Convocation 2011 June 9, 2011

1. Convocation 2011June 9, 2011 Live and Preach the Gospel Lifelong Learning Acting Justly

2. Live and Preach the Gospel ACTIVITIES Teach parishioners what it means to be Catholic. Need to understand and teach liturgy. All heads of ministry need to have evangelization training. Mass, homily, FaceBook, Website, Testimonies before Mass. Tell people’s stories. Evangelization retreats, small groups: Real Men, Stewardship, Missions, Small Faith. Adult faith formation concentrate on social justice next year. Define “active Catholics”, “evangelizer,” “act justly” in homilies. Bring in presenter for all to learn. Different voice, priest can build on. Christmas in July. Evangelization courses. ATTITUDES To be an evangelizer is to live our baptismal call. Education in faith begins at home. Do your neighbors know you are Catholic. Involve youth and young adults Every parish member involved in ministry\stewardship. Knowing the Gospel itself through meditation, inspired from within from the Holy Spirit to share. “Real Presence” is crucial. Walk the talk of love. Be clear about intent. Why are you involved in ministry.

3. Live and Preach the Gospel • ACTIVITIES • Have a discipleship conference. Target everyone, but no one shoe fits all. Have different forms of teaching. • Evangelize through sacraments, quinceaneras, retreats (language is a challenge). • Leadership development. Peer to peer, mentoring of younger members. • ATTITUDES • People are afraid of talking about our experience of God. Need more opportunities. Inner life in church is important as well as outreach experiences. • Need a deeper lived relationship with God. Help spiritual conversions happen. • Sharing experiences have to come in a safe environment. Experience comes before intellect. • Be flexible, answer what people are asking. Prayer leads to desire to learn more. • People are seeking. • It’s not a one shot deal. Consistent dialogue. • Diocese is called to give more Catholic social justice teaching. • Need more information in homilies to use as guide. Be excited. • Clarify confusion between patriotism and Christian values. Don’t confuse communism/socialism with Catholic Social Teaching. • Formation needs direct service and education. • If there is no good news for the poor, no evangelization is happening.

4. Live and Preach the Gospel • ACTIVITIES • Community assessment to identify real needs. Contact non-profits to see how we can help. • Include social justice prayer in adoration. • Need to extend beyond the few. Personal invitation to opportunities to involvement. Be an example in our workplace. • Opportunities for involvement: St. Vincent de Paul, Catechist, Knights. • Catholic radio • Fed by Sunday Eucharist and then sent into world to bring Gospel values to our communities. (not just us.) • Education and evangelization, advocate through bulletin. Invite speaker to deanery for Lent. Offer a variety of retreats. Retreat for leaders to reflect on evangelizing themselves. • Teens go to other denominations for ideas and report back. • ATTITUDES • Evangelization needs education, experience with the poor and deep faith reflection. Result: Transformation. • Move from direct service to asking why. (No thanks will be given.) • All parish activities are evangelizing. • There needs to be a reason for the activity. • Not everyone needs to do everything. • Be good Christian business people. • Church gives place to put our talents to work. It’s not just about money.

5. Live and Preach the Gospel • ACTIVITIES • Web search for resources. • Elicit commitments to social justice. • Parish dinners / prayer services with guest speakers. • Target groups that no longer come to church. • Introduce yourselves to newcomers. • Be the best example at funerals; have booklets to send home; Be at hospitals, leave a bulletin or rosary • List active parishioners; keep track of whose coming. Other parishioners can help. • Identify who will evangelize the people in the pews. We need to be convinced about what our faith means to us. • Have a church booth at the sports field. • Identify those young people in pain before they fall away or commit suicide. • Send team from one parish to another. • ATTITUDES • Teach us how to share our faith. • Be a good example. Don’t be afraid to speak. Encourage. Teach, Be silent. Listen. Respond. Clarify. • Acceptance. Affirmation. Acknowledgement. No Cross talk. Share successes. • Remind of responsibility. Red flag the world. • Evangelization grows out of “my” culture into “ours.” • Joyful sharing in hope

6. Live and Preach the Gospel • ACTIVITIES • Reconciliation. Involve recent converts. Set up dialogues. • “Called and Gifted.” Invite everyone. Promote hands-on attitude in all parishioners. • Parish open house with table topics. • Perform service actions with other faiths. • Multi-church music concerts. • Identify the talents of others through Stewardship cards. • Have different groups involved in the Mass and able to speak about their ministries.

