"To invite all people in the United States, whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith"
"To invite all people in the United States, whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith"
Faith Media
P.O. Box 525
Milford, MA
To make every Catholic institution, especially our parishes, more welcoming
review of the hospitality of our institutions
use of parochial schools and religious education programs for outreach and welcome for the whole family
workshops on greeting and welcoming
retraining of ushers, receptionists, and other personnel
study of the access and availability of our institutions to people (e.g., considering event times, lighting, and signs and posters), particularly with regard to ways to welcome those with disabilities (e.g., having ramps into churches, adequate sound system
106
Recommendations
- Consider establishing
a ministry of greeting
and outreach
To help every Catholic feel comfortable about sharing his or her faith and inviting people to discover Christ in our Catholic family of believers
faith-sharing groups
training on discerning religious experience and articulating it
development of a greater ability to listen and empathize
encouragement of converts to share their stories of faith
107
Recommendations
- Faith Sharing group- Share a story on Essential Mission
To develop within families and households the capacity to share the Gospel
programs to support parents as the primary sharers of faith with their children
family outreach to other families to experience the Good News of Jesus
training programs for families, individually or in support groups, on more effective methods of sharing the Gospel
fostering of regular family prayer and share time
108
Recommendations
- Emphasis on prayer at meal time- Use of refrigerator magnets- Establish a devotional corner, say family rosary, read from faith based literature and/or Bible
To equip and empower our active Catholic members to exercise their baptismal call to evangelize
renewal days
witness training
training of Catholics for one-to-one evangelization
use of baptismal and sacramental preparation to expand understandings of discipleship
modeling and witness from those involved in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
evangelization components in religious education materials
parish missions
preparation of specially designated people as full-time evangelizers
109
Recommendations
- Establish and train Evangelization Teams- Using Essential Mission workshop outline define Parish Evangelization mission.
To use special times in parish and family life to invite people to faith
invitation to young families to share about forming their young children in faith
special ministry to young adults in parishes and college campuses
emphasis on the evangelizing dimension of youth ministry for middle school and high school students
involvement of youth and families in ministries of faith and service to others
110
Recommendations
- Consider enlisting Knights of Columbus to lead this objective.- Incorporate outreach parish events into annual calendar.
To cultivate an active core of the baptized to serve as ministers of evangelization in their parishes, dioceses, neighborhoods, workplaces, and homes
formation of diocesan evangelization committees and offices
formation of evangelization teams in parishes
formation and support of national and regional schools of evangelization
workshops and support groups for those involved in evangelization in a more explicit way
111
Recommendations
- Establish and train Evangelization Teams- Using Essential Mission workshop outline define Parish Evangelization mission.- Estabilsh parish link to Diocesans Evangelization team/committee
To effectively invite people to our Church
careful input into the images that are projected about the Church through the media
recruitment of Catholics skilled in media to assist in this new imaging
care for the evangelizing dimension of every official church pronouncement
development of national media campaigns that describe the Catholic Church
Possible Strategies on the Local Level
mailings, home visits, and consistent invitation to people newly moving into parish areas
neighborhood publicity through newspapers and posters
periodic taking of a census;
involvement in and service to the neighborhood
development of neighborhood, parish, and local events to which people would be specially invited (e.g., open houses, open forums for airing questions and issues events for friends or extended families, or other programs of welcoming)
greater sensitivity to the needs of the seeker
112
To design programs of outreach for those who have ceased being active in the Church
development of programs to help people experience reconciliation
renewed celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
programs for the divorced and separated and for those who feel alienated from the Church
professional surveys of inactive Catholics
development of ministries that emphasize the mercy and compassion of God
parish missions
113
Recommendations
- Identify and compile a list of former parishioners
- Perform exit interview for all parishioners departing
- Initiate active Catholics Come Home Ministry
To design programs that reach out in particular ways to those who do not participate in a church community or who seek the fullness of faith
formation of innovative methods of inquiry in the period before the catechumenate
programs of hospitality and welcome, at the local church or in homes
exploration of new forms of Catholic presence in cities, suburban malls, storefronts, and other places of congregation
personal visits
regional mailings
114
Recommendations
- Consider establishing a ministry of greeting and outreach.
- Compile list of approved Internet sites and provide pamphlets or booklets highlighting the messages of Catholic Community.
To foster cultural diversity within the unity of the Church
serious review of diocesan policies about parish organization, leadership, and empowerment to ensure that newcomers to our land have a place in the Church
training of clergy and ministers in needed foreign languages
programs to advance greater understanding of cultural diversity
efforts to help newcomers to our land to develop their own social and church structures (while ensuring the unity of the Church)
joint celebrations of the many cultures represented in our parishes, especially on great feast days, to reflect the Catholic scope of our lives
115
Recommendations
- Consider establishing a ministry dedicated to outreach to others from diverse backgrounds.
To deepen ecumenical involvement
careful collaboration with local and state ecumenical agencies
joint study of Roman Catholic and other Christian dialogues touching on evangelization, mission, and proselytism
study of Roman Catholic understandings of and approaches to Judaism
development of sensitivities to interreligious relationship and Roman Catholic teaching on dialogue and proclamation
mutual dialogue and sharing
joint scriptural study and social justice projects
shared discussion groups and socials
joint services of prayer and devotion, where appropriate
116
Recommendations
- Empower DRE to explore opportunities for interreligious interaction at various levels within the parish (CCD, youth and Adult)
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Recommendations
- Consider establishing a ministry of greeting and outreach.
