REDISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL ROOTS

Resources and Materials

Table of Contents

PACKET 1 - team INFORMATIONArticles

A Introduction to Resources and Materials B Disciples Called to Witness - USCCB Washington DC C Kerygma - what it is and its relevance to Evangelization a What do we mean by term Kerygma - Msgr Charles Pope b The Joy of the Gospel excerpt 127-128 164-165 - Pope Francis D The 4 Ls E Its a Glorious Time to be a Faithful Catholic - Carson Holloway F Using the New Media for the New Evangelization - USCCB WashingtonDC

Welcome and thank you to all our parish Evangelization Teams Over the next

few months you will be preparing yourselves and your parish to launch the

ldquoRediscover Your Spiritual Rootsrdquo Evangelization effort in Lent 2016

The information and resources compiled in Packets 1 amp 2 are to assist your parish

evangelization team identify plan and facilitate its parish outreach to non-

practicing Catholics

Packet 1 - Information in Packet 1 is background material for your teamrsquos

enrichment and will connect you with additional information and articles that

help begin the planning process and address the ldquowho what and whyrdquo of

outreach This material also will help you inform and engage your parishioners in

the evangelization effort

Packet 2 ndash This Packet contains suggested resources outreach efforts and

materials that build upon the information in Packet 1 There are samples of

events programs retreats invitations and hand-out materials The web-links

andor source material is provided for your benefit

The information and materials are suggestions only and should be viewed as

ways to connect you with some of the best-practices in evangelization The

materials are meant to be adapted to the needs and resources of each parish

and to stimulate our creativity

Additional copies of the packets are available and the members of the

Diocesan Evangelization Committee are committed to providing assistance and

support to you Please contact the Evangelization Committee Sr Paula

Robillard at evangelizationdiospringfieldorg

ldquohellipalways keeping in mind the fundamental message the personal love of God who became man who gave himself

up for us who is living and offers us his salvation and friendshiprdquo --- Pope Francis - The Joy of the Gospel

11215

Welcome and thank you to all our parish Evangelization Teams Over the next

few months you will be preparing yourselves and your parish to launch the

ldquoRediscover Your Spiritual Rootsrdquo Evangelization effort in Lent 2016

The information and resources compiled in Packets 1 amp 2 are to assist your parish

evangelization team identify plan and facilitate its parish outreach to non-

practicing Catholics

Packet 1 - Information in Packet 1 is background material for your teamrsquos

enrichment and will connect you with additional information and articles that

help begin the planning process and address the ldquowho what and whyrdquo of

outreach This material also will help you inform and engage your parishioners in

the evangelization effort

Packet 2 ndash This Packet contains suggested resources outreach efforts and

materials that build upon the information in Packet 1 There are samples of

events programs retreats invitations and hand-out materials The web-links

andor source material is provided for your benefit

The information and materials are suggestions only and should be viewed as

ways to connect you with some of the best-practices in evangelization The

materials are meant to be adapted to the needs and resources of each parish

and to stimulate our creativity

Additional copies of the packets are available and the members of the

Diocesan Evangelization Committee are committed to providing assistance and

support to you Please contact the Evangelization Committee Sr Paula

Robillard at evangelizationdiospringfieldorg

ldquohellipalways keeping in mind the fundamental message the personal love of God who became man who gave himself

up for us who is living and offers us his salvation and friendshiprdquo --- Pope Francis - The Joy of the Gospel

11215

Disciples Called to WitnessThe New Evangelization

Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis

ldquoBut you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earthrdquo

mdashActs 18

United states Conference of Catholic bishops

Washington dC

Table of ConTenTs

Preface

Part I Current Cultural ContextThe Ministry of JesusOur Current SituationThe New EvangelizationPositive DevelopmentsAreas of Growth

Part II Historical Context of the New EvangelizationPope Paul VIrsquos Call for EvangelizationBlessed John Paul II and the New EvangelizationPope Benedict XVI and the Future of the New Evangelization

Part III The Focus of the New EvangelizationThose Who Are Evangelized The Response of the New Evangelization to Todayrsquos World

Part IV Culture of WitnessConversionMethodologiesDiscipleshipA Commitment to the Christian LifeParish LifeThe Liturgical Life of the Church Popular Devotions and PietyThe Christian FamilyCatechists and Teachers of the FaithReligious Experience

Part V Key Components of Outreach ProgramsThe Holy Spirit and ConversionLeadershipTeam PreparationAn Atmosphere of Hospitality and TrustCatechesis Including Sacramental CatechesisPrayer and Popular PietyThe Sunday Eucharist and Effective PreachingResourcesContinued Support

Conclusion

Parish Reflection Questions

Prayer

Additional ResourcesSecond Vatican Council Documents on Catechesis and EvangelizationVatican Documents on CatechesisVatican Documents on EvangelizationUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops Documents on

Evangelization and CatechesisDiocesan Evangelization Resources

Selected Diocesan Evangelization DocumentsSelected Diocesan Evangelization Websites

What do we mean by the term Kerygma Msgr Charles Pope bull October 28 2012 bull

In one of last weekrsquos blog posts I made use of the term Kerygma and a number of people asked me to expand on the meaning of this term To some extent it is an example of one of those ldquoChurch wordsrdquo which is rich in meaning to those who know and have perhaps had been to seminary or studied advanced theology but is largely unknown to many others So letrsquos take a look at this term since it seems to be coming more central as we look to evangelizing a culture almost from scratch

