THE MEANS OF EVANGELIZATION AND OF THE FORMATION OF EVANGELIZERS

1. THE MEANS OF EVANGELIZATION AND OF THE FORMATION OF EVANGELIZERS A YOUTH RESPONSE Guide: Dr Paul Vadakumpadan SDB Preparedby: Bro Puthiyidathu Mathew MCBS

2. INTRODUCTION Evangelization is the crux of the Church. • The Church needs to move beyond tradition • Employ new ways of evangelization. • Involve the young.

3. Importance of New Means “Missionary activity, which is carried out in a wide variety of ways, is the task of all the Christian faithful” (RM-71) • . • Church finds new ways and searching new possibilities to continue her mission in the modern world. • The complex life situations invite us to find out more effective and attractive methods which give an impetus to the zeal of youngsters.

4. “How do we bring the message of Christ to non-Christian young people who represent the future of entire continents? Clearly, the ordinary means of pastoral work are not sufficient: what are needed are associations, institutions, special centers and groups, and cultural and social initiatives for young people” (RM-37). • “This question of "how to evangelize" is permanently relevant, because the methods of evangelizing vary according to the different circumstances of time, place and culture, and because they thereby present a certain challenge to our capacity for discovery and adaptation” (EN-40).

5. School of Evangelization Proclamation of Good news is the duty of each and every Christian. • It cannot be completed with few priests and religious. • School of evangelization gives training to the laypeople who are seriously thinking about mission work. • The training includes intellectual formation and practical application through field work.

6. “It is the task of the Pastors to ensure that the laity are formed as evangelizers to be able to face the challenges of the contemporary world, not just with worldly wisdom and efficiency, but with hearts renewed and strengthened by the truth of Christ.”(EA- 45) • “While we are spending great sums of money to educate and form our clergy in large houses of formation and with well-organized programs, we cannot allow the formation of laity, as particular groups or as lay ministries, to be neglected. …” (FABC, Final Statement of Fourth Plenary Assembly, September 16-25, 1986, Tokyo, Japan)

7. Mission Volunteers Tapping the enthusiasm of youth to take challenges • Youngsters are encouraged to stay with missionaries for at least six months after their graduation. • They are trained as missionaries of Christ in different ways. • It is a period of experience enabling the youth to commit their whole life for the Kingdom of God. • They can support the missions in different ways.

8. “Circumstances invite us to make special mention of the young…….. young people who are well trained in faith and prayer must become more and more the apostles of youth. The Church counts greatly on their contribution, and we ourselves have often manifested our full confidence in them” (RM-72). • “To them (youth)the Church offers the truth of the Gospel as a joyful and liberating mystery to be known, lived and shared, with conviction and courage” (EA-47).

10. Mission Hostels and Teachers Training youngsters enlightened by the Christian values to be responsible to their lives and community. • Helping them be Salt and Light in schools, colleges, etc. • Church is the largest NGO in India but only a handful of institutions and activities involved in proclaiming the kerygma. • Role of teachers in moulding the youngsters

11. The system of Catholic education must become still more clearly directed towards human promotion, providing an environment where students receive not only the formal elements of schooling but, more broadly, an integral human formation based upon the teachings of Christ.Catholic schools should continue to be places where the faith can be freely proposed and received (EA-37).

13. Mission Clinics Mission clinic enables aspiring nurses and doctors to serve the God’s kingdom by liberating the sick and needy from their bondage. • Helps them to be generous to serve the poor. • Motivation for village youth

15. Tourism for mission Idea about mission fields to people interested in mission work • Help to ‘foretaste the mission’. • The possibility of using tourism as an activity of mission is a concern of Church also (RM-82).

17. “International tourism has now become a mass phenomenon. This is a positive development if tourists maintain an attitude of respect and a desire for mutual cultural enrichment, avoiding ostentation and waste, and seeking contact with other people. But Christians are expected above all to be aware of their obligation to bear witness always to their faith and love of Christ. Firsthand knowledge of the missionary life and of new Christian communities also can be an enriching experience and can strengthen one's faith. Visiting the missions is commendable, especially on the part of young people who go there to serve and to gain an intense experience of the Christian life” (RM-82).

18. Business as mission calls the catholic business people who are ready to do something for the poor. • They are expected to do something for the people. • Support in different ways - primary schools, clinics, training centres, student scholarships, etc. • Employ practicing and enthusiastic Catholics to support the entrepreneurs.

19. In this context the laity belonging to the world of business hear the call of God to live out their faith according to Gospel values and the needs of the others. This involves a number of options in their business- from the simple exercise of the values of truth, justice and love to their active participation in transforming the social structure of the whole process towards greater worker participation, more discerning consumer guidance, more responsible interventions by Governments and a more equitable society. •  (FABC, Final Statement of Fourth Plenary Assembly, September 16-25, 1986, Tokyo, Japan, in FABC Papers No.47, p 36)

21. Church in Asia Forum To enrich and keep up the missionary zeal in the hearts of seminarians/religious/lay people in order to make them equipped for the Evangelization. • Emphasis on Asia based on Vatican II, encyclicals and other documents of the Magisterium on mission. • Focus on seminarians - equipping for future mission.

22. “The heart of the Church in Asia will be restless until the whole of Asia finds its rest in the peace of Christ, the Risen Lord.” (EA-10) • ."Just as in the first millennium the Cross was planted on the soil of Europe, and in the second on that of the Americas and Africa, we can pray that in the Third Christian Millennium a great harvest of faith will be reaped in this vast and vital continent." (EA-1)

23. Specific Ministries There are Organizations and Associations where like-minded people from different professions come together for common cause. • When a person is really motivated by the love of God he/she spontaneously shares and invites others to experience that joy. • Initiatives by teachers, students, doctors, engineers, nurses, policemen, etc. • Means - retreats, arranging prayer groups, etc.

25. Village Outreach A group of youngsters after having a short orientation programme reach out to villages where they spent a few days. • Stay in different families and get involved in different activities. • House visits in groups of 3-5. • Personal interaction. • Listening and comforting. • Deepening of faith.

27. Special Thrust on Activities among Politicians and Celebrities Mass appeal of the politicians and celebrities can be used as a means for evangelization. • Influence of politicians, film actors, sports persons, musicians, etc., in the hearts of people cannot be ignored. • Involvement of laity in the politics helps to influence the policies of the government.

28. “Missionary cooperation can also involve leaders in politics, economics, culture and journalism, as well as experts of the various international bodies” (RM-82). • The need of the hour in Asia is for competent and principled lay persons to enter into the realm of party politics and from within, influence the philosophies, programs and activities of political parties and personalities for the common good in the light of the gospel. We commend the lay persons who already have contributed much to this area of public life. (FABC, Final Statement of Fourth Plenary Assembly, September 16-25, 1986, Tokyo, Japan, in FABC Papers No.47, p 26. )

31. Cultural Exchange Programme The youth from younger Christian communities are motivated to visit the places where they can be enriched through the faith life of the people. • Better understanding of other cultures and customs. • Spiritual encounter through different programmes which will strengthen the faith.

33. Conclusion • Each of these methods are effective in their own way. • Need to contextualize the methods for better results. • Need to adapt to the cultural situation. • The Biblical Method (Act 2:43-47) – common prayer, breaking of Bread, fellowship, etc. • Sharing the Good News is not a Propaganda but a LIFE WITENESS of one’s God experience.

34. THANK YOU