The New Evangelization

Disciples Called to Witness

Gracious and merciful God, we pray that through the Holy Spirit all Catholics may hear the call of the New Evangelization and seek a

deeper relationship with your Son, Jesus.

We pray that the New Evangelization will renew the Church, inspiring all Catholics to “go forth and make disciples of all nations” and

transform society through the power of the Gospel.

We pray for all members of the Church, that we heed the words of Christ—“do not be afraid”—and strengthened by the Holy Spirit’s gift of courage, give witness to the Gospel and share our faith with others.

We pray that we may become like the father of the prodigal son—filled with compassion for our missing brothers and sisters—and run to

embrace them upon their return.

We pray that all people yearning to know Christ and the Church may encounter him through the faithful who witness to his love in their

lives.

Loving God, our Father, strengthen us to become witnesses to the saving grace of your Son, Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with

you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.

“‘But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.

While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?’”

—Acts 1:8-11

Largest denomination in the country?Catholics

Second Largest?Ex-Catholics

For every 1 person that joins the Church, 4 leave

78% of those ex-Catholics left the Church between the ages of 15 & 23

Only 23% of Catholics attend Mass each week (DCW)

Why are we staring at the sky??

Pew & Gallup 2010

Why are you still here?“Always be ready to give an explanation” 1 Peter 3.13

Generational

Vatican II

Postmodern

“Third Era”

Societal Shift

What do the following pictures

mean?

I V X L C D M

L

“The media IS the message” -Tony Jones

Launched 20048 years old

Launched 20066 years old

“…the New Evangelization is not a single formula meant for all

circumstances; first and foremost it is a personal “profound experience of

God””

Discipleship&

Witness

Conversion

Discipleship(The rest of it)

Witness

“The measure of an apostolic community is not in the

legends created by heroic acts, but in the quality and

texture of what the community considers ordinary living”

-Alan Hirsch

“What will speak most to the young people with whom you

work is the authenticity of your faith; that it means

something to you and you live because you know Christ.”

-Archbishop Sartain

“It seems to me that among the characteristics called for by the New Evangelization,

the most important are delight, awe, wonder, adoration, confidence,

boldness, humility, and love.” -Archbishop

SartainStrengthen Your Brothers 10-

28-11

“At the conclusion of this document presenting the Catechism of the Catholic Church,

I beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word and Mother of the Church, to

support with her powerful intercession the catechetical work of the entire Church on every level,

at this time when she is called to a new effort of evangelization. May the light of the true faith free humanity from the ignorance and slavery of sin in order to lead it to the only freedom worthy of the

name (cf. Jn 8:32): that of life in Jesus Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, here below and in the

Kingdom of heaven, in the fullness of the blessed vision of God face to face (cf. 1 Cor 13:12; 2 Cor 5:6–

8)! “

-Bl. John Paul IIOctober 11, 1992