all that he has done for me. 

- everyday as I prepare for bed, to sit or kneel at my bedside and thank God for the blessings of the day and seek His forgiveness for any of my human transgressions. 

- to attend Sunday Mass every week, arriving at least 15 minutes before Mass starts so I can properly prepare myself to listen to the Word of God and celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

- every time I eat, regardless of where I am, to give thanks to God for the food I am about to receive.

- to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession and Reconciliation at least once a month or more as needed.

- to meditate on the daily Mass readings. 

- to pray the Rosary once a day.

- to be someone who seeks to judge less and understand more.

- to remember that,"It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into the doing that matters." (Blessed Mother Teresa) 

 - to balance the way I talk about the Church. If I have to complain about something I do not agree with or like about the Church, I will remember to say something about what I love about the Church, especially around others who may not believe as I do.

- to chose one night per week in which I will not watch TV, use my computer, play on my phone, laptop, or tablet, text, tweet, or FB or anything like that. Instead, I will become involved: involved with my church, a charity, a neighbor, whatever the opportunity and the desire leads me. 

- to "tithe" some part of myself (time, treasure, and talent) to furthering God's kingdom in this world.

- to meditate seriously on the Corporal Works of Mercy and the Spiritual Works of Mercy and to strive to live them.

- to be meek but not "milquetoast."

- to comfort those who mourn.

- to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

- to be pure of heart in thought, word, and deed.

- to be merciful.

- to be a peacemaker but to also be courageous.

- to be righteous before God and others.

I resolve to be a child of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

Confidence in God

               My husband and I had the opportunity to hear Donald Cardinal Wuerl speak at the Catholic Information Center on Monday night.  He recently arrived back in Washington after three weeks in Rome at the Synod on the New Evangelization[i].  This morning, I am hanging on to his words about being confident in God as I recover from the election results.

               He spoke about confidence being one of three missing elements that are identified necessary to the spread of the faith and the success of the New Evangelization.  First some background.  Cardinal Wuerl said this Synod was very pastoral.  In other words, the discussions focused on practical actions that Bishops can take to implement the New Evangelization.  He also mentioned that the bishops are united in recognizing the challenges and that the meetings were very positive.  By positive he explained that it seems as if a new Pentecost is sweeping the world wide church.

              The three elements that identified as being necessary for the success of reproposing the Gospel are: recognizing the need for renewal of our faith, confidence in the truth of the message and willingness to share it with others.

              The first element, also described at the kerygma, is the ability for individuals to know and believe in the proclamation that Christ was born, lived on this earth, died, rose again and was seen by many, ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to be with us.  That Christ’s life described in scripture is not just some story, but details the events that happened to Him.

   

            Confidence is the second element that is necessary for the New Evangelization.  We must be confident in God’s providence. We must know the Gospel message is true and believe in it.  Belief in the kerygma determines how we live our life. On days when we don’t understand what is happening in the world, we recognize that God is in control.  Our confidence in the truth provides the essential foundation for the next element.

            

             The third element is that Catholics need to be willing to share their faith in all situations.  While “are you born again” is not our tag line, the example of Evangelicals asking this of total strangers is an action to emulate.  To be bold about our belief and to lovingly be able to share the teachings of the church with friends, family, co-workers and strangers is the essence of the New Evangelization. Sometimes we share in words, but we also share in our life style and our actions.

             

            On this day, when I feel bruised and battered, I can find hope in having confidence that our great and mighty Triune God is in control. Now, with whom should I share the message!

