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Evangelizing in Smaller Parishes

Evangelizing in Smaller Parishes. One size does not fit all. What are We Aiming For?. A parish full of missionary disciples. Neighborhoods, towns, counties full of missionary disciples.

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Evangelizing in Smaller Parishes

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  1. Evangelizing in Smaller Parishes One size does not fit all

  2. What are We Aiming For? • A parish full of missionary disciples. • Neighborhoods, towns, counties full of missionary disciples. • “…the parish is the Church placed in the neighborhoods of humanity, it lives and is at work through being deeply inserted in human society and intimately bound up with its aspirations and its dramatic events.” (ChristifidelesLaici, 27) • Necessary 1st step: think beyond the church walls. • Evangelization = Re-introduce spouse

  3. How Do We Get There!? • Small Parish Obstacles • 5 “Capital Vices” (Unleash the Gospel, Archdiocese of Detroit) • A Worldly notion of the church – church viewed simply as a human institution and the faith as simply a lifestyle enhancer. Church’s mission becomes captive to human plans. • Spiritual lethargy – overwhelmed by the challenges that face us. • Status quo mentality – institutional hardening, a resistance to change. Structures, etc. have worked in the past and they can be hard to let go of and/or reform. • Fear – fear of taking risks, fear of failure, fear of losing control, fear of getting out of our comfort zone. • Complaining attitude – lamenting that we no longer have the power or prestige that we used to. Things aren’t what they used to be.

  4. How Do We Get There!? - cont’d - • “Every generation of Christians needs to redeem, to sanctify its own time…We Christians are called upon to announce, in our own time, to this world to which we belong and in which we live, the message — old and at the same time new — of the Gospel.” (Christ is Passing By, 132-133)

  5. How Do We Get There!? - cont’d - • “The missionary is convinced that, through the working of the Spirit, there already exists in individuals and peoples an expectation, even if an unconscious one, of knowing the truth about God, about man, and about how we are to be set free from sin and death. The missionary’s enthusiasm in proclaiming Christ comes from the conviction that he is responding to that expectation.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 265)

  6. Principle #1 - Us • “But this conviction has to be sustained by our own constantly renewed experience of savouring Christ’s friendship and his message.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 266) • First question is not what shall I do but who should I be? What shall I become?

  7. Principle #1 – Us, cont’d • “My mission of being in the heart of the people is not just a part of my life or a badge I can take off; it is not an ‘extra’ or just another moment in life. Instead, it is something I cannot uproot from my being without destroying my very self.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 273) • “…for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20) • “Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is nothing else than the culmination of the way he lived his entire life.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 269)

  8. Principle #1 – Us, cont’d • “The Church is an evangelizer, but she begins by being evangelized herself... she needs to listen unceasingly to what she must believe, to her reasons for hoping, to the new commandment of love. She is the People of God immersed in the world, and often tempted by idols, and she always needs to hear the proclamation of the "mighty works of God" which converted her to the Lord...In brief, this means that she has a constant need of being evangelized, if she wishes to retain freshness, vigor and strength in order to proclaim the Gospel…The Church…is evangelized by constant conversion and renewal, in order to evangelize the world with credibility.” (EvangeliiNuntiandi, 15)

  9. Principle #2 – Form a Core, a “12” • “…the presence of a significant number of disciples changes everything.” (Forming Intentional Disciples, Sherry Weddell, 80) • “36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:35-38)

  10. Practical –Your “12” • Who are you “12”? • Hungry and Receptive • Could be people the Lord has already placed in your life… Who do you encounter? • DFF - catechists, or parents • Secretaries - you know everyone! • Moms, meet with moms. Dads...

  11. 1:1s and SGs – Schools of Discipleship/Evangelization • “this comprehensive formation includes more than instruction: it is an apprenticeship of the entire Christian life, it is a “complete Christian initiation”, (CatechesiTradendae 21) which promotes an authentic following of Christ, focused on his Person; it implies education in knowledge of the faith and in the life of faith, in such a manner that the entire person, at his deepest levels, feels enriched by the word of God; it helps the disciple of Christ to transform the old man in order to assume his baptismal responsibilities and to profess the faith from the “heart”; (Cf. CatechesiTradendae 20; St Augustine, De catechizandisrudibus, I, chap. 4, n. 8; CCL 46, 128-129.) • “Missionary disciples accompany missionary disciples.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 173) • “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”  (Romans 10:14-15)

