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Evangelization
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Interested in taking some on-line Catholic Evangelization Training courses? The Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association (PNCEA), founded by the Paulist Fathers in 1977 to equip Catholics to evangelize, has several Online Courses for Spring 2008 available through the Paulist Evangelist Training Institute.
Read more about the courses available and download registration information.
Listen to a 5 1/2 minute narrated slide presentation.
Evangelization
Pope Paul VI in response to the 1974 synod of Bishops issued the encyclical, On Evangelization in the Modern World . Despite the gospel mandate Jesus gave us to “Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, many Catholics are reluctant to share “the Good News of the kingdom of God”. In his encyclical, Pope Paul VI reminded us that we are to take just as seriously our mandate to “evangelize” as were the early Christians.
Cardinal Avery Dulles once noted that if fifty years ago someone had asked the question: “Can the Roman Catholic Church be evangelical", “some Catholics and most Evangelicals would have answered ' no'”. Protestant churches were seen as churches of proclamation and evangelization. However, the Catholic Church was seen as a church of liturgy and law, centered on tradition, hierarchy, and sacraments.
The Catholic Church has always been committed to missionary activity, but with the Second Vatican Council its understanding of missionary activity was broadened and the word evangelization was recovered for Catholics. Every Catholic is called to proclaim the good news of God’s reign through word and example. By virtue of our Baptism each of us is called to spread the Gospel message to all.
It has been said that there is a crisis of meaning in the lives of many people today. They yearn for happiness and peace and something to believe in. Our world is fraught with war, poverty, violence and many other issues challenging the human community. Evangelization reminds us of the importance of a personal relationship with the God who created us, loves us unconditionally and has saved us. This is the good news we have to share that may help others answer the yearnings of their own hearts. With God’s grace, the example of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit we can - go and make disciples.