(source: pewforum.org) The Catholic Church has a mass attendance problem–some would say a crisis. Less than a quarter of Catholics in the United States attend Mass on a weekly basis. The question I have is: how do we go about fixing the problem? And further, is what we’re doing now working? In general, it…
Evangelizing Ministry
Evangelization and Social Justice: You Can’t Have One Without the Other
I dream of a “missionary option”, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation. Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 27 Yesterday, inspired by the great work…
When Evangelization Feels Like Proselytization, It Probably Is
For many people, “evangelization” is a scary word. It gives them a weird feeling in their stomach and it basically flies in the face of contemporary culture. Many people view evangelization (sharing the message and experience of Jesus Christ) with proselytization (attempts to persuade people to join a religion). As a catechist, teacher, and evangelizer,…
Lectio Divina Meditation: The Mission of the 72
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy, the fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, take some time to integrate this week’s Gospel reading (Luke 10:1-12, 17-20) into your life with this lectio divina meditation about the Mission and Return of the Seventy-two. Follow this four step lectio divina process, taken from Pope Benedict XVI’s Verbum Domini, in your meditation on…
Evangelism Needs Living Saints
My friend Marc Cardaronella just posted a tweet that really got me thinking. He said: The problem with our evangelization is that we don’t have enough living Saints. — Marc Cardaronella (@MCardaronella) April 24, 2013 First, let me say that he is absolutely right. We need more saints who are living saints–people who live saintly…
