evangelization doing what Jesus does Forming Intentional Disciples through the New Evangelization: The Circle of Practice and Invitation

Sing Over Your Children by Matt Maher I flirt with the world It steals my love for you My fear grips my faith And I am left unmoved But your gaze stops my heart Your voice fills the dark Your love is the spark that lights this life And so we rise

Sing Over Your Children by Matt Maher Out of the depths you cry Come and be satisfied Father you sing Father you sing over your children Let us see through your eyes We are your great delight

Sing Over Your Children by Matt Maher You quiet the storm Inside my shipwrecked soul Your Spirit will lead It calls the wayward home At the sound of your name Our sin is washed away In Christ we’re crucified In you we die In you we rise And we’re singing along Your daughters and sons We’re singing your song We are your children

Prayer for the New Evangelization “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10: 13- 15)  

Prayer for the New Evangelization Heavenly Father, Pour forth your Holy Spirit to inspire me with these words from Holy Scripture. Stir in my soul the desire to renew my faith and deepen my relationship with your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ so that I might truly believe in and live the Good News. Open my heart to hear the Gospel and grant me the confidence to proclaim the Good News to others.

Prayer for the New Evangelization Pour out your Spirit, so that I might be strengthened to go forth and witness to the Gospel in my everyday life through my words and actions. In moments of hesitation, remind me: If not me, then who will proclaim the Gospel? If not now, then when will the Gospel be proclaimed? If not the truth of the Gospel, then what shall I proclaim?

Prayer for the New Evangelization God, our Father, I pray that through the Holy Spirit I might hear the call of the New Evangelization to deepen my faith, grow in confidence to proclaim the Gospel, and boldly witness to the saving grace of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and- worship/prayers/new-evangelization- prayer.cfm)

evangelization doing what Jesus does Forming Intentional Disciples through the New Evangelization: The Circle of Practice and Invitation

The New Evangelization: Putting Jesus at the Center of Our Lives

The New Evangelization: Putting Jesus at the Center of our Lives The purpose of evangelization: “The purpose of evangelization is not waking up a generic ‘faith.’ Evangelizers seek to bring people to an encounter with the person of Jesus of Nazareth, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilate, and risen from the dead” (“Forming Intentional Disciples,” Sherry Weddell, OSV 2012, page 202).

The New Evangelization: Putting Jesus at the Center of our Lives The central unifying principle of evangelization: Putting the Good News of Jesus at the center of our lives and… responding accordingly with a life of intentional discipleship in the Church. This is an ongoing process of growth through a lifelong series of conversion thresholds.

The New Evangelization: Putting Jesus at the Center of our Lives The goal of evangelization: Creating a “culture” of Gospel-based intentional discipleship… on both the personal and parish levels, such that discipleship is normative, and others are invited to become disciples.

The New Evangelization: Putting Jesus at the Center of our Lives A Culture of Gospel-based Intentional Discipleship on the Personal Level: A parish where each person is encouraged in their personal faith journey of knowing Jesus, being changed by him, and following his ways. The focus is always on Jesus as Good News and the invitation to follow him as an intentional disciple.

The New Evangelization: Putting Jesus at the Center of our Lives A Culture of Gospel-based Intentional Discipleship on the Parish Level: A parish where the language, values, and practices communicate a consistent and integrated commitment to Gospel-based intentional discipleship. The faith journey is openly talked about. The teaching of the Gospel is central. People discover the Good News for their lives. The parish is structured to form and call disciples.

The New Evangelization: The Circle of Practice and Invitation

The New Evangelization: The Circle of Practice and Invitation Whether the target of evangelization is… active Catholics, sleepy Catholics, Catholics who have left, or those who have never heard of Christ, the process of evangelization is the same. The New Evangelization happens through a “Circle of Practice and Invitation.”  

The New Evangelization: The Circle of Practice and Invitation The Circle is the repeating process of… Doing What Jesus Does through the… Practice of Becoming Disciples of Christ and the Invitation of Calling Intentional Disciples  

The New Evangelization: The Circle of Practice and Invitation This is the Biblical model for forming, strengthening, and growing the Church This is the succession plan of Jesus.

The New Evangelization: The Circle of Practice and Invitation :Practice leads to Invitation leads to deeper Practice leads to deeper Invitation leads to…etc.   All evangelization initiatives need to be modeled on the Circle of Practice and Invitation.

The New Evangelization Doing What Jesus Does through the Circle of Practice and Invitation

The Circle of Practice and Invitation The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice walking the journey of faith in servant obedience to the Father’s will The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples Invite others to take a faith journey as disciples of Jesus starting where they are

The Circle of Practice and Invitation The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice dwelling in deep personal relationship with the Father in personal and communal prayer The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples Invite others to discover a personal relationship with Jesus as disciples

The Circle of Practice and Invitation The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice a life centered on the ways of God’s Good News Kingdom (Gospel) The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples Invite others to discover the Good News of Jesus and his message in the Gospel

The Circle of Practice and Invitation The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice speaking about God’s Good News in your personal faith journey The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples Invite others to discover how Jesus is Good News for their personal lives

The Circle of Practice and Invitation The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice bringing God’s Good News to the lost, least, and outcast The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples Invite others to seek out and serve the lost to encounter the living presence of Christ

The Circle of Practice and Invitation The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice equipping a community of intentional disciples to lead the Church The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples Invite others to grow as intentional disciples in the community of the Church

The Circle of Practice and Invitation Formed and equipped disciples now move into the practice of becoming disciples of Christ and the circle repeats… Disciples make new disciples! The mission of the Church: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19)

The New Evangelization Applying the Circle of Practice and Invitation in the Parish Setting

Applying the Circle of Practice and Invitation Remember that evangelization is not a “program,” it is a “culture” practiced through personal relationships and parish paradigms. We need to foster a “culture of evangelization and intentional discipleship” by applying the Circle of Practice and Invitation in ways that are “new in ardor, methods, and expression.” (John Paul II)

Applying the Circle of Practice and Invitation The Circle of Practice and Invitation provides the necessary components for a parish culture of evangelization and discipleship. Here is one possible process that can be used and adapted to foster the culture of evangelization and discipleship in the parish setting with staff, council, committees, ministries, and small groups.

Applying the Circle of Practice and Invitation This process can be simplified or expanded depending on the situation and goal. The various components can be done one at a time or the process can be embellished for a day or weekend retreat. All components are essential and build in order.

The New Evangelization A Parish Process for Practicing/Inviting Gospel-based Intentional Discipleship

A Parish Process for Practicing/Inviting Discipleship Begin and End with Prayer Share Personal Faith Journeys Create and Share Personal Faith Timelines Tell the Good News Story of Jesus

A Parish Process for Practicing/Inviting Discipleship Find Your Personal Good News Elevator Speech Share Your Elevator Speech Tell the Story of Jesus’ Commitment to the Lost

A Parish Process for Practicing/Inviting Discipleship Find Your Personal Mission to the Lost Share Your Mission to the Lost Explore How the Community Can Support and Encourage the Mission to the Lost

A Parish Process for Practicing/Inviting Discipleship Invite People to Join Intentional Discipleship Small Groups for Prayer, Gospel, Catechism, and Service to the Lost Recruit, Form, and Equip Small Group Leaders Resource the Small Groups for Growth in and Conversion to Discipleship in the Church

A Parish Process for Practicing/Inviting Discipleship Invite Formed and Equipped Disciples to Become Leaders of New Groups Form new small intentional discipleship groups Continue the Circle of Practice and Invitation to Build a Culture of Evangelization and Intentional Discipleship in the Parish