| |
Over 460 participants from 112 dioceses in the United States, the Province of Vancouver, British Columbia and representatives from Columbia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and the United Kingdom attended the first North American Institute for Catholic Evangelization in mid-July at the University of Portland, Portland, OR. Val Keller, parish consultant for Kenosha, Racine and Walworth Counties, Archdiocesan Evangelization contact person and Executive Committee member of the U.S. Commission on Catholic Evangelization, Catherine O'Neill, parish consultant for Ozaukee, North Milwaukee and Walworth counties, and Mary Johnston, parishioner of Holy Family Parish, Whitefish Bay, were among the attendees. The Institute provided a forum for Catholic leadership (cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, women and men religious, national, diocesan and parish staff, and parishioners) to come together and reflect on evangelization as "the essential mission of the Church."
Challenges such as studying the "Call for New Evangelization," using media creatively in evangelization efforts, re-instituting a guild of Catholic artists to enhance the use of the media, using a new imagination in evangelization and in all aspects of the mission of the Church, paying attention to youth and young adults, evangelization and culture, and using Scriptures as the foundation for evangelization were all explored and discussed. It seemed clear that a greater awareness of evangelization is needed by all in the Church.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Ministry for Evangelization provides support for parish leaders by offering workshops, training and retreats; assists in developing approaches for parishes, schools and clusters to dialogue with parish councils, committees, faculties and staffs about ways to start and enhance evangelization efforts; and provides the Evangelization Handbook and Chart of Evangelizing Assets to help existing ministries infuse evangelization into their mission. The archdiocese has developed a data base of people interested in evangelization so they may share information and resources.
If you would like more information, contact Val Keller at 414-769-3395 or 800-769-9373, x395.
|
