"Everyday evangelising also addresses the social structures that affect us. The context of evangelisation demands that the Church take seriously the contemporary situations in the service of the Gospel. The practical outworking of the call to evangelisation will shape the Church’s actions as she engages with the needs of men and women today in their varying and fragmented contexts."
Preparation
Evangelisation is holding Jesus in your heart and carrying Jesus to the hearts of others. Before you can evangelise you must be open to God as the centre of your life, allowing yourself to be formed by God’s Word.
- Pray daily
- Participate in a small Christian community
- Carry a cross in your pocket
- Read Catholic magazines, books, and/or newspapers, etc
- Participate in a home group, Bible study group, or a prayer group
- Fast periodically
- Communicate with those who inspire you
- Receive the Sacraments
- Attend events, talks or courses to deepen your Christian faith
- Reflect on the witness of others
- Pray the Rosary
Daily
Evangelisation first begins when you accept God’s Word into your life. Then you proclaim that Word to others by living it out in service and witness.
Whenever possible you share your story of Jesus in your life, and then invite others to deepen their relationship with Christ through the Church community. This is done most effectively through everyday evangelising.
Everyday evangelising is everyone’s mission. By virtue of our Baptism, we are all called to share our faith.
Everyday evangelising is not a programme, but a way of life. It takes place at any time, in any place, under any circumstance.
Everyday evangelising reaches out to everyone, including active and inactive Catholics and those with no faith community.
The suggestions offered here are only the beginning. Pray with them, expand them and be challenged by them.
In the Parish
- Exchange names with those around you at Church
- Get involved, if only on a small scale
- Periodically sit in a different place in Church to meet others
- Be gracious in the car park
- Explain rituals in advance to those who are not familiar with the Catholic faith
- Send a card to newly Baptized or Confirmed
- Pray for parish leaders and each other
In the Home
- Pray grace before and after meals
- Proudly display symbols of you faith
- Have a religious calendar with the dates of Baptism, First Communions, weddings, etc
- Establish family rituals based on the Church year
- Celebrate feast days
- Discuss the morality of a TV show
- Read from the Bible
In the Workplace
- Transact all business dealings honestly
- Offer to pray for a co-worker who has shared some personal concerns
- Interact with co-workers who share your Christian beliefs
- Respect others’ religious beliefs
- Pray before making decisions
- Verbalise Christ in your life
For Those Experiencing Stress
- Give ongoing support
- Send a Mass card or other card of support
- Pray with and for the person
- Seek out agencies that can address their needs