TranslateWhat is Evangelization?
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“Evangelization means bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation and seeking to convert individuals and society by the divine power of the Gospel itself. At its essence are the proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ and the response of a person in faith, which are both works of the Spirit of God. It must always be directly connected to the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘There is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the Kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed’” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 22).
Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical on missionary activity, summed up the three objectives of mission:
- To proclaim the Gospel to all people
- To help bring about the reconversion of those who have received the Gospel but live it only nominally
- To deepen the Gospel in the lives of believers
“We use the word ‘evangelization’ because its root meaning is ‘Gospel’ (Good News) and because it calls us, even if it is uncomfortable, to live the faith of our baptism more openly and to share it more freely.”
“Evangelization has different implications depending on our relationship to Jesus and his Church. For those of us who practice and live our Catholic faith, it is a call to ongoing growth and renewed conversion. For those who have accepted it only in name, it is a call to re-evangelization. For those who have stopped practicing their faith, it is a call to reconciliation. For children, it is a call to be formed into disciples through the family's faith life and religious education. For other Christians, it is an invitation to know the fullness of our message. For those who have no faith, it is a call to conversion to know Christ Jesus and thus experience a change to new life with Christ and his Church.”
Source: Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States Tenth Anniversary
The New Evangelization
“The New Evangelization calls each of us to deepen our faith, believe in the Gospel message and go forth to proclaim the Gospel. The focus of the New Evangelization calls all Catholics to be evangelized and then go forth to evangelize. In a special way, the New Evangelization is focused on re-proposing the Gospel to those who have experienced a crisis of faith. Pope Benedict XVI called for the re-proposing of the Gospel "to those regions awaiting the first evangelization and to those regions where the roots of Christianity are deep but who have experienced a serious crisis of faith due to secularization."
“The message of Jesus Christ needs to be re-sown and watered for those who have already heard Christ's call, but who have not been fully evangelized or catechized.”
Source: Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops -
Contact Us
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jarriodioceseoftrenton.orgDirector: Evangelization and Family Life
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