The term κήρυγμα (Kerugma) is a Greek word meaning ldquoproclamationrdquo The Greek word κηρύσσω (kerusso) means ldquoheraldrdquo or one who proclaims And thus the Kerygma is what is proclaimed

As the apostles began the work of preaching and proclaiming Christ they proclaimed a message that was rather basic and simple More extended teaching or instruction (Διδαχή (didache) in Greek) would come later after baptism But the initial proclamation of Christ was simple and to the point

This does not mean that later development was both necessary and good It simply means that the initial proclamation sought to get right to the point In effect this kerygmatic approach was seen more as a proclamation addressed directly to the hearer and is a call to conversion rather than as an extended appeal to the reason or to motives of credibility

The basic curricula of the kerygma emphasizes that Jesus is the chosen Messiah of God the one who was promised And though he was crucified He rose gloriously from the dead appearing to his disciples and having been exulted at the right hand of the Father through his ascension now summons all to him through the ministry of the Church This proclamation (kerygma) requires a response from us that we should repent of our sins accept baptism and live in the new life which Christ is offering This alone will prepare us for the coming judgment that is to come upon all humanity There is an urgent need to conform ourselves to Christ and be prepared by him for the coming judgment

This was the basic Kerygma The Apostles would surely go on to develop more for example the theology of grace extended moral treatises Christology Ecclesiology

Table of ConTenTs

Preface

Part I Current Cultural ContextThe Ministry of JesusOur Current SituationThe New EvangelizationPositive DevelopmentsAreas of Growth

Part II Historical Context of the New EvangelizationPope Paul VIrsquos Call for EvangelizationBlessed John Paul II and the New EvangelizationPope Benedict XVI and the Future of the New Evangelization

Part III The Focus of the New EvangelizationThose Who Are Evangelized The Response of the New Evangelization to Todayrsquos World

Part IV Culture of WitnessConversionMethodologiesDiscipleshipA Commitment to the Christian LifeParish LifeThe Liturgical Life of the Church Popular Devotions and PietyThe Christian FamilyCatechists and Teachers of the FaithReligious Experience

Part V Key Components of Outreach ProgramsThe Holy Spirit and ConversionLeadershipTeam PreparationAn Atmosphere of Hospitality and TrustCatechesis Including Sacramental CatechesisPrayer and Popular PietyThe Sunday Eucharist and Effective PreachingResourcesContinued Support

Conclusion

Parish Reflection Questions

Prayer

Additional ResourcesSecond Vatican Council Documents on Catechesis and EvangelizationVatican Documents on CatechesisVatican Documents on EvangelizationUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops Documents on

Evangelization and CatechesisDiocesan Evangelization Resources

Selected Diocesan Evangelization DocumentsSelected Diocesan Evangelization Websites

What do we mean by the term Kerygma Msgr Charles Pope bull October 28 2012 bull

In one of last weekrsquos blog posts I made use of the term Kerygma and a number of people asked me to expand on the meaning of this term To some extent it is an example of one of those ldquoChurch wordsrdquo which is rich in meaning to those who know and have perhaps had been to seminary or studied advanced theology but is largely unknown to many others So letrsquos take a look at this term since it seems to be coming more central as we look to evangelizing a culture almost from scratch

The term κήρυγμα (Kerugma) is a Greek word meaning ldquoproclamationrdquo The Greek word κηρύσσω (kerusso) means ldquoheraldrdquo or one who proclaims And thus the Kerygma is what is proclaimed

As the apostles began the work of preaching and proclaiming Christ they proclaimed a message that was rather basic and simple More extended teaching or instruction (Διδαχή (didache) in Greek) would come later after baptism But the initial proclamation of Christ was simple and to the point

This does not mean that later development was both necessary and good It simply means that the initial proclamation sought to get right to the point In effect this kerygmatic approach was seen more as a proclamation addressed directly to the hearer and is a call to conversion rather than as an extended appeal to the reason or to motives of credibility

The basic curricula of the kerygma emphasizes that Jesus is the chosen Messiah of God the one who was promised And though he was crucified He rose gloriously from the dead appearing to his disciples and having been exulted at the right hand of the Father through his ascension now summons all to him through the ministry of the Church This proclamation (kerygma) requires a response from us that we should repent of our sins accept baptism and live in the new life which Christ is offering This alone will prepare us for the coming judgment that is to come upon all humanity There is an urgent need to conform ourselves to Christ and be prepared by him for the coming judgment

This was the basic Kerygma The Apostles would surely go on to develop more for example the theology of grace extended moral treatises Christology Ecclesiology

Conclusion

Parish Reflection Questions

Prayer

Additional ResourcesSecond Vatican Council Documents on Catechesis and EvangelizationVatican Documents on CatechesisVatican Documents on EvangelizationUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops Documents on

Evangelization and CatechesisDiocesan Evangelization Resources

Selected Diocesan Evangelization DocumentsSelected Diocesan Evangelization Websites

What do we mean by the term Kerygma Msgr Charles Pope bull October 28 2012 bull

In one of last weekrsquos blog posts I made use of the term Kerygma and a number of people asked me to expand on the meaning of this term To some extent it is an example of one of those ldquoChurch wordsrdquo which is rich in meaning to those who know and have perhaps had been to seminary or studied advanced theology but is largely unknown to many others So letrsquos take a look at this term since it seems to be coming more central as we look to evangelizing a culture almost from scratch

The term κήρυγμα (Kerugma) is a Greek word meaning ldquoproclamationrdquo The Greek word κηρύσσω (kerusso) means ldquoheraldrdquo or one who proclaims And thus the Kerygma is what is proclaimed

