Evangelization Toolkit
Design Process
1. Introduction: Parish Evangelization
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1. Introduction: Parish Evangelization
7 Principles for Parish Evangelization from Evangelii Gaudium
Diocese of Green Bay 
Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization
USCCB 2017 www.catholicapostolatecenter.org/living-as-missionary-disciples.html Go and Make Disciples
USCCB
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The Evangelizing Parish Today
Rev. Frank DeSiano
The Parish as a School of Discipleship
Donna Ciangio, OP
"Intentional Disciples: Bearing Spiritual Fruit that Sustains"
Bobby Vidal (Becoming a Parish of Intentional Disciples, edited by Sherry Weddell, OSV, 2015) Characteristics of a Mission-Driven Parish
Bobby Vidal The parish is diverse in its makeup but united in how it understands its communal identity. The parish has different evangelizing experiences that connect and relate to one another, creating a clear and simple path for individuals to become intentional disciples. This path is visible and the community understands that it has priority -all other experiences of the parish flow from this path or flow to it. The parish regularly talks about its communal identity as one that makes disciples. Pastoral practice in a mission-driven parish focuses energy, time, and resources on:
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2. Assess: Parish Evangelization Efforts
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Resource #1. Evangelization Parish Assessment Questions
Bobby Vidal ("Intentional Disciples: Bearing Spiritual Fruit that Sustains" in Becoming a Parish of Intentional Disciples, edited by Sherry Weddell, OSV, 2015)
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Go Make Disciples Assessment Tool
Diocese of St. Petersburg
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3. Review: Parish Evangelization Approaches & Resources
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Be My Witness
Renew InternationalBe My Witness gets the conversation started in the parish about the single most important topic facing our Church today - evangelization. It gives parish leaders the process and tools to build an ever-widening circle of conversion and commitment in two integrated phases: Phase 1 equips parish staff, leaders, and pastoral councils to lead mission-focused change; Phase 2 engages and forms parishioners as missionary disciples, ready to become partners in the New Evangelization. The results are the pastoral plans and motivation needed to transform the parish into a “center of constant missionary outreach.” Catherine of Siena InstituteMaking Disciples is a workshop that trains parish leaders to fostering the awakening of personal faith in Christ and intentional discipleship. Among the things that Making Disciples will help leaders learn are: how intentional discipleship differs from and fosters Catholic identity and is the source of the spiritual life and foundation of effective pastoral ministry; how to introduce post-modern people to Jesus and the Church; how to facilitate spiritual growth in the baptized and non-baptized; ways of sharing your own personal witness and the "Great Story" of Jesus in gentle, intriguing, and non-threatening ways; how parish based evangelization processes and other existing parish programs can help create a parish culture of discipleship; and how to integrate these evangelizing skills and concepts into the full spectrum of parish life and ministry. Making Disciples is three-level process, MD 101, MD 201, and MD 301. For a downloadable brochure that describes all three, go here.
ChristLife: Catholic Ministry for Evangelization ChristLife equips Catholics for the essential work of evangelization so others might personally encounter Jesus Christ and be transformed into His missionary disciples. Evangelization is a purposeful effort to introduce people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and His transforming love. The ChristLife series is a three-step evangelization process that is changing lives and transforming parishes. The series consists of three essential elements: discover, follow, and share. Discovering Christ creates this open door for people who are searching for the meaning of their lives where we can share the Good News and the personal love of Jesus Christ. Following Christ provides the tools to help Catholics grow in discipleship, including daily personal prayer, hearing God in Scripture, the power of the sacraments, forgiving one another, spiritual warfare, etc. Sharing Christ equips Catholics with the practical skills to proclaim the Gospel, draw others into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and invite them to become his disciples as members of the Church.
Christ Renews His ParishChrist Renews His ParishTM (CRHP) is a personal and parish spiritual renewal process. As Catholics, we are called to witness to one another the amazing things God has done for us. The CRHP process allows us to do just that—take a break from our busy lives, share our faith with others, and get to know God through his works. Participants attend a 2-day, 1-overnight renewal weekend at their parish to focus on where they are in their spiritual journeys. Music, faith sharing, Mass, and individual and group activities help them reflect on their current relationship with God and inspire them to be open to the way God is working in their lives. (Men and women attend separate weekends.) After attending a renewal weekend, participants are invited to serve on the next men’s/women’s CRHP team at their parish. They will go through a time of team fellowship and formation as the team prays, works, and prepares to lead the next retreat. After sharing in the CRHP weekend, participants are encouraged to seek other ministries in their parish to serve and help make the parish a more vibrant faith community.
