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The Bible
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Catechism of the Catholic church
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Compendium of the catechism of the catholic church
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Catechesis of the Popes
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THE CHURCH & THE CATHOLIC, ROMANO GUARDINI
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The importance of evangelization, from Bishop Robert Barron, Chairman Elect of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; Chairman Emeritus of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis:
"The number one concern of everybody at every stage of the Church's life is evangelization. At the beginning of the Church's life, there were no Catholic Parishes, hospitals, or schools; no Vatican, no institutional structures. There were, however, evangelists. What has been true up and down the life of the Church until today? What is the one thing that is absolutely essential? It's evangelization. This must be a priority at every level of the Church's life. The Church must go out in an evangelizing spirit."
Thje Bishop offers some simple ways we can all strive to evangelize:"Find a none [by "none," he's referring to the increasing number of people who claim no official religious affiliation]. Whether it's a child, a friend, a colleague, a co-worker, a parent who's Catholic but not going to Church - make it your goal this year to bring that 'none' back to Church," he said. I also think wearing a symbol of your faith on your person is not a bad way to evangelize. Let people know, not aggressively, but let people know that you're a Catholic," he said. And it might cause them to question - ok you're a Catholic, tell me about that. How do you reconcile whatever their question happens to be? I think those are simple, positive things people can do."
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THE CATECHIST TRAINING OF THE NEW EVANGELIZATION
Pope Saint John Paul II was the first to call for a New Evangelization in response to the loss of faith in God in our time. Lamenting the fact that so many people live and die with no knowledge of Jesus Christ, he declared the work of this New Evangelization to be the proclamation of the Good News in such a way as to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ by means of the transformation of their hearts (cf. Novo Millennio Ineunte 38-40).
One of the actions taken by Pope Saint John Paul II to reverse the dismal global trend of declining faith in God was to ask Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta to prepare her Sisters, the Missionaries of Charity, not only to care for the immediate material needs of the poor, but also to evangelize them, to teach them about God’s immeasurable love for them and about His desire to be united with them in Heaven for all eternity.
Mother Teresa depended on Servant of God Father John A. Hardon, S.J. for the help she needed to prepare her Sisters to evangelize the poorest of the poor.
Father Hardon was an eminent theologian and master catechist (one who teaches the Faith), the author of over forty major works of theology, spirituality and catechesis, and one of the world’s most respected authorities on the Catholic Faith.
He began to teach the Missionaries of Charity; at the same time, he began to prepare the texts that would eventually become a set of home study courses used to teach the rich truths and beauty of the Catholic Faith and its practice to the lay faithful. Still today, the Missionaries of Charity, along with countless lay members of the Church, use Father Hardon’s courses to prepare themselves to be effective witnesses of the Faith to all they meet.
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LEARN, LOVE, TEACH THE CATHOLIC FAITH
"[The New Evangelization stems from] the need to rediscover the joy of believing and the enthusiasm for communicating the faith. In rediscovering his love day by day, the missionary commitment of believers attains force and vigor that can never fade away. Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy. It makes us fruitful, because it expands our hearts in hope and enables us to bear life-giving witness: indeed, it opens the hearts and minds of those who listen to respond to the Lord’s invitation to adhere to his word and become his disciples." - Pope Benedict XVI
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Become a Catechist At St. Anne's
The Marian Apostolate training program fee is covered by the parish for parishioners who would like to join the catechist team.
The program is richly pact and may be completed at your own pace.
Other enriching classes, either in-person or via Zoom, are available as well.
Please contact the Parish Faith Formation Office more more information: rachelle@stannesouthborough.org
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