Bishop Donald J. Hying is officially launching his Evangelization Initiative in the Diocese of Madison on Pentecost Sunday, celebrated on May 31 this year.
Just as the Holy Spirit descended upon the first apostles appearing as tongues of fire, so, too, followers of Christ today should be set on fire to proclaim the teachings of the Church and “go make disciples.”
This call to evangelization isn’t easy in today’s world. More recently, the coronavirus pandemic has caused much suffering. As Bishop Hying points out in his Pastoral Letter being published in the Catholic Herald, “This recent health scare has made our essential mission to evangelize the world anew all the more urgent. We realize how much we need God.”
Involving all parishioners
The diocesan Evangelization Initiative will be involving all members of parishes in our diocese. Leadership training is already underway, with each parish selecting a team to spearhead the initiative.
Beginning in Advent of this year, the bishop is asking every parish to make concerted efforts to help all members of their community do four things:
• Re-claim Sunday as the Lord’s day.
• Pray 15 minutes every day, especially with Scripture.
• Observe Fridays as days of penance throughout the year.
• Make a monthly Confession.
People could already start reflecting on their own fidelity to these basic Catholic practices and think about how they could be cultivated more effectively.
Parishes will create their own parish evangelization plans in 2021 and begin implementing them in Advent of 2021.
The Diocese of Madison is observing its 75th anniversary in 2021. What a wonderful way to celebrate this milestone by reaching out to all with a message of God’s love and mercy.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
When the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles on the first Pentecost, he granted them the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those gifts helped them to fulfill their mission to preach the Gospel to all nations.
For us, too, those gifts can help us be instruments of evangelization in our parishes, families, and communities. The gifts are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.
We can pray for these gifts: “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.”
Read Catholic Herald
During the Evangelization Initiative, the Catholic Herald will include information in each issue on evangelization and catechesis. Why catechesis? In order to spread the faith, we have to be educated.
I encourage parishes to make sure all members receive the print and/or e-Edition of the paper. For more information, go to www.madisoncatholicherald.org