New Evangelisation

Sacred Heart Statue at Holy Cross Catholic ChurchAs Catholic, each one of us is challenged to evangelise. In the synod documents, we read; “The words of eternal life, which have been given to us in our encountering Jesus Christ, are destined for everyone.” We are challenged at the end of mass to “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” The purpose of each parish is this very task, to evangelise.

Is it possible for us to lose our zeal to Announce the Gospel? Have we replaced our ardour with fear and weariness? Have we retreated into ourselves and somehow lost the desire to give to others what we have received? In preparation for a new evangelisation the Church asks us to consider that “Oftentimes, the lack of joy and hope is so strong as to wear thin the very fabric of our Christian communities. The new evangelisation is proposed in these places as a remedy to bring joy and courage to life and become an imperative, invigorating our faith.”

(Extract from Diocese of Plymouth New Evangelisation web pages)

For access to key document, see: formation.plymouth-diocese.org.uk/symposium/links