As the apostles began the work of preaching and proclaiming Christ they proclaimed a message that was rather basic and simple More extended teaching or instruction (Διδαχή (didache) in Greek) would come later after baptism But the initial proclamation of Christ was simple and to the point

This does not mean that later development was both necessary and good It simply means that the initial proclamation sought to get right to the point In effect this kerygmatic approach was seen more as a proclamation addressed directly to the hearer and is a call to conversion rather than as an extended appeal to the reason or to motives of credibility

The basic curricula of the kerygma emphasizes that Jesus is the chosen Messiah of God the one who was promised And though he was crucified He rose gloriously from the dead appearing to his disciples and having been exulted at the right hand of the Father through his ascension now summons all to him through the ministry of the Church This proclamation (kerygma) requires a response from us that we should repent of our sins accept baptism and live in the new life which Christ is offering This alone will prepare us for the coming judgment that is to come upon all humanity There is an urgent need to conform ourselves to Christ and be prepared by him for the coming judgment

This was the basic Kerygma The Apostles would surely go on to develop more for example the theology of grace extended moral treatises Christology Ecclesiology

What do we mean by the term Kerygma Msgr Charles Pope bull October 28 2012 bull

In one of last weekrsquos blog posts I made use of the term Kerygma and a number of people asked me to expand on the meaning of this term To some extent it is an example of one of those ldquoChurch wordsrdquo which is rich in meaning to those who know and have perhaps had been to seminary or studied advanced theology but is largely unknown to many others So letrsquos take a look at this term since it seems to be coming more central as we look to evangelizing a culture almost from scratch

The term κήρυγμα (Kerugma) is a Greek word meaning ldquoproclamationrdquo The Greek word κηρύσσω (kerusso) means ldquoheraldrdquo or one who proclaims And thus the Kerygma is what is proclaimed

As the apostles began the work of preaching and proclaiming Christ they proclaimed a message that was rather basic and simple More extended teaching or instruction (Διδαχή (didache) in Greek) would come later after baptism But the initial proclamation of Christ was simple and to the point

This does not mean that later development was both necessary and good It simply means that the initial proclamation sought to get right to the point In effect this kerygmatic approach was seen more as a proclamation addressed directly to the hearer and is a call to conversion rather than as an extended appeal to the reason or to motives of credibility

The basic curricula of the kerygma emphasizes that Jesus is the chosen Messiah of God the one who was promised And though he was crucified He rose gloriously from the dead appearing to his disciples and having been exulted at the right hand of the Father through his ascension now summons all to him through the ministry of the Church This proclamation (kerygma) requires a response from us that we should repent of our sins accept baptism and live in the new life which Christ is offering This alone will prepare us for the coming judgment that is to come upon all humanity There is an urgent need to conform ourselves to Christ and be prepared by him for the coming judgment

This was the basic Kerygma The Apostles would surely go on to develop more for example the theology of grace extended moral treatises Christology Ecclesiology

Trinitarian theology and so forth But the deeper things and concepts wait until the soul has first been cleansed of sin and the darkness of mind that sin brings Once initiated into the mysteries through baptism the soul is now able to go on to maturity in Christ

But step one is the announcement of the kerygma and the acceptance of it by the believer so as to enter into the deeper mysteries

Thus it would seem that the early Church and the Apostles tended to preach the basics and then to draw those who would accept and believe into the deeper mysteries

Our tendency today is to unload the entire bale of hay to instruct converts in the whole counsel of Christ before they are even initiated and ask that they ascent to all of it before they are baptized or received into the Church

This is not wrong per se but there are some today who argue that we should get back to the original plan of proclaiming the basic kerygma repentance baptism and the faith that that implies and then continue instruction in the deeper things after the enlightenment that baptism brings

It is too easy today for people to get lost in the weeds and to miss the essential point Often for example people rush to the demands fo the moral norms with little understanding or experience of the grace that life in Christ provides Within days of entering a catechumenate the students are being asked to ponder sophisticated notions of sanctifying versus actual grace transubstantiation Trinitarian mysteries and so forth

It would seem that the earliest days of the church reserved a good deal of this for a time of μυσταγωγia (mystagogia) a kind of ongoing instruction into the mysteries to which one has already been initiated In fact the early church often kept the deeper things hidden until after baptism There was a kind of a discipline of the secret (disciplina arcanis) And those who were unbaptized could not experience the liturgy or expect that deeper things should be revealed to them until after they had been enlightened by Baptism Confirmation and Holy Eucharist

Today this sort of notion is generally set aside in favor of the laying out the whole doctrine of Christ to the uninitiated insistence on their assent to it all and only

after this an offer a baptism is extended Again this modern approach is not per se wrong but it is different from the approach of the earliest days

And thus one approach of the new evangelization today is the proposal to return to a more kerygmatic approach This is especially the case when we are in effect starting from scratch with many people today

In some sense the current times are not unlike the pagan world in which the apostles first proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ It is true that the West is more an ldquoangry divorceerdquo and the ancient Gentile world which was more like a virgin awaiting her groom But there are still some parallels and our presumption that most people heard the basics of Scripture and the gospel is generally a poor presumption today Most have not heard Christ or the Scriptures authentically proclaimed And to the degree that they have it has been proclaimed to them with hostility and cynicism by a world and a culture that scoffs at the claims of Christ his Church the Christian tradition

In this current climate and context there are some who argue for a return to basic apostolic preaching as a fundamental schema in speaking to an unbelieving world Deeper doctrines can and should be enunciated later but the initial proclamation should stick to basics

