The New Evangelisation of families in Catholic schools

1. The New Evangelisation of families in Catholic schools Spirit Dream In Burning Hearts Paul Sharkey 29 May 2011

2. What is evangelisation?

3. Evangelisation • a process of deep interior transformation • a conversion at the individual and collective levels of conscience • a transformation of the whole sphere of human activity • and even of the total environment in which humanity lives and has its being EvangeliiNuntiandi, n. 18

4. Evangelisation Categories Gerry Holohan,(1999), Australian Religious Education.

5. Conversion: 4 moments • Interest in the Gospel: there is born, as a result of its first proclamation, an interest in the Gospel, yet without any firm decision. • Conversion - This first moment of interest in the Gospel requires a period of searching to be transformed into a firm option.

6. Conversion: 4 moments • Profession of Faith - Abandonment of self to Jesus Christ arouses in believers a desire to know him more profoundly and to identify with him. • Journeying towards perfection. The basic maturity which gives rise to the profession of faith is not the final point in the process of continuing conversion. Congregation for the Clergy, (1997)General Directory for Catechesis, n. 56

7. Liturgical Catechesis four characteristics of liturgical catechesis: • paschal: it focuses on the death-resurrection mystery of Jesus Christ. • ecclesial: its point of reference is the whole Church, as seen as the assembly gathers to celebrate its identity in public worship

8. Liturgical Catechesis • it is sacramental: it aims to help those catechised discover the meaning of the sacramental symbolic actions so that they realise they are participating in the saving action of Christ. • it is transformative: it aims at conversion and the bringing about of the Reign of God. Catherine Dooley cited in The art of catechesis. (1998) M. Gallagher (Ed.)

9. What is New evangelisation?

10. New Evangelisation Definitions • JP II definition in addres to Latin American Bishops • RedemptorisMissio definition • Re-definitions … • the 2012 Synod of Bishops in October 2012: The New Evangelization: for the transmission of the Christian faith

11. Latin American definition Pope John Paul II repeatedly called for a New Evangelisation an approach to evangelisation that is “new in ardour, methods and expression” Pope John Paul II. (1983) address to the bishops’ councilof Latin American churches

12. RedemptorisMissio definition The traditional, long-accepted model of a division of the world into "Christian countries" and "mission lands", despite its conceptual clarity, is now seen as limited, overly simple and no longer applicable to the present situation Synod of Bishops, XIII Ordinary General Assembly Lineamenta: 2 February 2011, n. 9 cfRedemptorisMissio, n. 33

13. a ‘living sense’ of the faith New Evangelisation is necessary when entire groups of baptised people lose ‘a living sense of the faith’ or perceive Christian beliefs and practices in a superficial and exterior way Redemptoris Missio, n. 33

14. The great moments ofbirth, suffering and death The subjects of New Evangelisation are people who, despite being sacramentally initiated into the Church, do not make connections between what matters most to them – ‘the great moments of birth, suffering and death’ – and the symbols, teachings and rituals of the Catholic Church. ChristifidelesLaici, n. 34

15. The 2012 Synod of Bishops What agendas are driving this Synod? How will the Synod shape our understanding of evangelisation? (and New Evangelisation)?

16. What responsesdoes the termNew Evangelisation evoke for you?

17. How do fruitful communities develop?

18. Communal Faith Transmission The transmission of the faith is never an individual, isolated undertaking, but a communal, ecclesial event Synod of Bishops, XIII Ordinary General Assembly Lineamenta: 2 February 2011, n. 2

19. Unfruitful Evangelisation The problem of unfruitfulness in evangelisation and catechesis today can be seen as an ecclesiological problem which concerns the Church's capacity, more or less, of becoming a real community, a true fraternity and a living body, and not a mechanical thing or enterprise. Synod of Bishops, XIII Ordinary General Assembly Lineamenta: 2 February 2011, n. 2

20. Developing Community Community Development ‘skillset’ • spirituality: a living faith that provides a compelling witness • a capacity to reflect theologically from a Catholic place • an ability to understand and appreciate the contemporary outlook and mindset of families – especially those families not currently engaged in the life of the Church beyond school

21. Community Development Skillset • able to network and offer effective invitations to families, especially those families who are in special need or those who are not engaged with the life of the Church • is creative and able to devise pastoral strategies and structures that connect with those families in new ways

22. Community Development Skillset • appreciates the Church’s understanding of the unfolding stages or ‘moments’ of conversion which begins with the desire of the human heart for love and beauty, then moves into discipleship, then abandonment of self in Christ and finally, moved by the Spirit and nourished by the sacraments, prayer and charity, journeys towards perfection

23. Community Development Skillset • builds the capacity of community members so that the community develops initiatives that matter to them – as distinct from ‘delivering services’ to community members that professionals feel they need

24. Growing a broader ecclesial community of the school site 3 models of partnership between the Catholic school and the wider Church

25. School isNOT Church Schoolnot Church Catholicity of Catholic School is measured by the movement of people from the School community which is understood not to be Church into the Parish Church that gathers on Sunday. Parish Church

26. Church= School SchoolIS Church School is THE Church for families in the school because more than 85% of these families do not experience the broader parish – e.g. at Mass on Sunday Parish Church

27. Family CentredChurch Leiturgia (Liturgy) Kerygma (Proclaiming) A single ecclesial community that builds Church out of the school community by creating strong and multi-layered bonds to other parts of the local Church. 1. Recognisably much more than a school 2. Organic integration of all constituent elements So is Parish Family isChurch So is School Diakonia (Service) So are a range of other integrated services Koinonia (Community) Didache (Teaching)

28. Do these 3 models ring true to your experience? Should we be trying to move into the third model? traps / benefits of the model …

29. Planting seeds of faiththat will grow in our times

30. Reconfessionalising Catholic Mirror staticpre-formulatedCatholic beliefs The interpreter’s views are bounced in the direction of static pre-formed Catholic beliefs and values Interpreter CatholicMirror

31. Secularising Mirror SecularMirror Interpreter The interpreter’s views are bounced in the direction of prevailing social beliefs and values Secularisedworldview

32. The backyard view The school affirms the students’ views and outlook. But everyone stays in the comfort zone of known and safe views. Interpreter The Backyard

33. Catholic Focusing The educational process is illuminated by the light of faith. Students are invited into a space where they actively co-create new Catholic expressions as they engage with the tradition. Interpreter Catholic focusing lens

34. Recontextualising faith