At St. Eugene: Evangelization requires knowing Scripture
Other questions and topics that surfaced during the Aug. 6 two-hour conversation with the prelate, included vocation increase within the African American community, how to “uniform” catechism classes throughout the archdiocese, and reviewing the Synod Commission’s role.
Archbishop Gomez encouraged participants at the seventh town hall meeting, hosted by the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization, to learn more about the history of evangelization in America, specifically in the Southwest.
“I think sometimes we don’t know too much about the work of the first missionaries that came here like Junípero Serra,” he noted.
Learning about the history, he said, is a great way to understand about “the legacy of these missionaries and to continue that process of evangelization.
“Some Catholics get suspicious about the word evangelization because it sounds as imposing our beliefs on somebody else,” he continued. “But when we really understand the meaning of evangelization, we come to the realization that it includes the understanding of freedom. We are not imposing our beliefs on anybody, but we have a duty to share our faith with everyone.”
The “call is upon” all Catholics, lay as well as religious and ordained. “Proclaiming the Gospel is essential to the identity of the Church and it is essential to the identity of every believer,” he remarked.
Thus, Archbishop Gomez stressed the importance of learning about the life of Jesus through the Scriptures.
“The Bible is essential for us as Catholics,” he told the audience. “It is essential for Christian life. Once we have that love of God in our souls we have a need to talk about Him, just as you have a need to talk about your husband or wife, your children, your relatives or the people that you love.
“Each one of us is called to do everything we can to bring the world to Jesus and Jesus to the world. And it should come naturally to us, not because the pope said something, or the archbishop, or the pastor of our parish.”
The audience concurred with the archbishop that the task is challenging.
“It’s not easy for us to be patient with people,” the archbishop said after reminding participants that not even the apostles understood Jesus although he took time to talk with them one-on-one.
Most important in any kind of evangelization is teaching by example, he continued, “And it’s not just a matter of going to church on Sunday.”
He suggested sharing and learning together in Bible study groups about the doctrine of the Church, the meaning of Mass and “what happens during Mass” as well as the importance and significance of all the sacraments.
He urged the audience to “come to Earth” and talk to people in a simple way about the teachings of the Catholic Church and the importance of prayer and the Eucharist.
“The Eucharist is the center of the Latin Church; we have to be Eucharistic souls,” he said.
After small group discussions, participants concluded the most effective means of evangelizing in their communities is by openly sharing their Catholic faith with others, participating in Bible studies and increasing their work with youth.
“Sometimes we are stuck in one parish and never go out to talk or meet other parishes or parishioners,” said Janet Martin, a confirmation teacher at St. Lawrence of Brindisi in Watts.
As a convert herself, she expressed the importance of exposing newcomers not only to the celebration of Mass, but to the Catholic doctrine and social teachings.
During a moment of reflection, Josephite Father Thomas Frank urged participants to share their gifts and focus on the future instead of “relying on how it used to be.”
“We are instruments of God’s grace and can’t give our gifts to somebody else,” said the new consultor general for the Josephite religious community and former parochial vicar at St. Brigid in Los Angeles.
He mentioned cultural values as significant elements in the evangelization process. “They have endured all ages and so too the storms, and yet God continues to move forward,” he said, acknowledging the importance of “the village, the community of faith to raise up disciples” to reach out to families and “everyone we meet and greet.”
According to the AACCE, African American Catholics comprise about three percent of all Catholics in the United States. About 798 parishes are considered predominantly African American, most of them in the East Coast and South of the country. In other regions, including the Southwest, the black community is immersed in multicultural parishes.
For more information about the AACCE, call Anderson Shaw, (323) 777-2106.
Archbishop Gomez encouraged participants at the seventh town hall meeting, hosted by the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization, to learn more about the history of evangelization in America, specifically in the Southwest.
“I think sometimes we don’t know too much about the work of the first missionaries that came here like Junípero Serra,” he noted.
Learning about the history, he said, is a great way to understand about “the legacy of these missionaries and to continue that process of evangelization.
“Some Catholics get suspicious about the word evangelization because it sounds as imposing our beliefs on somebody else,” he continued. “But when we really understand the meaning of evangelization, we come to the realization that it includes the understanding of freedom. We are not imposing our beliefs on anybody, but we have a duty to share our faith with everyone.”
The “call is upon” all Catholics, lay as well as religious and ordained. “Proclaiming the Gospel is essential to the identity of the Church and it is essential to the identity of every believer,” he remarked.
Thus, Archbishop Gomez stressed the importance of learning about the life of Jesus through the Scriptures.
“The Bible is essential for us as Catholics,” he told the audience. “It is essential for Christian life. Once we have that love of God in our souls we have a need to talk about Him, just as you have a need to talk about your husband or wife, your children, your relatives or the people that you love.
“Each one of us is called to do everything we can to bring the world to Jesus and Jesus to the world. And it should come naturally to us, not because the pope said something, or the archbishop, or the pastor of our parish.”
The audience concurred with the archbishop that the task is challenging.
“It’s not easy for us to be patient with people,” the archbishop said after reminding participants that not even the apostles understood Jesus although he took time to talk with them one-on-one.
Most important in any kind of evangelization is teaching by example, he continued, “And it’s not just a matter of going to church on Sunday.”
He suggested sharing and learning together in Bible study groups about the doctrine of the Church, the meaning of Mass and “what happens during Mass” as well as the importance and significance of all the sacraments.
He urged the audience to “come to Earth” and talk to people in a simple way about the teachings of the Catholic Church and the importance of prayer and the Eucharist.
“The Eucharist is the center of the Latin Church; we have to be Eucharistic souls,” he said.
After small group discussions, participants concluded the most effective means of evangelizing in their communities is by openly sharing their Catholic faith with others, participating in Bible studies and increasing their work with youth.
“Sometimes we are stuck in one parish and never go out to talk or meet other parishes or parishioners,” said Janet Martin, a confirmation teacher at St. Lawrence of Brindisi in Watts.
As a convert herself, she expressed the importance of exposing newcomers not only to the celebration of Mass, but to the Catholic doctrine and social teachings.
During a moment of reflection, Josephite Father Thomas Frank urged participants to share their gifts and focus on the future instead of “relying on how it used to be.”
“We are instruments of God’s grace and can’t give our gifts to somebody else,” said the new consultor general for the Josephite religious community and former parochial vicar at St. Brigid in Los Angeles.
He mentioned cultural values as significant elements in the evangelization process. “They have endured all ages and so too the storms, and yet God continues to move forward,” he said, acknowledging the importance of “the village, the community of faith to raise up disciples” to reach out to families and “everyone we meet and greet.”
According to the AACCE, African American Catholics comprise about three percent of all Catholics in the United States. About 798 parishes are considered predominantly African American, most of them in the East Coast and South of the country. In other regions, including the Southwest, the black community is immersed in multicultural parishes.
For more information about the AACCE, call Anderson Shaw, (323) 777-2106.
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