The key note presentation by Fr. John Hurley, CSP at the Catechetical Congress for the Diocese of Rockville Centre at St. John the Baptist High School in West Islip, NY
6. Go therefore, and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And, behold, I am with you always until the end of
the age.
Matthew 28:19-20
I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish
it were already blazing!
Luke 12:49
6
7. We learned that there is a chasm the size of
the Grand Canyon between the Church’s
sophisticated theology of the lay apostolate
and the lived spiritual experience of the
majority of our people.
And this chasm has a name: discipleship
Sherry Weddell
2012, Our Sunday Visitor
7
8. Fishing
We have been at this
all night and have
caught nothing
Same forum, different
fish
Challenges &
Opportunities
9. In our day, what has happened to that hidden
energy of the Good News, which is able to have a
powerful effect on one’s conscience?
To what extent and in what way is that evangelical
force capable of really transforming the people of
this century?
What methods should be followed in order that the
power of the Gospel may have its effect?
9
10. Mission effectiveness is
always at risk in
leadership
The vitality of our
parishes and the
church rests on our
ability to answer the
three questions
11. We wish to confirm once
more that the task of
evangelizing all people
constitutes the essential
mission of the Church.
It is a task and mission
which the vast and
profound changes of
present-day society make
all the more urgent.
11
12. Bringing the Good News of Jesus into every
human situation and seeking to convert
individual and society by the divine power of
the Gospel itself. Its essence is the
proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ and
the response of a person in faith, both being
the work of the Spirit of God.
12
13. Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation
proper to the church, her deepest identity.
She exists to evangelize…
(EN, 14)
13
14. 1983 CELAM
The commemoration of
the half millennium of
evangelization will gain
its full energy if it is a
commitment , not to
re-evangelize but to a
New Evangelization,
new in its ardor,
methods and
expression.
15. Synod of Bishops Lineamenta
…the New
Evangelization is
primarily addressed to
those who have drifted
from the Church in
traditionally Christian
countries.
16. To underscore that at this moment in the
history of the Church she is called to carry
out a New Evangelization, means intensifying
missionary action to correspond fully with the
Lord’s mandate.
17. The New Evangelization is a frame-of-mind,
a courageous manner of acting and
Christianity’s capacity to know how to read
and interpret the new situations in human
history which in recent decades, have become
places to proclaim and witness to the Gospel.
These sectors concern society, cultures,
economics, civic life and religion.
Benedict XVI, #6 Lineamenta
17
18. Pope Paul VI
The Church exists to evangelize
Pope John Paul II
…new in ardor, methods and expression
Pope Benedict XVI
…re-propose faith in a culture which has
lost the instinct to believe
19. We wish to remind
the entire Church
that its first duty is
that of
Evangelization…
19
20. Catechesis is a work of
evangelization in the
context of the mission of
the Church.
Henceforth, Catechesis
would be considered as
one of the enduring
concerns of the Church’s
missionary mandate for
our times.
(GDC, 4)
20
21. This is the principal objective of
Catechesis, which by its very nature,
is an essential aspect of the
new evangelization
(Catechesi Tradendae)
21
22. This is the principal form of catechesis, because it
is addressed to persons who have the greatest
responsibilities and the capacity to live the
Christian message in its fully developed form. (CT,
43, 1979)
A Proposal to Consider…One cannot speak of the
New Evangelization if the catechesis of adults is
non-existent, fragmented, weak or neglected.
When these defects are present, pastoral ministry
faces a very serious challenge.
22
23. He/She facilitates communication between
the people and the mystery of God…among
themselves, as well as with the community.
For this reason, one’s cultural vision, social
condition and lifestyle must not be obstacles
to the journey of faith.
(GDC, 156)
23
24. The new and unique situation in which the
world and the church find themselves at the
threshold of the third millennium, and
The urgent needs which result, mean that the
mission of evangelization today calls for a
new program which can be defined overall as
a NEW EVANGELIZATION (EIA, 66)
24
25. “…a form by which the Gospel is proclaimed with
new enthusiasm, in a new language, which is
comprehensible in a different cultural situation and
with new methodologies that are capable of
transmitting its deepest sense, that sense which
remains immutable.”
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, America Magazine, October 15, 2012.
27. An encounter with the Lord
brings about a profound
transformation in all who
do not close themselves
off from him.
(EIA, 68)
27
28. The Light of Faith
comes from an
encounter with the
living God and
lights the entire
journey for
believers.
28
29. 1. Acknowledges that all disciples
need ongoing formation.
2. Understands that people come
from a variety of backgrounds
3. Value of Lay Ministry
4. Acknowledges that it is not about
clocking hours to become
competent.
5. Everyone in the church teaches
one way or another and witness
is the issue. Competent?
30. Modern man listens
more willingly to
witnesses
than to teachers,
and if he does listen
to teachers,
it is because
they are witnesses.
