Encounter

"Encounter with the Living Jesus Christ: The way to conversion, communion and solidarity in America. Put this way, the theme makes clear the centrality of the person of the Risen Christ, present in the life of the Church, calling people to conversion. The starting point of such a program of evangelization is in fact encounter with the Lord" Pope John Paul II, The Church in America.

Conversion requires a personal decision to accept the saving sovereignty of Christ (cf. Pope John Paul II, Mission of the Redeemer ). This decision is not individualistic and can be life-changing when lived with brothers and sisters in a faith-filled community who help us to follow Christ.

Where can Catholics bring family members, friends, and acquaintances who are searching for meaning and purpose in life to encounter Christ our Lord? It is our responsibility as Catholics in small faith communities, parishes, and dioceses to provide doorways and points of access where men and women, especially those who are beyond the boundary of a parish, have opportunities to examine the evidence of Christianity, discuss their unanswered questions, form lasting relationships, and be invited to know God in personal relationship as a disciple and member of the Church.

To meet the demand for evangelization in the current culture, ChristLife is currently developing and producing the third module of its Building Evangelizing Eucharistic Communities evangelization process entitled Discovering Christ. Discovering Christ focuses on the basic principles of Christianity according to the Scripture, Tradition and the Teaching Church. The pattern and dynamics will include sharing a meal, video teaching, and small group discussion. As part of the development of the course, ChristLife is running pilot courses throughout 2008 in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Until Discovering Christ is available as a nationwide resource, ChristLife offers training and resources for the Alpha course, an ecumenical course representing a basic introduction to the Christian faith. The Alpha course is a practical process used by dioceses, parishes, and small faith communities for evangelization outreach. The dynamics of the Alpha course afford participants opportunities to experience firsthand the benefits of Christian community while exploring the basic dimensions of the Christian faith. Each session includes sharing a meal, a video teaching, and small group discussion. There is also an opportunity for a weekend retreat during the course.