That we are lost in our sins that those deep drives are destroying us and that God has sent the Savior Jesus Christ who died to set us free and offer us whole new life It is he who calls to you now who is drawing you to himself that he might save you and give to you a whole new life He died to give you this life and having been raised from the dead he ascended to the Father where he is drawing you to himself even now calling you by name and offering you deliverance from every sinful and destructive drive establishing you in a new more glorious and hopeful life Come to him now the repent of your sins and let him begin the good work in you

This is the basic Kerygma It is the starting point the initial proclamation the summons the invitation the conviction of sins but the announcement of loving hope

httpblogadworg201210what-do-we-mean-by-the-term-kerygma - 1122015

after this an offer a baptism is extended Again this modern approach is not per se wrong but it is different from the approach of the earliest days

And thus one approach of the new evangelization today is the proposal to return to a more kerygmatic approach This is especially the case when we are in effect starting from scratch with many people today

In some sense the current times are not unlike the pagan world in which the apostles first proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ It is true that the West is more an ldquoangry divorceerdquo and the ancient Gentile world which was more like a virgin awaiting her groom But there are still some parallels and our presumption that most people heard the basics of Scripture and the gospel is generally a poor presumption today Most have not heard Christ or the Scriptures authentically proclaimed And to the degree that they have it has been proclaimed to them with hostility and cynicism by a world and a culture that scoffs at the claims of Christ his Church the Christian tradition

In this current climate and context there are some who argue for a return to basic apostolic preaching as a fundamental schema in speaking to an unbelieving world Deeper doctrines can and should be enunciated later but the initial proclamation should stick to basics

That we are lost in our sins that those deep drives are destroying us and that God has sent the Savior Jesus Christ who died to set us free and offer us whole new life It is he who calls to you now who is drawing you to himself that he might save you and give to you a whole new life He died to give you this life and having been raised from the dead he ascended to the Father where he is drawing you to himself even now calling you by name and offering you deliverance from every sinful and destructive drive establishing you in a new more glorious and hopeful life Come to him now the repent of your sins and let him begin the good work in you

This is the basic Kerygma It is the starting point the initial proclamation the summons the invitation the conviction of sins but the announcement of loving hope

httpblogadworg201210what-do-we-mean-by-the-term-kerygma - 1122015

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION

THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL

EVANGELII GAUDIUM

OF THE HOLY FATHER

FRANCIS

TO THE BISHOPS CLERGY CONSECRATED PERSONS

AND THE LAY FAITHFUL

ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL IN TODAYrsquoS WORLD

EXCERPT

Person to person

127 Today as the Church seeks to experience a profound missionary renewal there is a kind of

preaching which falls to each of us as a daily responsibility It has to do with bringing the Gospel to

the people we meet whether they be our neighbours or complete strangers This is the informal

preaching which takes place in the middle of a conversation something along the lines of what a

missionary does when visiting a home Being a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the

love of Jesus to others and this can happen unexpectedly and in any place on the street in a city

square during work on a journey

128 In this preaching which is always respectful and gentle the first step is personal dialogue

when the other person speaks and shares his or her joys hopes and concerns for loved ones or

so many other heartfelt needs Only afterwards is it possible to bring up Godrsquos word perhaps by

reading a Bible verse or relating a story but always keeping in mind the fundamental message

the personal love of God who became man who gave himself up for us who is living and who

offers us his salvation and his friendship This message has to be shared humbly as a testimony on

the part of one who is always willing to learn in the awareness that the message is so rich and so

deep that it always exceeds our grasp At times the message can be presented directly at times

by way of a personal witness or gesture or in a way which the Holy Spirit may suggest in that

particular situation If it seems prudent and if the circumstances are right this fraternal and

missionary encounter could end with a brief prayer related to the concerns which the person may

have expressed In this way they will have an experience of being listened to and understood they

will know that their particular situation has been placed before God and that Godrsquos word really

speaks to their lives

164 In catechesis too we have rediscovered the fundamental role of the first announcement or

kerygma which needs to be the centre of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church

renewal The kerygma is trinitarian The fire of the Spirit is given in the form of tongues and leads

us to believe in Jesus Christ who by his death and resurrection reveals and communicates to us

the Fatherrsquos infinite mercy On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring

out over and over ldquoJesus Christ loves you he gave his life to save you and now he is

living at your side every day to enlighten strengthen and free yourdquo This first

proclamation is called ldquofirstrdquo not because it exists at the beginning and can then be forgotten or

replaced by other more important things It is first in a qualitative sense because it is the principal

proclamation the one which we must hear again and again in different ways the one which we

must announce one way or another throughout the process of catechesis at every level and

moment[126] For this reason too ldquothe priest ndash like every other member of the Church ndash

ought to grow in awareness that he himself is continually in need of being

evangelizedrdquo[127]