Paulist Evangelization MinistriesThe mission of Paulist Evangelization Ministries is to develop effective methods for inviting people to believe in Jesus Christ as Catholics or to become active again in the Catholic faith, and for equipping Catholics with the tools to further this invitation. Among their programs are:
relit: The Heart of Evangelizationrelit: The Heart of Evangelization forms and equips your core faithful theologically, spiritually, and practically so that they can be active evangelists in their own parish and beyond.
relit is a dynamic training program consisting of 18 DVD-based sessions, with insightful discussion questions and more found in the facilitator and participant guides - All of which can be offered as a weekend retreat! However, with a completely flexible implementation plan, you get to choose to offer the training over a weekend, 6-9 weeks, or 18 weeks. Plus, you only need just one small group of committed staff and parishioners to start - from three to thirty parishioners. St. Paul Street Evangelization St. Paul Street Evangelization (SPSE) is a grassroots, non-profit organization, dedicated to responding to the mandate of Jesus to preach the Gospel to all nations by taking the Catholic Faith to the streets. As an on-the-street Catholic evangelization organization, St. Paul Street Evangelization provides an avenue for people to share the Person of Jesus Christ and the truth and beauty of the Catholic Faith with a hungry culture.
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4. Plan: Develop a Parish Evangelization Plan
Planning Resources
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Steps for Starting an Evangelization Ministry
Diocese of Buffalo
The Parish Guide to the New Evangelization
Robert Hater. OSV, 2013.
Setting Hearts on Fire: A Pilot Project on Evangelization
Thomas Sweetser (America Magazine, October 7, 2013)
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Ideas for Creating an Evangelization Plan
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Part V: Key Components of Outreach Programs in Disciples Called to Witness
USCCB
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To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach
Jared Dees. Ave Maria Press, 2016. Using strategies and stories from his book To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, Jared Dees offers ten highly practical and easy-to-implement approaches to evangelizing ministry that have the potential to transform your parish. These approaches are based on the work of thriving ministers and ministries seeing growth in the number of people who are passionate about the Catholic faith. You will be able to immediately implement all of the strategies presented in this webinar. They are simple, effective ways to start transforming yourself and your ministry today.
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Evangelization Essentials: Ten Simple Strategies for More Effective Ministry
Jared Dees |
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Building Bridges to the Heart of Discipleship.
Leisa Anslinger and Stephanie Moore. Catholic Life and Faith, 2015. Building Bridges to the Heart of Discipleship is rooted in Catholic theological and pastoral tradition and is built upon the foundation of research and the best practices of parishes throughout North America. This book begins by setting the context of why parish life matters. We consider who we are as servant leaders, then consider what people seek in a faith community. From there, we look at how we might build bridges, beginning with three initial bridges people and parishes can build, leading one another to the heart of discipleship. The three Bridges are: 1) Welcome, 2) Friendship, and 3) Sharing. Bringing Christ to Others Leisa Anslinger
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Sharing the Faith that You Love
John and Therese Boucher. Word Among Us Press, 2014. You might be wondering, "How could I communicate God's loving presence or share my faith, if I am not always sure of what I believe? How could I bring anyone back to God or to the church? I am not an expert or an evangelist and I don't want to knock on doors!" Fear not! We will help you see the details of your everyday life in the light of a lived faith. We will help you move from accidental kindnesses and invisible beliefs towards intentional acts of faith that enable others to experience Jesus in new ways.This book encourages Christians to have a deeper awareness of the spiritual needs of those you meet in your everyday life. It also goes one step further by affirming the gifts you are given by God so that you can respond to the spiritual hungers of family, friends and co-workers. Finally, we offer practical skills for sharing your faith through four simple steps: prayer, caring, sharing and inviting. |
