Bishop Urges Parishes To Make ‘Mission Training’ A 2009 Priority

“…To proclaim and share the faith is the reason that the Church exists. All of us, from the youngest to the oldest, lay, consecrated and ordained can play our part in home mission. Consider putting aside some time to learn how to evangelise more effectively; this is sure to bear fruit on many levels.”

Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon, Chair of the Bishops’ Conference Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis

Find out more including a meeting at the Endsleigh Centre in Hull on March 21st by clicking here.

The bishop responsible for mission in England and Wales has urged parishes to make evangelisation training a priority during the coming year.

Speaking to coincide with the publication of national evangelisation training tour dates, Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon, Chair of the Bishops’ Conference Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis said: “At this time of year many people make New Year’s resolutions. I encourage you to include ‘making time for evangelisation training’ one of yours. To proclaim and share the faith is the reason that the Church exists – all of us, from the youngest to the oldest, lay, consecrated and ordained can play our part in home mission. Consider putting aside some time to learn how to evangelise more effectively; this is sure to bear fruit on many levels.”

The training initiative is called ‘Fanning The Flames’ and is being led jointly by the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE) and Catholic Evangelisation Services (the creators of the CaFE resources). The primary focus of the training will be to help parishes to establish Parish Evangelisation Teams. The days are designed to build on the Home Mission Sunday ‘Alive in Christ: Making Mission Possible In Your Parish’ DVD material, sent to every parish in England and Wales in September 2008.

CASE Director, Mgr Keith Barltrop, said:

“This tour provides us all with an opportunity to find out what Catholic Evangelisation is all about and how to set up a parish team to animate it. The focus is practical and those who attend a day will receive information, resources and hopefully lots of inspiration. Everyone is welcome.”

The tour has been inspired by St Paul and is being launched during the Jubilee Year. In his Second Letter to Timothy we read: “That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord …” (2 Timothy 1: 6-8). In the same vein, it is hoped that the training days will enable people to make active their gifts and give them the practical tools to go out and bear fruit.

Every parish is being invited to send at least four representatives to receive training. A donation of £10 is suggested to help cover the costs. To find out more and to register the names of participants from your parish please see: www.caseresources.org.uk; e-mail: info@caseresources.org.uk; tel: 0207 901 4863. Also see: www.faithcafe.org.