Evangelisation News Update from Sr Michael, Diocesan Evangelisation Team Co-ordinator
 
1. Review day
We had a very positive Assessment Day of the Evangelisation Programme in Sunderland. Both priests and parish reps attended. Since it was a pilot scheme lasting a year, there were many learning points taken on board by the group responsible for the next deanery.
 
2.  South Tyneside.
Plans are afoot for a year's formation programme in this deanery. Much thought and prayer is going into the planning which we hope will be completed by the end of July.
 
3.  RCIA
The Evangelisation Team has been asked to participaate in a Deanery RCIA for Sunderland - 12 parishes, 3 venues and times. This is a follow-up to the Evangelisation Programme highlighting the best tool the church has for evangelisation.
 
4. Sunderland Air Show
6 of the Team are contributing to the Churches Together Christian Witness and Outreach at the Sunderland Air Show  July 26/7. Over 1 million visitors last year.
 
5.Happy Holiday
The approaching holiday season will give many opportunities for spreading the Good News. Keeeeeeep trying!

Online Seeker Centre

Some of the team are at present designing an on-line seeker centre, which will be a starting place for people in our Diocese wanting to find out more online about becoming a Catholic. A central feature of this will be an interactive listing of diocesan RCIA/Journey in Faith courses, so enquirers can find practical details of where to go. Also planned is an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section, a 'What other people have said about becoming a Catholic' section, a first steps section, and more. Keep visiting www.rcdhn.org.uk/seekercentre

Evangelisation in daily life

Continuing a series of experience centred stories connected with evangelisation written by people from our diocese:

"What was I doing there? A Parish Renewal Weekend – what was that all about? How could there be enough to fill a weekend?
I was a single mum, coming up to finals as a mature student, believing that my ‘real’ life was what happened out in the world, not in church on Sundays. My life was busy but vaguely unsatisfying.
However, some verbal ‘strong-arm’ tactics from the parish priest and, to be honest, the chance of a child-free weekend had featured strongly in my decision to attend.
It was amazing!
I was introduced to Lectio Divina – when I heard the Gospel with my heart, in a way I’d not experienced before.
I found myself talking to people who were very open about their living faith and their relationship with Jesus, whose commitment to the need to grow in faith was central to who they were, whose understanding of what their baptism meant I found both challenging and exciting. And so a journey began.

That Parish Renewal Weekend was the place where Jesus asked me to come and see. It filled much more than a single weekend."

Reflection on Scripture
A series written by a different member of the Diocesan Team each month.

‘The Harvest is Rich, the Labourers are Few’

In our modern context we could say;

‘the need for evangelisation is great but the evangelisers are few’
....‘the need to promote justice is great but those who do so are few’
..........And of course ‘there are many parishes but the priests are few’
And so on.

Anyone involved in parish work, youth work or the work of Evangelisation generally can readily identify with these words of Jesus. Yet these words are really a great source of encouragement.

They tell us that there is never any reason to be disheartened in any way when we engage and share in Christ’s mission. Christ reassures his co-workers that such work will be fruitful in wonderful ways. The harvest is rich and inspiring – this is always true for those who share in God’s life-giving mission – even if the workers may be thin on the ground.

The invitation of Christ is not to dwell on how limited our resources might be. This could simply rob us of hope and even lead to fear or despair. Instead we are asked to focus on the wealth of potential in people, awaiting release.

Amazingly, Christ is prepared to build up the Church with us! God is always in the business of doing extra-ordinary things through ordinary people.

Guidelines for Service from Ron Rolheiser's weekly column

Evangelise month by month
July

Evangelisation is very simple - get in touch with the power of God within us, then allow God to work through us.