---

[i] In finding a definition for the New Evangelization, I prefer to use the word that Pope Benedict XVI applied to the process.  He says we are to “repropose” the Gospel to others.  This whole process begins, however, with a deepening of our own faith and then, as a result of all of this, the desire to share the faith with others.  From Cardinal Wuerl’s blog - http://cardinalsblog.adw.org/2012/03/the-new-evangelization-in-brief/

Turning our Minds to Heavenly Things

                On this second day of the Year of Faith, I’m feeling a like a have a double hangover.  Yesterday, I spent much of the day reading about the year of faith, attended mass and a Holy Hour and have many thoughts buzzing through my brain.  I also spent time, into the wee hours of the morning, watching play-off baseball.  Various members of my family are Nationals, Orioles and Tigers fans.  Each team was facing elimination from the play offs if they didn’t win.  All three teams won, in dramatic fashion.

               

               So in this prayful-baseball haze, I try to make some sense of the potential for the Year of Faith and of the experiences of yesterday.  I have been personally excited about this Year of Faith since Pope Benedict declared it a year ago. I wonder, what can this year mean for me?  For my family?  For those around me? Pope John XIII, who convened the Second Vatican Council, said that the Council was to “turn our minds to heavenly things”.

                In his homily on Oct 11th, Our Holy Father Pope Benedict said that “the Church proposed a new Year of Faith and a new evangelization, . . . because there is more need of it, even more than there was fifty years ago”.  He defined the Year of Faith as a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world” (Porta Fidei 6). In other words, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him. The “door of faith” is opened at one’s baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church.

                The priest who preached at the holy hour spoke of life as a pilgrim on a journey. And, that like pilgrims, we can’t go alone.  He remarked that by reaching out to others during this year of faith, we can have a profound effect on our culture.  As we try more clearly to “see the light”, we can help others also find it.

                At mass, the priest described the Year of Faith as a time to fall in love with God all over again, or for the first time. It is a time to return, renew, discover, learn and deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ.

                With so many ideas and thoughts surging through my mind, I do think that Blessed Pope John XXIII said it simply.  This year is a time for us to turn our thoughts to heavenly things, as we let go and stop grasping for the material wealth of this world.

An Unexpected Oasis

I spent this past week in an oasis of Catholic goodness with individuals who are inspired to use their written talents to evangelize.  I have returned to life refreshed in multiple dimensions with a clearer perspective on several aspects of my life.  I nearly cancelled my plans to travel to Dallas to attend the Catholic Writers Conference on Sunday.  Why was I flying to this conference in spite of my too many obligations and the sudden news last week that my husband will be unemployed at the end of September?  Can I even call myself a writer? I didn’t have answers, yet boarded the plane on Monday evening.

My “writing” career began three years ago this month.  Ideas for several short stories had been bubbling in my brain and I began to write them.  It took me four months to finish the first and three weeks to finish the seventh.  I took classes at The Writers Center in Bethesda, MD to improve my writing.  In addition to the stories, I’ve written a series of memoir essays and began this blog a year ago.  All of my writing features the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church.  So I would call myself a Catholic Writer!  

I encountered liturgy that woke up my mind and my soul, authors who shared their struggles and persevered to become successful, sessions that provided very practical advice on writing, publishing, marketing and encouragement that came in so many different directions.  We were told to “be not afraid” as we share our faith with believers and non-believers. And to give our gift of writing back to the Lord, it is His plan, after all!

Jeff Cavins spoke about the New Evangelization and his new program called Walking Toward Eternity.  Catholic Radio personality Teresa Tomeo shared her experience as an author and as someone who interviews authors. 

I was touched by homilies by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR, co-founder of the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and by Bishop Christopher Coyne of Indianapolis. 

Restless Heart, a new film about St. Augustine was screened during the show.  Country singer Collin Raye sang and shared his story.  I met fellow lay Dominicans, have many new friends from around the country and spent time with the Lord in Adoration.  And we prayed, at the beginning of every session, sometimes at the end of the session.

That convention center, being baked by 100 degree temperatures, surrounded by Six Flags, Rangers Stadium and Texas Stadium was a cool place of refreshment this past week.  I’m still not quite sure why I boarded that plane, but I am glad that I did.

Are you are a Catholic writer? You should join us next year.