32. AGE % Going to Mass Weekly
70 years and older
52 – 69
31 – 51
18 – 30
45%
24%
15%
18%
32
33. Mission effectiveness is
always at risk in
leadership
The vitality of our
parishes and the
church rests on our
ability to answer the
three questions
34. 1. Ministry of Jesus
2. Current Situation
3. New Evangelization
4. Positive
Developments
5. Areas of Growth
35. Challenge Opportunity
A. Christ’s call to all
people
B. Welcome the stranger,
heal the sick…
C. Urgent vigilance of
the father of the prodigal
son
D. Focus on mission
E. Think generationally
F. Reaching out to who
are estranged is a light
to those who are new
36. Challenge Opportunities
23% of U.S. Catholics
attend Mass each week
77% absent are not
strangers
Challenges of busy life
and priorities
Feed my people
Engagement… ongoing
formation for
preachers & liturgists
Schedules
37. Challenge Opportunities
Call to deepen one’s
faith
The lens through which
people experience the
church and the world
We want to welcome
back to the table
Education to a culture
of formation
Change one’s
experience
It is about listening,
invitation and
engagement
38. Challenges Opportunities
A. Creation of formation
programs in
evangelization and
catechesis
B. B. Parish rightsizing
C. Communications
D. Focus on the 23% in
ways that animate them
E. What are we willing to
do for the sake of the
mission
F. Technology
39. 39
Congregations are among the most
dynamic, engaging, thoughtful,
multi-cultural intersections of care,
education, compassion and justice in
America today.
40. What is the greatest
challenge you
experience as a
disciple with the
call to the new
evangelization?
What is the greatest
opportunity you
have as a leader in
the call to a new
evangelization?
41. Department of Evangelization
Archdiocese of Baltimore
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-547-5321
john.hurley@archbalt.org
www.archbalt.org
Forming Catholic Leaders for
Faith Filled Service
February 27 – March 1, 2014
Baltimore Hilton
www.midatlanticcongress.org
Editor's Notes
This is the mission of the ChurchDonald Senior (CTU) reminds us that it is not the Church that has a mission, it is the mission that has a Church.PARISH – Connection between parishioners and those w/in boundaries.(Ray East) What part of GO do we not understand?Evangelization and Mission
So often, we refer to ourselves as members of the Catholic Church…We need to begin using the word disciple and discipleship more in our teaching and preaching and formation…Membership is revocableDiscipleship is not due to our baptism Peter, denied, Thomas doubted and Judas betrayed 9 out of 12 was not bad Yet, Jesus gives the keys to PeterWhen refer to ourselves as disciples, two things come to mind Disciple of whom And, Disciple for what.Preaching – using the language of the disciplesHow and when did you first experience the call as a disciple?
1983…New Evangelization Challenges to look at new expressionsChallenge in our time is moving from maintenance to mission – Bob RiversWeekend celebration of Word and Eucharist - not about shortage of priests - mass schedules bring people together - empty seats do not build morale or energize folks- Old St. Mary’sSigns of the times…how long are we going to keep doing the same things and expect different results…(insanity) - demographics - secularization
Not a re-evangelizing…
Times are different…focus is different
Clarity of information is important. Not personal…Our need therefore as catechists and catechetical leaders is to be ahead of those whom we teach by our own ongoing formation.
So, what is meant by a ‘NEW EVANGELIZATION?” Perhaps no one has provided a more concise description (not definition) of the NE than Archbishop RinoFisichella who is responsible for promoting it worldwide. Let’s see if we can parse what he said recently --It is about the Gospel being proclaimed. It is not a sociological initiative, per se. It is about evangelization with four things:New enthusiasm;New language;a different cultural context;Using new methodologgies.It’s evangelization. Now, most people when they think of evangelization, think proclamation and catechesis. But, the Church has already widened that perspective by talking about an “integral evangelization” that have 5 elements:Presence and witness;Proclamation and catechesis;Liturgy, prayer and contemplation;Human liberation and social development;Ecumenical dialogue.
http://www.lifeandwords.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/believe1.jpgBXVISigns of the times - growing up in the 50’s – culture - Pleasantville - secularization - God is not a given in our time and in many of our families - DC monuments
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_518/127806352941Cd6G.jpgTeachers and preachers have great opportunities and platforms…How do we use them to the advantage of the Gospel?Ah, YES, how would Jesus seize the moment? Jesus and Pope Francis…Why…Old model…some think it still works… 45% of people going to church are 70+ 24% are 52-69Today, people just leave when they do not feel engaged or don’t LIKE it…Policies keep people out…ACTS (Easter seaon, Paul and Barnabas) we do not want to impose any burdens upon you…Use guidelines effectively for the sake of the Gosple
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/sss/about/images/Black-Woman-Teaching.jpgWho are the teachers you remember most and why?They personified the experience they were speaking about. - they brought the subject alive - they invited us into the experience.Gene Burke, you can listen a person into existence…
The HS is the principle agent of EvangelizationVeni Creator Spiritus…HS is in the mess, the conflict…Gene Burke…you can listen a person into existence…
A.Pope FrancisThose not present, the marginalized, inactive members…F. Sacramental Prep, RCIA & Spouses, Baptisms, Weddings and funerals.
Before we lose themF. Facebook and other technology for younger generations.
New York State – The Catechetical Leader for the Third Millenium While parishes remain the primary locus for the catechetical mission of the Church, the changing parish landscape presents numerous challenges to the work of the catechetical leader…the pastor, pastoral leaders administrator IN PARTNERSHIP with the catechetical leaders, is responsible for providing effective catechesis.