Quote: Celebrating 25 years of Evangelii Nuntiandi, December 8, 2000
"We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church. It is a task and mission which the vast and profound changes of present-day society make all the more urgent. Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists to evangelize..."


Quote: Go and Make Disciples, A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization
"Without the Holy Spirit, evangelization simply cannot occur. The Spirit brings about evangelization in the life of the Church and in the Church's sharing the Gospel with others."


Renewed Support for Evangelization by U.S. Bishops as the Church Celebrates 25 Years of Evangelization

Twenty-five years ago, December 8, 2000, Pope Paul VI proclaimed, in his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization in the Modern World), " Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity."

Anticipating this 25th anniversary, the US Catholic Bishops, at their most recent meeting in Washington, DC this past November, established a self-standing Secretariat for Evangelization and eliminated the ad-hoc status of the office. This new status takes effect on January 1, 2001 and Paulist Father John Hurley, who has served as director of the office since 1997, will be become its Executive Director.

The new secretariat will continue to serve the Bishops' Committee on Evangelization and the overall implementation of Go and Make Disciples, A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States. This plan and strategy for Catholic Evangelization was approved by the full body of bishops in November, 1991. Bishop Michael Warfel, Bishop of Juneau, AK and chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Evangelization welcomed this new status for evangelization in the United States., "After 25 years since the release of Evangelii Nuntiandi, Catholics throughout the world have taken great strides to appropriate the mission of evangelization into what they say and do, both in parishes and in their personal lives. Now we bishops re-emphasize this essential mission within their own conference."

The Bishops' Committee on Evangelization also renewed its commitment to foster practical ways to implement, Evangelii Nuntiandi and Go and Make Disciples by establishing a US Commission on Catholic Evangelization at its recent November meeting. In announcing the establishment of this commission before a gathering of Diocesan Evangelization Coordinators, Bishop Warfel said that, "this commission will strengthen and build a broad network of the many ministries in the Church which seek to embrace and nurture the missionary mandate of the Gospel. Each member of the Church is in some way responsible for the Church's mission." Through its committees, the commission will network diocesan evangelization and multicultural offices and national Catholic organizations. Father John Hurley welcomed the establishment of this commission when he said, "This commission will further enhance the collaborative nature of this essential mission of the Church among the US dioceses and will assist in the formulation of authentic missionary and pastoral approaches to the diverse cultures that fundamentally shape our Church and every dimension of Catholic Evangelization."


News from the Bishops' Committee on Evangelization

Journey to the Fullness of Life, A Report on the National Study of the Implementation of the RCIA In the United States...is available!
The Bishops' Committee on Evangelization is happy to announce the release of the report on the national study. This comprehensive study began in April 1997. The report contains an introduction to the components of the study and the process that was undertaken. Dr. Dean Hoge (Life Cycle Institute at the Catholic University of America) and Rev. Dr. Robert J. O'Donnell, CSP (Paulist Institute for Religious Research) authored five executive summaries of the various components. In addition to the BCEV, this study was a collaborative effort of the bishops' committees on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Education, Liturgy, and Pastoral Practices. These committees wrote individual pastoral responses highlighting their respective issues to be considered as we further implement the RCIA in the United States. One thing is crystal clear in the report (94% of diocesan bishops reponded) the RCIA has the power to transform a parish when implemented as intended by the general instruction of the RCIA. Review the report, check out the data and order a copy from our website: www.nccbuscc.org/evangelization

National Jubilee Retreat for Diocesan Evangelization Coordinators held in Novmeber
Fr. Hurley reports that between November 16th and 19th, eighty diocesan evangelization coordinators and the Bishops' Committee on Evangelization gathered at Marywood Retreat Center, in the historic Diocese of St. Augustine, FL. The theme of the gathering was Celebrating Faith and Mission in Jesus Christ. Coordinators came from Juneau, AK to Miami, FL and from San Diego, CA to Burlington, VT. This jubilee time together provided the coordinators a chance to pause for prayer, reflection, and networking with colleagues from around the United States. The bishops and coordinators had wonderful opportunities to gather and share their perspectives on the status of evangelization in dioceses across the country. Those gathered were happy to welcome, Madame Adele Bolduc, Executive Director for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Secretariat for Evangelization of Peoples. One of the highlights of the retreat was a visit to the Mission of Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine. This was the sight where the first Mass was offered on North America in 1565. The coordinators gathered for a prayer service at the sight of the original altar and then processed to the 280' St. Augustine Cross at the edge of the bay to recommit themselves to the ongoing implementation of Go and Make Disciples. Afterwards the group visited the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine which was the first parish established. The evaluations were very positive and the coordinators enjoyed the opportunity to network with colleagues from around the country and hope that this kind of gathering will happen every two years.


Evangelization Resources

Check out the UPDATED Diocesan Evangelization Coordinators list on the web. Iris Brown, BCEV Administrative Secretary is working hard to keep this valuable resource updated

17th National Conference for Catholic Evangelization meets June 6-9, 2000 in Raleigh, NC
The theme of this years conference is Holy Ground. Bishop Kenneth Untener will be the presenter for the Proclamation Day. Keynoters include: Rev. Dr. Giles Conwill, Seung Ai Yang and Sr. Tobin Lardie and Sr. Rosa Maria Icaza. For more information check out the NCCE website: www.catholicevangelization.org

All upcoming events received are posted on the office website: <www.nccbuscc.org/evangelization>

Schedule for NCCB Director of Evangelization

January 4-6	Archdiocese of New Orleans	Hoeffinger Conference
January 9-12	Archdiocese of Cincinnati	Formation Days on Reaching Out to the Inactive
February 9-12	Holy Spirit Parish, Laurens, SC	Parish Mission
February 15-18	Archdiocese of Los Angeles	Congress

Email us at evangelization@usccb.org
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