165 We must not think that in catechesis the kerygma gives way to a supposedly more ldquosolidrdquo

formation Nothing is more solid profound secure meaningful and wisdom-filled than

that initial proclamation All Christian formation consists of entering more deeply into the

kerygma which is reflected in and constantly illumines the work of catechesis thereby enabling

us to understand more fully the significance of every subject which the latter treats It is the

message capable of responding to the desire for the infinite which abides in every

human heart The centrality of the kerygma calls for stressing those elements which are most

needed today it has to express Godrsquos saving love which precedes any moral and religious

obligation on our part it should not impose the truth but appeal to freedom it should be marked

by joy encouragement liveliness and a harmonious balance which will not reduce preaching to a

few doctrines which are at times more philosophical than evangelical All this demands on the part

of the evangelizer certain attitudes which foster openness to the message approachability

readiness for dialogue patience a warmth and welcome which is non-judgmental

164 In catechesis too we have rediscovered the fundamental role of the first announcement or

kerygma which needs to be the centre of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church

renewal The kerygma is trinitarian The fire of the Spirit is given in the form of tongues and leads

us to believe in Jesus Christ who by his death and resurrection reveals and communicates to us

the Fatherrsquos infinite mercy On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring

out over and over ldquoJesus Christ loves you he gave his life to save you and now he is

living at your side every day to enlighten strengthen and free yourdquo This first

proclamation is called ldquofirstrdquo not because it exists at the beginning and can then be forgotten or

replaced by other more important things It is first in a qualitative sense because it is the principal

proclamation the one which we must hear again and again in different ways the one which we

must announce one way or another throughout the process of catechesis at every level and

moment[126] For this reason too ldquothe priest ndash like every other member of the Church ndash

ought to grow in awareness that he himself is continually in need of being

evangelizedrdquo[127]

165 We must not think that in catechesis the kerygma gives way to a supposedly more ldquosolidrdquo

formation Nothing is more solid profound secure meaningful and wisdom-filled than

that initial proclamation All Christian formation consists of entering more deeply into the

kerygma which is reflected in and constantly illumines the work of catechesis thereby enabling

us to understand more fully the significance of every subject which the latter treats It is the

message capable of responding to the desire for the infinite which abides in every

human heart The centrality of the kerygma calls for stressing those elements which are most

needed today it has to express Godrsquos saving love which precedes any moral and religious

obligation on our part it should not impose the truth but appeal to freedom it should be marked

by joy encouragement liveliness and a harmonious balance which will not reduce preaching to a

few doctrines which are at times more philosophical than evangelical All this demands on the part

of the evangelizer certain attitudes which foster openness to the message approachability

readiness for dialogue patience a warmth and welcome which is non-judgmental

Using the ldquo4 Lrsquosrdquo

for One-On-One Evangelization in Daily Life

When the opportunity presents itself to youhellip LISTEN ndash Let the person pour out their heart Ask questions to help them continue the lsquopouring outrsquo Do not offer any advice Just listen until they are completely done talking During this time pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you in your response LEARN ndash By listening we learn how to respond Through the help of the Holy Spirit all the lsquocluesrsquo of how to respond will be given LOVE ndash This is the start of your (His) response We tell them that Jesus loves them and wants to healhelp them by offering them His love and care but they need to ask Him freely for it LEAD ndash Them to the Sacraments of His Holy Catholic Church especially Penance and the Eucharist If they are not Catholic lead them to the parish clergy and the RCIA process Leave them resources possibly your contact info or the parish office Get or give them whatever resource you feel they may need Out of Christian love let them know you are there to help John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization

Mike Raboine Immaculate Conception Burlington

ITrsquoS A GLORIOUS TIME TO BE A FAITHFUL CATHOLIC BY CARSON HOLLOWAY CATHOLICVOTEORG

It seems that these are grim times to be a faithful Catholic Some people in positions of great cultural influence seem

to be animated by a disdain for Catholics and the Catholic Church Herersquos one example that just came to my

attention Masterpiece Theater is running a BBC miniseries that apparently is designed to make the Catholic saint

and martyr Thomas More look like a bad guy and his persecutor Thomas Cromwell look like a good guy Itrsquos not

getting favorable notices for historical accuracy from academic historians And the author of the book on which the

show is based is a former Catholic who makes no attempt to hide her animosity for the Church and for

Catholics The Catholic Church she says ldquois not an institution for respectable peoplerdquo This is a bigoted remark that

writes off a billion of her fellow human beings as not worthy of respect

In addition there is the political situation in America Evidently if you accept the Catholic (and biblical and historic)

view that marriage is a union between a man and a woman the people who disagree with you are free to label you a

ldquohaterrdquondashwhich is probably the worst thing you can be labelled in contemporary America And it will do no good to try

to explain to them that you are not animated by hatred because they will just make the assertion over and over

again and dismiss as mere dodges your efforts to explain yourself To be a faithful Catholic in this environment you

have to endure being classed as among the worst of human beings

On the other hand I should not complain too much It is not as easy to be a Catholic in America today as it was say

20 or 50 years ago But it is not even close to being as hard as it is for Christians elsewhere in the world who are

killed for their faith They are martyrs and we should ask their intercession

And we have this consolation too If it is a hard time to be a faithful Catholic in America it is also a glorious time to

be a faithful Catholic in America It is glorious because it is hard By the signs of the times it will take considerable

strength of mind and character to be a faithful Catholic It will take strength of mind because you wonrsquot be able to sit

back and let the dominant culture do your thinking for you You will have to study the faith understand it and know

the arguments in defense of it You will have to do this not to convert others (although it would be nice if you could)

but in order to remain faithful yourself and to transmit the faith to your children if you have a family And it will take

considerable strength of character because if you have the strength of mind to think differently from the dominant

culture the defenders of the dominant culture certainly will not hesitate to resort to ridicule and denunciation to try to

keep you in line

And if you succeed in remaining a faithful Catholic or even just try your honest best for a whole lifetime you can

hope for Jesus to say to you ldquoWell done good and faithful servantrdquo Thatrsquos the only glory we really want and it will

be all the more glorious for having been won in hard circumstances

ITrsquoS A GLORIOUS TIME TO BE A FAITHFUL CATHOLIC BY CARSON HOLLOWAY CATHOLICVOTEORG

It seems that these are grim times to be a faithful Catholic Some people in positions of great cultural influence seem

to be animated by a disdain for Catholics and the Catholic Church Herersquos one example that just came to my

attention Masterpiece Theater is running a BBC miniseries that apparently is designed to make the Catholic saint

and martyr Thomas More look like a bad guy and his persecutor Thomas Cromwell look like a good guy Itrsquos not

getting favorable notices for historical accuracy from academic historians And the author of the book on which the

show is based is a former Catholic who makes no attempt to hide her animosity for the Church and for