  12. What This Calls Us To… • Trust that God has something to offer • “But if we allow doubts and fears to dampen our courage, instead of being creative we will remain comfortable and make no progress whatsoever.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 129) • Apprenticeship • “Hence the need for a pedagogy which will introduce people step by step to the full appropriation of the mystery.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 171) • Intentionality • Turn in…to go out • Individual focused

  13. What This Calls Us To… • Inefficiency • “Time is greater than space. This principle enables us to work slowly but surely, without being obsessed with immediate results...What we need, then, is to give priority to actions which generate new processes in society and engage other persons and groups who can develop them to the point where they bear fruit in significant historical events. Without anxiety, but with clear convictions and tenacity...also applies to evangelization, which calls for attention to the bigger picture, openness to suitable processes and concern for the long run” (Evangelii Gaudium, 223) • Not concerned with appearance • Willing to get messy/involved • Sacrificial/kenotic love • So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:8)

  14. What This Calls Us To… An example… • Uncomfortable – for us and others • North Dakota diocese - Pastor wanted a major movement within his parish… • Prayed about his initial core, then invited…took 3 months • Then spent 6 months in intensive formation with them (small group and maybe 1:1s?) • …then sent them to replicate what they experienced. Started again.

  15. Some Methods • 1. Inculcate this vision • 2. Pray about your core (which you’ve started) • 3. Invite (expect rejection) • 4. Meet in an intentional way, form deeply, create missionary disciples… • 5a. (Jesus Method) Send them out to replicate and begin to form a new core. (propose if parish staff) • 5b. (Pauline Method) You leave the group to start a new group. • 5c. (Community Method) Stay together but with mission. • What does success look like!?

  16. Small Groups – Content • Use Scripture! • “…the Sacred Scriptures are the very source of evangelization. Consequently, we need to be constantly trained in hearing the word. The Church does not evangelize unless she constantly lets herself be evangelized. It is indispensable that the word of God ‘be ever more fully at the heart of every ecclesial activity…The study of the sacred Scriptures must be a door opened to every believer. It is essential that the revealed word radically enrich our catechesis and all our efforts to pass on the faith. Evangelization demands familiarity with God’s word…Let us receive the sublime treasure of the revealed word.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 174, 175)

  17. Small Groups – Content • Evangelical Catholic: https://www.evangelicalcatholic.org/materials/ • FOCUS: https://focusoncampus.org/find-a-study • Word Among Us: https://bookstore.wau.org/Bible-Studies-C1008.aspx • Emmaus Journey: https://www.sagepayments.net/eftcart/products.asp?M_id=911984837352 • Emmaus Journey (Sunday readings): https://emmausjourney.org/sundays_reading.php

  18. Small Groups – How To Pitch • Pitch: As an opportunity… • Not an “ask” • Live a fulfilled life • With others who are like them • The goals • 1) Fan the flame • 2) Radiate their “heat” • Not a “no” • Why did you ask them?

  19. Small Groups – Other Details • Frequency: Regular (weekly) for set periods of time (like 6 weeks), then take breaks (e.g. 6 on, 6 off). • 1.5 hours in length. • Environment: Open, honest, probing, stretching. Shoulder-to-shoulder orientation towards God. • Goal: fan flames, send people out to light up the nook and cranny of the world they occupy.

  20. 1:1s (Spiritual Guidance/Friendship) • Don’t overthink it… • Goal: accompany someone in order to help them take the next little step… • Shoulder-to-shoulder orientation… • “Although it sounds obvious, spiritual accompaniment must lead others ever closer to God…They cease being pilgrims and become drifters, flitting around themselves and never getting anywhere. To accompany them would be counterproductive if it became a sort of therapy supporting their self-absorption and ceased to be a pilgrimage with Christ to the Father.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 170)

  21. 1:1s (Spiritual Guidance/Friendship) • How do they come to be? • …as a staff person, make it an expected component of the group. • …as a parish leader, look for openings that occur naturally within the group. • What to do? • Overarching principle: love them, be curious, and share. • …as a staff can be more explicit. Bring content (e.g. Scripture). • …as a parish leader might be less explicit. • Make regular event. Touch base via text, phone, or email.

  22. Apostolic Formation Structure (or School of Evangelization or School of Disicpleship)

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