CAT 310 Parish and Personal Evangelization
Will explore the dynamics of the Church’s mission of evangelization, particularly as it applies to every baptized Catholic on the personal level and to every Catholic parish in the lived expression of its community life. Students will gain an understanding of the central Gospel Message, the kerygma, “the Mystery of Christ,” and how it may be fruitfully shared with others. Strategies and best practices in parish evangelization will be explored, engaging questions of how a parish can nourish the faith of its members while also reaching out to those who are indifferent, searching, or “fallen away.” Anchoring ourselves on the vision of evangelization set forth by Saint Paul VI, Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and the U.S. bishops, this course will help students develop a confidence in sharing the Gospel Message and the abilities necessary to help a parish embrace its missionary identity.