Catholics The Catholic Church she says ldquois not an institution for respectable peoplerdquo This is a bigoted remark that

writes off a billion of her fellow human beings as not worthy of respect

In addition there is the political situation in America Evidently if you accept the Catholic (and biblical and historic)

view that marriage is a union between a man and a woman the people who disagree with you are free to label you a

ldquohaterrdquondashwhich is probably the worst thing you can be labelled in contemporary America And it will do no good to try

to explain to them that you are not animated by hatred because they will just make the assertion over and over

again and dismiss as mere dodges your efforts to explain yourself To be a faithful Catholic in this environment you

have to endure being classed as among the worst of human beings

On the other hand I should not complain too much It is not as easy to be a Catholic in America today as it was say

20 or 50 years ago But it is not even close to being as hard as it is for Christians elsewhere in the world who are

killed for their faith They are martyrs and we should ask their intercession

And we have this consolation too If it is a hard time to be a faithful Catholic in America it is also a glorious time to

be a faithful Catholic in America It is glorious because it is hard By the signs of the times it will take considerable

strength of mind and character to be a faithful Catholic It will take strength of mind because you wonrsquot be able to sit

back and let the dominant culture do your thinking for you You will have to study the faith understand it and know

the arguments in defense of it You will have to do this not to convert others (although it would be nice if you could)

but in order to remain faithful yourself and to transmit the faith to your children if you have a family And it will take

considerable strength of character because if you have the strength of mind to think differently from the dominant

culture the defenders of the dominant culture certainly will not hesitate to resort to ridicule and denunciation to try to

keep you in line

And if you succeed in remaining a faithful Catholic or even just try your honest best for a whole lifetime you can

hope for Jesus to say to you ldquoWell done good and faithful servantrdquo Thatrsquos the only glory we really want and it will

be all the more glorious for having been won in hard circumstances

USCCB gt About Us gt Leadership gt USCCB General Assembly gt 2012 June Meeting

USING THE NEW MEDIA FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION Bishop John Wester Chair Communications Committee

The past twenty years have been a dizzying series of breakthroughs and game-changing advances in communications Our modern world is simply not the same

Twenty years ago there were fewer than one thousand Internet sites

Today there are perhaps 650 million of them

The truth of our faith has not changed Our Traditionmdashcapital Tmdashhas not changed

But the people of our dioceses are living in a new world

The communications future that we were promised long ago is here right now

Weve heard the statistics of how many people own smartphones and iPads and use social networks such as Facebook and Twitter

But do we realize how profoundly these new devices are changing HOW we communicate

For instance many more people now check the news multiple times a day instead of waiting for the evening broadcasts

Americans are using the Internet not just for e-mail and searching for information They use it to pay bills and make contributions to find out what their relatives across the country and across town are doing to make dinner reservations to review movies and books to buy almost anything and to catch up with the grandchildren

But often they cant make donations to their parishes ndash or to our national collections

Its difficult to find a social network online to share their faith

And many of the church documents or such resource materials as the Catholic Encyclopedia are difficult to find online

For the USCCBs Communications Committee we are wrestling with these questions and others

What does the New Evangelization look like in this world of communications How can we help build stronger relationships with our millions of parishioners How can we increase the effectiveness of our work in sanctifying teaching and governing by using the tools of

21st-century communications

We are taking three paths to answering these critical questions

1 We are identifying and sharing the overall best communications practices 2 We are developing digital content that meets the needs of different audiences 3 We are striving to build a culture of innovation with digital communications

1 - Lets start with best practices

We all acknowledge that communication in the digital world goes both ways News articles or reflections or catechetical resources that are online are expected to have a place where peoplemdashpotentially anyonemdashcan offer their thoughts in a digital reply

Its instantaneous its public and its personal

The idea of best practices also includes business models As we have learned in the past few years the world of newspapers has been turned upside down A business model based on print circulation and advertising revenue which worked for decades is now barely relevant

So we are developing a new business model for our communications work based on current and future realities not outdated models

Please allow me to emphasize here that the USCCB continues to produce print products that are well received and many of our diocesan communication efforts have the diocesan print publication as their most important means to reach the faithful

The challenge as most of us know is that it is a struggle to keep circulations high and to get print materials in the hands of Catholics who dont come to Mass every weekend

The one-way communication model of mass communication or broadcast communication is fading away The very notions of authority and control are slipping away in this age of transparency It is not easy for those of us trained in old methodologies

We used to ask ourselves What do we need to tell people

Now we also have to ask ourselves What do people want to hear from us

They no longer wait for the town crier or the evening newscast or the morning paper or even the Sunday homily to come to them

When our parishioners need information they seek it and find it

When they need guidance they look for it

When they need community they connect to it

They are living in the Digital Continent as Pope Benedict XVI calls it

2 - So we are focusing our digital content

We are doing this by identifying four content areas that answer different audience needs

First we are creating news and analysis through our own Catholic News Service This includes multimedia news production from Rome and Washington DC in print and video We are creating a new editorial advisory board for

Catholic News Service to help us navigate the waters of being a 21st-century news organization in the Catholic Church in the United States This new board will help CNS in its factual reporting on the activities of the Church the views of church leaders and the broad issues in which we have a critical stake

Second we are sharpening our media relations efforts since that role as intermediary between ourselves and the major national media cannot be overstated Since we are in a 247 nonstop news cycle we cannot afford to allow critically precious hours or days to slip by without speaking out This also requires us to increase our efforts in social media as increasingly people no longer look to the information gatekeepers as they did in the past

Third we are maintaining our focus on creating pastoral leadership resources working collaboratively with every other USCCB committee These resources include printed materials e-books videos and web pages Pastoral leadership resources are one of our core competencies and we are planning to make them even stronger with the addition of a closed social network for bishops a new video partnership with Vatican television and a new subscription service for dioceses and parishes that will include a wide range of new member benefits

Last week each of us received an email inviting us to join a closed social network for bishops only a Bishops Network This will allow us to share information among ourselves one of the recommendations of the task force on communications If you would like a tutorial or overview of the new Bishops Network today please visit the Lenox Room ndash two levels below where we are now ndash before 5 pm today or contact Helen Osman

Fourth we are taking up the call of the New Evangelization with a renewed focus on resources that offer advice and encouragement for Catholics living their vocations in secular environments This broad audience may not be well catechized so we anticipate a strong emphasis on enculturation including everyday language and practical applications of our teachings

3 - Innovation with digital communications

We cannot meet these challengesmdashand the ones around the cornermdashwithout embracing a culture of innovation and experimentation in communications This can not be overemphasized The new platforms of communications are continually shifting Who knew just two years ago that iPad would become such a common household term

Historically the church has patiently waited for new technologies to settle in to peoples normal rhythms We do not have that luxury today

Our staff at the USCCB are aware of this pressing need They have experienced some successes Others could be called learning opportunities since even a failure can lead to a future success

Considerhellip

As Bishop Ricken noted yesterday we have just launched a new browser-friendly e-publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church This will be just the first resource publication of what we hope will be many available in this format an online library of foundational titles that will be dynamic searchable and easily accessible

The USCCB website now has more than 2 million visitors per month with two trillion bytes of data delivered to them Our primary storefront to the world it allows visitors to share what they find with their own social networks get an RSS feed of the daily readings and our media releases and it highlights the daily work of the Conference

We have a Facebook page with almost 40000 fans and a potential reach of hundreds of thousands It is a platform for catechesis building community and encouraging Catholic identity

We have a Twitter feed with ongoing information

We are creating videos every day including news from Rome reflections on the Daily Readings video statements on aspects of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship and committee chairmens greetings on the USCCB website

We are converting dozens of major print books to e-books for distribution through Amazon and iTunes We are building a new video studio with capacity to receive satellite feeds from the Vatican

Conclusion

There is more to do however The USCCB staff bishops and consultants to the Communications Committee and to the Task Force on Communications know that we have to increase content available to the faithful who use Spanish as their primary language We need to learn to speak in a style that is accessible to a generation accustomed to 15 second commercials and 140 character texts who prefer content that allows them to respond and comment

The challenges of this moment in communications technology are a boundless opportunity for evangelization if we are willing to speakhellip and listen

The back-and-forth digital communication that is spreading like wildfire across our dioceses is our chance to bring the Gospel to millions of Catholics

We have to be in the digital conversations And we have to listen too

As our Holy Father said on the World Day of Communication this past January

Word and silence learning to communicate is learning to listen and contemplate as well as speak This is especially important for those engaged in the task of evangelization both silence and word are essential elements integral to the Churchs work of communication for the sake of a renewed proclamation of Christ in todays world

We are in a paradigm shift as profound as when the printing press made literacy a necessity or when television made the planet feel smaller Paradigm shifts like all major changes are unsettling and uncomfortable

But just as the Church learned how to use the book and film to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth so today we must teach ourselves to learn these new tools to help people find the faith in their ordinary days and in their times of need

Thank you for listening today and for your willingness to be missionaries on the Digital Continent

• Packet 1 - Cover
• Packet 1 - contents page 2
• Introduction - Packet 1
• Pages from Disciples-Called-To-Witness-The-New-Evangelization
• The term Kerygma -sec 1
• Joy of Gospel excerpt - Sec I
• Using the 4Ls - Sec I
• Its a glorious time to be a faithful catholic - Packet 1
• USCCB on Social Media - Packet 1
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page

Catholic News Service to help us navigate the waters of being a 21st-century news organization in the Catholic Church in the United States This new board will help CNS in its factual reporting on the activities of the Church the views of church leaders and the broad issues in which we have a critical stake

Second we are sharpening our media relations efforts since that role as intermediary between ourselves and the major national media cannot be overstated Since we are in a 247 nonstop news cycle we cannot afford to allow critically precious hours or days to slip by without speaking out This also requires us to increase our efforts in social media as increasingly people no longer look to the information gatekeepers as they did in the past

Third we are maintaining our focus on creating pastoral leadership resources working collaboratively with every other USCCB committee These resources include printed materials e-books videos and web pages Pastoral leadership resources are one of our core competencies and we are planning to make them even stronger with the addition of a closed social network for bishops a new video partnership with Vatican television and a new subscription service for dioceses and parishes that will include a wide range of new member benefits

