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Letter from the DirectorDear friends, One of the most wonderful things that any of us can do is share with another person the good news that God loves them personally and invites them into relationship with the Trinity through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus! Equally exciting is to see someone having encountered the Lord, begin to grow as Jesus’ disciple in the context of his Church! There are many Catholics who have dropped out of church or occasionally attend Mass on Sundays, who have never been told how this life-changing message applies to them in the circumstances they are living in right now, and how they can appropriate the power of it personally!
The need for disciples who are maturing in relationship with the Lord Jesus is critical in light of the financial shaking that is increasing in the US and in many countries. There is the need for the Church to present an authentic Christian life witness that is counter-cultural, that is based on the unshakeable Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of this world. “Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…” (Hebrews 12:28) We are called at times like this to offer to others the reason for our hope: “Always be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you are living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy!” (1 Peter 3:15b, The Message) For Christians to be at peace, trusting that the Lord is sovereign over all circumstances, it takes union with the Lord, and requires that we are growing in the grace of God (through the sacraments, prayer, community, service and evangelization). For this to occur many Catholics need to be taught that the secret to a peace-filled, purposeful life is found in a person, Jesus Christ, and in relationship with him as the Lord of their life, in the context of a loving community of fellow disciples! This is a season in which the Church should be asking, “what is the Holy Spirit saying to us?” One clear word that the Church has taught for over 40 years is that, “the Church exists to evangelize” (On Evangelization in the Modern World, 14). We must return to the mission entrusted to us by our Lord and Savior! Let us seek his face and ask him to help us actually make disciples during this season. We are especially grateful for your continuing financial support in light of these difficult economic times! Your brother in Jesus, Director
Reflections on my ChristLife Internshipby Christy Soboleski "At the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a person, the person of Jesus of Nazareth." - John Paul II
The most memorable aspect of my internship at ChristLife was beginning every workday together in prayer, praising the Lord and asking Him for all we needed that day and giving our efforts and ourselves to Him. My experiences during prayer and ministry at ChristLife led me to desiring and asking the Lord to use me to serve His Church in a direct way with my career and whole life. This year the Lord opened all the doors for me to change my major to Theology and transfer to Ave Maria University for the remainder of my undergrad studies. I am so grateful that Jesus brought me to ChristLife this past year and used it to show me what I am truly passionate about and how I can use that for His Kingdom! This experience impacted my life in so many ways, by being a place of encouragement, growth and challenging me to pray, to use my gifts and talents for the Lord, and to have courage to share His love with others! I am excited for the future interns at ChristLife and the awesome things the Lord has for them through this incredible experience! Find out more about ChristLife’s internship program on the Internship page or contact Pete Ascosi at pete@christlife.org
Shout It From The Rooftops Eternal Destinies Hang in the BalanceBy Joseph Pronechen, National Catholic Register In his 1992 apostolic exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis (The Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of the Present Day), Pope John Paul II challenged his flock. “Today in particular,” he wrote, “the pressing pastoral task of the New Evangelization calls for the involvement of the entire People of God, and requires a new fervor, new methods and a new expression for the announcing and witnessing of the Gospel.” Some have been taking his words to heart ever since. In the process, they’re showing the rest of us that everyone can do something to help spread the saving and sanctifying Gospel of Jesus Christ in the fullness of the Catholic faith. Take Dave Nodar. He founded ChristLife, a lay Catholic apostolate of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. ChristLife not only evangelizes but also trains and equips Catholics to help others encounter Jesus and proclaim him everywhere. Also in step with the 1992 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s national plan, “Go and Make Disciples,” ChristLife (online at ChristLife.org) uses seminars and DVDs to teach Catholics how to witness Christ to the world. What tips can the experienced evangelizers behind ChristLife share with Catholics who are willing to share but are unsure where to start? “A very simple thing is befriending people,” says Nodar. “Starting to make friendships with people broader is a crucial part of evangelization. It’s a person God is interested in.” He also advises asking the Holy Spirit for guidance in identifying particular people to pray for and speak to — and then following through by praying for them frequently and fervently. “Evangelization is front line spiritual warfare,” he says. “The goal is to bring Jesus Christ to people who aren’t fully living for him.” Some will resist the offer to welcome Jesus into their lives, or to welcome him on a deeper level by returning to the sacraments. But, says Nodar, many will open their hearts and minds to any spiritual message presented clearly and kindly. Young adults, in particular, he says, are hungry for “the challenge and truth of the Gospel.” ChristLife staffer and young adult Pete Ascosi hands out cards printed with the words “God Is Love” in eight languages on one side and thought-provoking New Testament verses on the other. One of his favorite spots to evangelize is Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, a popular place to shop, dine and stroll. “Scripture is a very good evangelization dynamic,” he reports. “Sometimes it provokes conversation.” Bingo. What, Me Preach?In his 2000 address “The New Evangelization: Building the Civilization of Love,” then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger took up the question of what’s so new about the New Evangelization. His answer: It’s largely directed toward “baptized non-believers” — those who are “culturally Christian” but “haven’t experienced a conversion of heart to Christ and his teachings.” Core Ministries in Minnesota follows this directive. Founded in 2004 by Mary Hagar and Deacon Mike Thoennes, Core — the name is an acronym for Catholic Outreach, Resources and Evangelization — supports Catholic evangelization efforts locally and wherever it’s welcomed (online at core-ministries.org). It also partners on projects with the well-established Renewal Ministries, an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based evangelization organization. Core helped revive and transform St. Timothy Church in rural Maple Lake, Minn., “to what the bishop referred to as ‘the lighthouse on the western horizon of the archdiocese,’” says Hagar. Today, she’s director of religious education at St. Timothy and two neighboring parishes. So far, Core has brought evangelization training to more than 14 parishes — all backed by prayers emanating from 15 retreat centers, monasteries and convents across the United States. “We’ve got to make disciples of Jesus first,” says Hagar. “Conversion happens in front of catechesis, then … people can’t wait to find out about being Catholic.” Over the past several years, St. Timothy’s has nearly doubled in families; Mass attendance, including daily, has increased; marriages have reconciled; the school that was supposed to close five years ago is now full with a waiting list; and people away from the Church for years have gotten back to confession and the sacraments. Clarity and CharityWhat’s stalling the New Evangelization from bursting forth on a broader scale? “One of the main obstacles is confusion about what’s the truth about God, salvation, heaven and hell — whether it really matters about what you believe and how you act,” explains Ralph Martin, co-editor of The New Evangelization: Overcoming the Obstacles (Paulist Press, 2008). Martin points out that the new evangelizers need to be clear about, and confident in, the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: He is the only way to eternal life in heaven, as spelled out in Scripture and emphasized in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in the Vatican’s 2000 document Dominus Iesus (The Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church). “For the New Evangelization to be effective, it is essential to have a deep understanding of the culture of our time in which the social communications media are most influential,” stressed John Paul II in his 1999 apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in America (The Encounter with the Living Jesus Christ: The Way to Conversion, Communion and Solidarity in America). He added, “Using the media correctly and competently can lead to a genuine inculturation of the Gospel.” Those words helped spur Tom Mayor to use his degree in film production to found and direct The Message Shop in West Milton, Ohio. Planted firmly in the New Evangelization since 2002, this apostolate (online at TheMessageShop.org ) produces educational videos, podcasts and DVDs. Stressing that individual Catholics are called to take on some evangelistic activities — especially in this Year of St. Paul — Mayor encourages people to do simple and even fun things to spread the Gospel. Pick up a camcorder, he says. Interview a priest. Share your footage with friends, family members and fellow parishioners. Mayor also mentors youngsters and young adults, passing the torch to the next generation of new evangelizers. “We have the responsibility to make the information age serve God in all things,” says Mayor. “This is farm country. We’re based in a small town. Yet, we’re evangelizing on a global scale.” Who among us shouldn’t be aiming for the same? Reprinted with permission from the National Catholic Register (www.ncregister.com), August 24-30, 2008 Issue. Copyright © 2007 Circle Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
‘Mission of the Redeemer’ in New HampshireBy Pete Ascosi On Saturday, the 27th of September, 90 parishioners from St. Michael’s in Exeter and St. Mary’s in Newmarket, New Hampshire gathered for ChristLife’s Mission of the Redeemer seminar (formerly called Building Evangelizing Eucharistic Communities – BEEC). What got them out of bed on a Saturday morning? Well, I’m sure coffee helped, but an invitation stirring in their hearts to grow personally and as parishes in how to proclaim Jesus Christ to this world.