7. Lifelong Learning • Utilize elders for experience and insights. • Hot button topics bring people out. Examples: Theology of the Body. Science and Religion. • Target programs to specific age groups. Examples: Young adult and young married help groups. • “Generations of Faith.” • Family RCIA. • Parent attendance at Confirmation prep. • Bible study. • Monthly family sessions in elementary grades. • Materials to help parents teach children. • Promote: Media, (radio), FaceBook, blanket e-mail, bulletins, diocesan and deanery Web sites. • Brown bag lunches with educational sessions. • Get confirmandi involved in parish ministries • Use parent-child teams in ministry. (Ems, Lectors, etc.) • Returning Catholics open all year. • Personal one on one invitations, based on interests. • Sharing personal history creates opportunities for learning. • “Called and Gifted.” Help people recognize their gifts.

8. Lifelong Learning • Planned sequence vs. more spontaneous offerings. • Three minute catechesis before or after Mass. • Online programs and Web based discussions. • Involve the target audience in planning. • Listen to needs before planning events. • Parish teams visit homes. • Big names bring people out, but it’s a funding challenge. • Adjust sacramental prep to a calendar at the deanery level. • Smorgasbord of activities; times, methods, topics. • Book club discussion groups. • Fall conference. Parishes take ownership. • Intergenerational events. i.e. community garden. • Retreats. • Servant School • Realize the mission field is next door. • Be sensitive to a “no change” mind set. • Starts with me, rather than imposing on others. • Use what we have that works.

9. Lifelong Learning • Mentors. • Aim for gradual transition rather than abrupt change. • The timing of events is important. • Difficulties of multicultural events. • Interdenominational Bible studies, etc. • Networking. • Problem: Engaging new people, not always the same people. • Offer training after time and talent, promptly • Ministry Fair • Communication among ministries so people know what is available. • Help people take responsibility and ownership of their continuing education. • “A Night in Bethlehem.” (or Jerusalem) Transforming the parish hall.

10. Acting Justly • Identify the injustices and needs in the parishes and communities. • Engage people in the Prison Ministry and coordinate from the deanery level. • Restructure social justice and direct service ministries so they work together. • Incorporate Fair Trade opportunities into more events. • Develop a refugee ministry that includes life skills, inculturation, and send parishioners to world relief training to be developed in refugee work. • Encourage school-led projects like Robonka. • Catholic social teaching workshop or retreat and how to apply principles in work, family and church. • Infuse CST throughout homilies. • Listen to the needs of the community through relationship-building. This may be home visits to find program and community needs. • Use CST when talking to legislators. • Workshop on “Radical Hospitality to the Poor.” • Use CRS and CCHD resources for CST • Workshop on the two feet of social mission. • Workshop on communities of Salt and Light. • Put CST in Prayers of Faithful • Integrate CST into RCIA, youth ministry and adult formation

11. Acting Justly • Implement “Just Faith,” “Just Matters” and\or “Just Neighbor.” These are formation programs in CST and poverty. • Workshop on sacraments in relation to CST. • Use social justice resources from Benedictine monasteries at Ascension and St. Gertrude’s • Workshop on “Faithful Citizenship” before election • Create a legislative network. • Implement poverty simulation through www.capai.org • Collaborate and partner ecumenically on direct service and social justice ministry. • Voter registration drive. • Workshop on the difference between nationalism and Christian values. • Bring up offertory using social justice ministries. • Education series on CST • Hold people up who live out CST awareness • Workshop on “Why” moving direct service to justice. • Workshop on “Faith in Action.”