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VATICAN CITY — Mixing old with new, a progress report on the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization was delivered in Latin, the ancient language of the Church.
“Many synod fathers called for a new Pentecost … of seeing the action of the Church today, enlivened by the Holy Spirit, as a reflection of the energy in the early Church, when the apostles set out to bring the first disciples to the Lord,” Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington said late in the afternoon on Oct. 17.
“Many of the fathers spoke of the similarity between those early days of the Church and our moment in time today.”
The 71-year-old American cardinal is charged by Pope Benedict XVI with steering the work of the synod. Under the title of general relator, Cardinal Wuerl guides the discussions of the 262 participants as they attempt to map out a plan for bringing the Gospel to the modern world.
Part of his job is presenting the synod, which continues through Oct. 28, with a summary of more than 230 formal speeches and innumerable off-the-record discussions during the synod’s first half.
First, he thanked Pope Benedict XVI for his inspiration and guidance. At the synod’s opening session, the Holy Father reminded participants to keep in mind that “the two great pillars of evangelization” are a commitment to “know and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ” and to do it with love.
“It is only when we have the word inseparably lived in love that we achieve the evangelization so hoped for in this synod,” Cardinal Wuerl said.
One understanding in the synodal discussions that has emerged “very clearly,” he reported, is “the understanding that the foundation of the New Evangelization for the transmission of the faith is above all the work of the most Holy Trinity in history.” It is because Christ gave the Church “the commission to share and make known his victory (over sin and death)” that “the Church’s primary mission is evangelization.”
The synod has also discussed ways of helping priests and bishops to be more effective evangelizers in the modern world, from doing parish work to media apostolates.
But Cardinal Wuerl emphasized that the synod wants all Catholics to fulfill their roles as witnesses for Christ.
“The synod highlighted the important role of every disciple of Christ in the mission of spreading the faith,” he said. Laypeople must use their God-given gifts to evangelize with “eager dedication.”
To do so effectively requires a spiritual renewal involving both heart and mind, he said: “Spiritual renewal is the most important element of the New Evangelization insofar as it involves the renewal of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and a catechesis that fosters our spiritual growth.”
The role of proper catechesis, or instruction in the faith, has been a hot topic at the synod.
“A number of bishops spoke of the need to reinforce the role of the magisterium (teaching authority) of the Church when dealing with all of those who are engaged in teaching the faith,” Cardinal Wuerl said. This applies “at the level of theological speculation or teaching at the elementary, secondary or university levels and in all the expressions of catechesis.”
Sound catechesis has been one of the synod’s recurring themes because the New Evangelization requires teaching the faith well to those who do not know it — children, for example — as well as presenting it anew to fallen-away Catholics who suffered inadequate or theologically unsound catechesis.
To this end, Cardinal Wuerl said the synod has been considering how the Church can devise “a program of catechesis that is both basic, complete and inspiring in the search for truth, goodness and beauty.”
Today, the synod fathers will begin working in smaller groups focused on specific aspects of the New Evangelization — from using new media to priestly formation — with the aim of giving Pope Benedict specific proposals at the synod’s end.
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“New Evangelization for the transmission of the faith” &
““The synod highlighted the important role of every disciple of Christ in the mission of spreading the faith,” he said. Laypeople must use their God-given gifts to evangelize with “eager dedication.” - is not only important but required.
When was the last time you heard this in Church or any Religious class -
“....The social duty of Christians is to respect and awaken in each man the love of the true and the good. It requires them to make known the worship of the one true religion which subsists in the Catholic and apostolic Church. ...” ?
Its right from the 20 year old “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition”.
Most Catholics have never been encouraged to read the CCC in entirety, some American Catholics have never even heard of it.
For more info on the net search ” What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE “.
“There are two levels to the New Evangelization.
FIRST is the FORMATION and EDUCATION of those who practice the faith, so they can be better witnesses and evangelizers in their own lives to those in their family, their neighborhood and their workplace.
The other level is to REACH OUT to the secular culture, to people who are away from the Church or who are seeking something better, and to put together arenas where they can feel comfortable coming to find something they are looking for. ”
Here is a very simple/basic means of Evangelization.
1) Pray;
2) Read the ” Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition ” in entirety;
3) Ask others to do the same (both Catholics and non-Catholics);
4) Discuss the CCC with them.
Parents - have your children read an age appropriate catechism while you are reading the CCC. Discuss their catechism with them, perhaps at dinner each evening.
Teens under age 17 can read “YOUCAT” or “COMPENDIUM Catechism of the Catholic Church.”
Just like everyone Catholics are busy, by reading the CCC at home it allows for a flexible schedule.
Again please visit on the net: ” What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”. You will see how beautifully questions can be answered by using the CCC.
A number of bishops spoke of the need to reinforce the role of the magisterium (teaching authority) of the Church when dealing with all of those who are engaged in teaching the faith,” Cardinal Wuerl said. This applies “at the level of theological speculation or teaching at the elementary, secondary or university levels and in all the expressions of catechesis.”
Interesting…so after 15 years…but why are the Holy and Gifted Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia no longer teaching our Catholic elementary and secondary students in the Archdiocese of Washington?
I think we have to change the entire paradigm when it comes to faith formation in our church. Right now we focus on almost entirely on children. That focus needs to shift to adults. But more importantly, we have to stop assuming that people in the pews are actually followers of Christ. We need to continue to foster encounters with Christ…real conversion in our people. Without that encounter you can learn a whole lot about Jesus and the Church, but never actually know Jesus.
Devise a new program? The Conference of Bishops already devised an EXTRAORDINARY program (framework ministry) that churches do not use:
http://old.usccb.org/laity/youth/rtvcontents.shtml
This is a beautifully rounded, holistic, complete framework that will engage the entire parish (especially families) IF the right leader with skills, knowledge and attitude is to lead it. The church needn’t search for a new program. What it needs to do is simply execute the one it has and hire lay leaders to make it successful.
PS: many parish priests do not know this framework exists
What does one do when, as a catechist no matter what level of teaching, runs into the situation when the recommended specific teaching is contrary to sacred scripture. An example is when in the 1985 document, “Correct Way To Present The Jews and Judiasm in Preaching and Catechesis in The Roman Catholic Church”, Sec 1.3 quotes Pope John Paul II
in a statement on 17 November 1980 to the Jewish people of Mainz, West Gernamy and I quote, “...the people of God of the Old Covenant, which has never been revoked…..”. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews chapter 8 verse states the obvious opposite. I struggle to teach truth, but am stymied by not wishing to opposed Holy Church direction.
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