Dave continued, quoting from Pope Benedict, “Before being sent to evangelize, the apostles would have to ‘be’ with Jesus, establishing a personal relationship with him. With this foundation, evangelization is no more than a proclamation of what has been experienced and an invitation to enter into the mystery of communion with Christ.”
Thus, for many of the parishioners the day seminar not only 1) boosted confidence and knowledge in making the mission real for them, but 2) served as a day of renewal and deeper commitment to falling in love with Jesus in their personal lives. “Thank you for making the Father, Son and Holy Spirit deeply real to me,” one man wrote to ChristLife following the seminar. “Thank you for getting through to me what evangelization really means – not all example, not all talk, a way of life.” Another woman simply expressed her gratitude, “This is an exceptional day of renewal and commitment, thanks so much.” Fr. Marc Drouin, the pastor of St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s, and his staff members participated actively throughout the day seminar. Following the seminar he emailed Dave, “I’m hearing nothing but praise for the conference. Fr, Paul, Josh, Victoria and I all agree that it was a great success. Now for the fruit to grow.” So, how is the fruit going to grow? How are these parishes practically making evangelization happen? Fr. Marc and staff are now presenting the first Discovering Christ course “abroad” - meaning not in the Baltimore area where ChristLife is located. Pray for this course to bring many people to a new or renewed love for the Trinity and for St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s to be model parishes in the New England area for evangelization!
Staff & Volunteer Updates!
Bring ChristLife to your Parish or Diocese Q&AWhat is the Mission of the Redeemer seminar? How much does it cost? Mission of the Redeemer is the new name for our Building Evangelizing Eucharistic Communities (BEEC) seminar. It’s also the name of Pope John Paul II’s encyclical on the “missionary mandate.” The seminar is one-day and includes four talks, prayer, multimedia, small groups, and large group sharing. The cost is $1500 for the speaker plus travel expenses. Where have you presented Mission of the Redeemer/BEEC? How do I book a speaker? Recent locations include- St. Michael’s & St. Mary’s, NH; the diocese of Corpus Christi, TX; St. Patrick’s in York, PA; St. Joseph’s in York, PA; the diocese of Altoona, PA. Dave Nodar is the speaker for the seminar. Contact him directly at 410-531-7701 or dave@christlife.org What is “Discovering Christ”? It’s a seven-week course that parishes (as well as campus ministries and small groups) can use to invite family and friends to ‘discover Christ.’ It is intended for 1) those in the parish who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, 2) parishioners who would like an opportunity for renewal in the basics of the Gospel, and 3) those outside the Church as an introduction to the Good News! Is it ready for use in parishes? Or are you still in development stage? Yes and yes. ChristLife is now able to consult with and train parish leaders to run Discovering Christ. Like our work in NH, it is best to begin with a Mission of the Redeemer seminar (so give us a call!). A first version of the administrative/teaching manuals can be pre-ordered by calling ChristLife at 410-531-7701 or emailing info@christlife.org Regarding the development process, we are readying for a video production in 2009, which will enable parishes to not have to present the talks themselves.
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