Last week each of us received an email inviting us to join a closed social network for bishops only a Bishops Network This will allow us to share information among ourselves one of the recommendations of the task force on communications If you would like a tutorial or overview of the new Bishops Network today please visit the Lenox Room ndash two levels below where we are now ndash before 5 pm today or contact Helen Osman

Fourth we are taking up the call of the New Evangelization with a renewed focus on resources that offer advice and encouragement for Catholics living their vocations in secular environments This broad audience may not be well catechized so we anticipate a strong emphasis on enculturation including everyday language and practical applications of our teachings

3 - Innovation with digital communications

We cannot meet these challengesmdashand the ones around the cornermdashwithout embracing a culture of innovation and experimentation in communications This can not be overemphasized The new platforms of communications are continually shifting Who knew just two years ago that iPad would become such a common household term

Historically the church has patiently waited for new technologies to settle in to peoples normal rhythms We do not have that luxury today

Our staff at the USCCB are aware of this pressing need They have experienced some successes Others could be called learning opportunities since even a failure can lead to a future success

Considerhellip

As Bishop Ricken noted yesterday we have just launched a new browser-friendly e-publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church This will be just the first resource publication of what we hope will be many available in this format an online library of foundational titles that will be dynamic searchable and easily accessible

The USCCB website now has more than 2 million visitors per month with two trillion bytes of data delivered to them Our primary storefront to the world it allows visitors to share what they find with their own social networks get an RSS feed of the daily readings and our media releases and it highlights the daily work of the Conference

We have a Facebook page with almost 40000 fans and a potential reach of hundreds of thousands It is a platform for catechesis building community and encouraging Catholic identity

We have a Twitter feed with ongoing information

We are creating videos every day including news from Rome reflections on the Daily Readings video statements on aspects of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship and committee chairmens greetings on the USCCB website

We are converting dozens of major print books to e-books for distribution through Amazon and iTunes We are building a new video studio with capacity to receive satellite feeds from the Vatican

Conclusion

There is more to do however The USCCB staff bishops and consultants to the Communications Committee and to the Task Force on Communications know that we have to increase content available to the faithful who use Spanish as their primary language We need to learn to speak in a style that is accessible to a generation accustomed to 15 second commercials and 140 character texts who prefer content that allows them to respond and comment

The challenges of this moment in communications technology are a boundless opportunity for evangelization if we are willing to speakhellip and listen

The back-and-forth digital communication that is spreading like wildfire across our dioceses is our chance to bring the Gospel to millions of Catholics

We have to be in the digital conversations And we have to listen too

As our Holy Father said on the World Day of Communication this past January

Word and silence learning to communicate is learning to listen and contemplate as well as speak This is especially important for those engaged in the task of evangelization both silence and word are essential elements integral to the Churchs work of communication for the sake of a renewed proclamation of Christ in todays world

We are in a paradigm shift as profound as when the printing press made literacy a necessity or when television made the planet feel smaller Paradigm shifts like all major changes are unsettling and uncomfortable

But just as the Church learned how to use the book and film to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth so today we must teach ourselves to learn these new tools to help people find the faith in their ordinary days and in their times of need

Thank you for listening today and for your willingness to be missionaries on the Digital Continent

• Packet 1 - Cover
• Packet 1 - contents page 2
• Introduction - Packet 1
• Pages from Disciples-Called-To-Witness-The-New-Evangelization
• The term Kerygma -sec 1
• Joy of Gospel excerpt - Sec I
• Using the 4Ls - Sec I
• Its a glorious time to be a faithful catholic - Packet 1
• USCCB on Social Media - Packet 1
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page

We are creating videos every day including news from Rome reflections on the Daily Readings video statements on aspects of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship and committee chairmens greetings on the USCCB website

We are converting dozens of major print books to e-books for distribution through Amazon and iTunes We are building a new video studio with capacity to receive satellite feeds from the Vatican

Conclusion

There is more to do however The USCCB staff bishops and consultants to the Communications Committee and to the Task Force on Communications know that we have to increase content available to the faithful who use Spanish as their primary language We need to learn to speak in a style that is accessible to a generation accustomed to 15 second commercials and 140 character texts who prefer content that allows them to respond and comment

The challenges of this moment in communications technology are a boundless opportunity for evangelization if we are willing to speakhellip and listen

The back-and-forth digital communication that is spreading like wildfire across our dioceses is our chance to bring the Gospel to millions of Catholics

We have to be in the digital conversations And we have to listen too

As our Holy Father said on the World Day of Communication this past January

Word and silence learning to communicate is learning to listen and contemplate as well as speak This is especially important for those engaged in the task of evangelization both silence and word are essential elements integral to the Churchs work of communication for the sake of a renewed proclamation of Christ in todays world

We are in a paradigm shift as profound as when the printing press made literacy a necessity or when television made the planet feel smaller Paradigm shifts like all major changes are unsettling and uncomfortable

But just as the Church learned how to use the book and film to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth so today we must teach ourselves to learn these new tools to help people find the faith in their ordinary days and in their times of need

Thank you for listening today and for your willingness to be missionaries on the Digital Continent

• Packet 1 - Cover
• Packet 1 - contents page 2
• Introduction - Packet 1
• Pages from Disciples-Called-To-Witness-The-New-Evangelization
• The term Kerygma -sec 1
• Joy of Gospel excerpt - Sec I
• Using the 4Ls - Sec I
• Its a glorious time to be a faithful catholic - Packet 1
• USCCB on Social Media - Packet 1
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page
• Blank Page