Evangelization Resources

-A A +A

"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’" (Luke 15: 4-6). 

***

Evangelization Resources

While this is not an exhaustive list of all the available resources for parishes and groups to use in their work to welcome inactive Catholics back home, the following are provided as resources for consideration. This list will continue to grow and evolve. Contact us at evangelization@diopitt.org with any recommnedations. 

Outreach to Inactive Catholics

Programs for Returning Catholics

 

Books on Evangelization

 Catholic Evangelization

 Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States, by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

 “I hope that Go and Make Disciples will be taken up by all pastors and their people in the church in the United States, by catechists, by all engaged in education in the faith and in projects of evangelization, and by those who serve in parish and diocesan ministries nationwide. It is an instrument none can afford to overlook. If we adopt its goals intelligently and wholeheartedly and follow the strategy it proposes, we shall be faithful stewards of the gifts that Jesus has given us in His Church.” (Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago, Sept. 29, 2001, excerpt from the Foreword to the Tenth Anniversary Edition)

 From Maintenance to Mission: Evangelization and the Revitalization of the Parish, by Robert S. Rivers, CSP

 Many parishes today have become so preoccupied with the challenge of maintaining their status quo that they risk losing sight of the larger mission of evangelization. From Maintenance to Mission sets before us the perennial challenge to become Catholic evangelizers and proposes concrete ways to move from maintenance- to mission-oriented parishes.

 The Evangelization Equation: The Who, What, and How, by Father James A. Wehner, S.T.D.

 “Father Wehner has rendered a most valuable service to the cause of the New Evangelization. The Evangelization Equation is well received at a moment when the Church is deepening her understanding of how to evangelize effectively in the face of challenges presented by contemporary culture to the preaching of the Gospel. This most useful introduction will stimulate the reflection of all who wish to arrive at a fuller understanding of what is meant by “New Evangelization” and its pastoral implications.” (Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President, Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization)

 Rebuild My Church: God’s Plan for Authentic Catholic Renewal, by Alan Schreck, Ph.D.

 In straightforward, engaging language, Dr. Schreck examines the meaning and nature of renewal, the challenges and pitfalls that can divert it, historical examples of renewal, the impact of repentance and prayer, the influence of saints and other notable figures, the role of those in ecclesial office, renewal in the twenty-first century, and more. Informative and inspiring, Rebuild My Church underscores the critical importance of renewal throughout history and equips us to participate in God’s plan for the Church in these challenging times.

 The Church and New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists, and Bishops Who Tweet, by Brandon Vogt

We’re experiencing the biggest communication shift since the printing press. Millions have adopted Facebook, YouTube, blogs, and Twitter. What does this mean for the Church? How can Christians harness these new tools to reach out, teach, cultivate community, and change the world? Following Pope Benedicts’ call to evangelize the “digital continent,” The Church and New Media explores the power and risks of New Media, while guiding Christians through this new environment.

 Hospitality

 Ministry of Hospitality, by Silvia Cirone Deck

 Ministry of Hospitality provides a process that can be used and adapted by any parish to enliven its Sunday gatherings through effective ministry of hospitality. Following a brief exploration of the nature and tradition of hospitality, Sylvia Cirone Deck proposes a four-part training/catechesis for ministers of hospitality, designed to help participants experience and model the various aspects of the ministry of hospitality. She also includes appendices with a commissioning rite, as well as helpful hints for effective hospitality ministry.

 The Ministry of Hospitality, by James A. Comiskey

 Monsignor Comiskey offers practical suggestions for extending hospitality in sacramental moments and while teaching, serving, greeting, or in day-by-day living. He begins with the roots of hospitality and its importance in the Bible and concludes with resources useful to parishes looking to reach out and enhance hospitality.

 Radical Hospitality: Benedict’s Way of Love, by Father Daniel Homan, OSB, and Lonni Collins Pratt

 Today’s culture is increasingly hostile and suspicious toward anyone who appears to be different – especially when tragedy strikes. Our instinct is to bolt our doors and protect the ones we love. But deep within the heart of Benedictine spirituality lies a remedy to hatred, fear, and suspicion: hospitality. Sharing monastic wisdom as well as stories from their own lives, Pratt and Homan encourage us to embrace the true meaning of hospitality, by welcoming the stranger – not only into our homes, but into our hearts.

  About the Catholic Faith

(for those seeking to learn more about the Faith)

 Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living With Passion & Purpose, by Matthew Kelly

 Rediscover Catholicism takes us on an adventure of life-changing proportions. Beginning with our common yearning for happiness, Kelly reveals the essence of authentic Catholic spirituality while addressing some of the most important questions we face today both as individuals and as a Church.

 Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith, by Father Robert Barron

What is Catholicism? A 2,000-year living tradition? A worldview? A way of life? A relationship? A mystery? In Catholicism Father Robert Barron examines all these questions and more, seeking to capture the body, heart and mind of the Catholic faith. Starting from the essential foundation of Jesus Christ’s incarnation, life, and teaching, Father Barron moves through the defining elements of Catholicism – from sacraments, worship, and prayer, to Mary, the Apostles, and Saints, to grace, salvation, heaven, and hell – using his distinct and dynamic grasp of art, literature, architecture, personal stories, Scripture, theology, philosophy, and history to present the Church to the world.

 Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

 The first new compendium of Catholic doctrine regarding faith and morals in more than 400 years, the second edition stands, in the words of Pope John Paul II, as "a sure norm for teaching the faith" and an "authentic reference text."

 Compendium to the Catechism of the Catholic Church

 In 598 questions and answers, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church offers a quick synopsis of the essential contents of the faith as promulgated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Like the 1992 Catechism, the Compendium has a four-part structure and includes a section on common prayers and Catholic doctrinal formulas. An essential reference tool, discussion starter, or a core resource for RCIA programs.

 United StatesCatholic Catechism for Adults, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

 The presence of the Catholic Church in the U.S. reaches back to the founding days of our country through the leadership of Archbishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the U.S. His story, like other stories at the start of the chapters in the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, gives us a glimpse into the lives of Catholics who lived out their faith throughout our country's history. Each chapter in the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults includes stories, doctrine, reflections, quotations, discussion questions, and prayers to lead the reader to a deepening faith. The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is an excellent resource for preparation of catechumens in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and for ongoing catechesis of adults.

 YOUCAT - Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church

 Launched on World Youth Day 2011, developed with the help of young Catholics, and written for high-school age people and young adults, YOUCAT is an accessible, contemporary expression of the Catholic Faith. Endorsed by Pope Benedict XVI.

Groups: