I’ve never seen Catholics evangelize!

The Divine Life ^ | 6/17/2010 | Eric Sammons

[markomalley]

Last night I had the fortune of meeting Msgr. Charles Pope, pastor of Holy Comforter/St. Cyprian church in downtown Washington, D.C., and über-blogger for the Archdiocese of Washington. He was holding a meeting at his parish to plan for a major door-to-door evangelization campaign his parish will be conducting this Fall. I was invited to share my own experiences of going door-to-door. In many ways, I was there to smash the many “myths” that have cropped up around going door-to-door. Here are a few:

1) You will be yelled at and attacked.
I have organized going door-to-door to over 2,000 homes in the past four years, and we only had a single instance of someone yelling at us. The vast majority of people are polite, even if they are not interested. But even if someone did yell at you, why should that stop you? Our Lord told us that we are blessed when people persecute us in his name, so being yelled at while sharing the Gospel is a wonderful blessing.

2) Catholics don’t go door-to-door; only Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses do that.
Quite often people who meet us when we are out evangelizing are shocked to hear we are Catholic. They expect us to be either Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses. We have even heard people exclaim “I’ve never seen Catholics evangelize!” What a sad commentary. Our Lord told his followers to go to all the nations preaching the Gospel, so all Catholics are obligated to evangelize in some way – and door-to-door evangelization is a great way to follow Christ’s command. Door-to-door evangelization has gotten a bad name, and this is mostly due to the aggressive tactics of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, who often browbeat those they meet in their attempt to make converts. But that does not have to be the only way to go door-to-door. In my experience, Catholics take a much more subdued approach. We go simply to share with others about our parish and the blessings we have received there. We have been given a great gift and we are letting others know about it.

3) I don’t need to go door-to-door; I evangelize without using words.
When people are looking for excuses not to go door-to-door, they often remark that the best evangelization is “without words” and that is how they evangelize so they don’t need to preach with words. I’ve addressed that canard here. It is very important to evangelize with our whole lives, including our actions, but it is a false dichotomy to say that we should only do one method. The assumption of the Christian life is that we evangelize with our actions; we also need to evangelize with words.

4) You have to be outgoing to go door-to-door.
Most people picture the typical door-to-door evangelizer as someone who is bursting with enthusiasm and extroverted to the extreme. I have actually found that the best door-to-door evangelizers are the exact opposite; those who are willing to listen are the most effective at sharing God’s love with others. My wife has a definite gift for door-to-door: very often people will pour out their problems on her as soon as she gets to a door, and she is able to tell them that they will be loved at our Catholic parish.

5) Door-to-door is not effective.
People often cite statistics showing that going door-to-door isn’t really effective and it doesn’t bring people into church. My first response would be to ask why the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are growing so fast then? Also, Jerry Falwell built his megachurch from a tiny congregation by going door-to-door back in the 1950’s. So it can be effective in growing numbers. But the real reason we go door-to-door isn’t to effectively grow our church, it is to be obedient. Christ commanded us to share the Gospel with others, and this is a prime way to do it. And effectiveness can be measured in many ways. I have countless stories of praying with people who are hurting and sharing God’s love with strangers through door-to-door efforts. Furthermore, those who go are energized in their faith and often become better disciples of Christ after going door-to-door. Ultimately, we don’t go door-to-door to get (converts), we go to give (God’s love).

I was very encouraged to see the work Msgr. Pope is doing and the enthusiasm of his parish for evangelization. I hope and pray that more Catholic parishes would recognize the great need to share the Good News with their neighbors who surround them.

[Pyro7480]

Viewed from another perspective, given how the Catholic dogma bears little or no resemblance to Christ's teachings, it's as though the Catholic "faithful" know in their hearts that this man-made, phony religion has nothing to do with God or his Kingdom purpose here on Earth, and they aren't willing to fund any more aggressively the pedophilic penchants of a largely disgraced and disgraceful clergy.

Oh, good grief. Tell us some line of propaganda we haven't heard before.

[Mad Dawg]

One reason I rejoice in being Catholic is that the Church understands that the careful use of reason is a good thing.

Analogy, oft made, rarely understood: I was a chaplain in a Pediatrics ward. For one 7 week period we lost something on the order of two kids a week.

This was because this was Massachusetts General Hospital. It is a great hospital. We had patients others couldn't help, wouldn't even try to help, so they referred them to us. We couldn't fix 'em all. Death rate, by itself, will not tell you whether a hospital is a good one or a bad.

The Catholic Church has thousands who take up poverty, chastity, and obedience, and give their lives to Christ. Does that "charitable giving" fit into the average? In my parish there are many who volunteer some 20 hours a week. Does that fit in? Were those gifts taken into account when the averages were computed? When one looks at what is dropped in the plate, does somebody do the math to include donations to orders, groups, causes, schools, programs? The Catholic Church is larger than the group that meets at St. Swithins in the Swamp every Sunday and holiday.

You write:

When asked by His disciples how we would be able to discern the "true Church" from all the false churches predicted to be so prevalent in end times, Christ replied;

"By their works shall ye know them."

Actually this is not in response to a question but it part of the Sermon on the mount. It refers to false prophets. The line is (Mt 7:16) By their works fruits shall ye know them. Close enough I suppose. After all, when bashing the Catholics who cares what the Bible actually says.

[battousai]

Compared to Biblical Christians (Protestants, Baptists, Evangelicals, etc.), Catholics ar the most brazen in their willingness to flout God's meager request that 10% of what is all His to begin with be left to Him for His church's Kingdom purposes here on Earth.

Hmm I guess God is more concerned with money than people living his faith? What ever happened to 'give unto caesar...'?

I think God would be more happy if the many protestant denominations didn't 'flout' his word on things such as divorce, contraception, and now in many cases acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle.

Or is it that you can bribe God with your 10%? Give him 10% and then do what you please, and say Jesus save me and voila saved.

BTW isn't it a big complaint amongst haters of the Church that she is 'too rich', so you want us to make her richer? LOL

[Mad Dawg]

He wants everything you have. Everything.

[timeflies]

I understand what you are saying. But I think it has to do with obeying God. He doesn’t need the money He needs to know if you will obey. Where your money is so is your heart.

[count-your-change]

Going door to door is no easy task. It takes having a clear message, a real belief in that message and its value to the listener, training on how to approach strangers on their turf, answering questions and objections, not becoming discouraged by indifference or hostile responses.

Ask anyone who has done it and you'll be told cold calling is hard work that most of us with our natural reticence would not normally do.

But the door to door evangelizing does have the advantage of being the most effective way of reaching people and a long history. (Acts 20:20)

[COBOL2Java]

Catholics put an average of $2 per-week, per-person into the collection plates.

Wow, Garganuta! I had no idea you were privy to the accounting statistics of every parish of every diocese in the world! You one of those Catholic-bashing 007 types who have infiltrated the halls of the chancery offices? Did they give you one of those tiny cameras so you could take pictures? Do tell...

[Grunthor]

“I’ve never seen Catholics evangelize!”

I’ve seen it all over this forum for months and frankly I don’t think that it’s been very successful.

[timeflies]

I just know how I feel when I’m watching a “news” show and they have a “conservative” answering the questions and he or she does a lousy job. I want to scream at the TV. I can imagine brethen getting into the “Why did you tell them that!”

[HungarianGypsy]

I am not certain about the history of it, but at some point remember 10% was the amount that the church was taxed in England sometime during the Middle Ages. I wish I coud remember the particulars.

[Salvation]

I’ve never seen Catholics evangelize!
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They Know I’m Catholic, Right?

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A Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization to be Formed? Bring it On!
Report Says Pope to Launch 'Pontifical Council for New Evangelization'
Pope invites Christians to join in 'new, intense evangelization'
New Catholic radio station launches ‘channel of evangelization’ in Phoenix
Jews protest Catholic document on evangelization
Singapore prime minister: Evangelization threatens nation’s stability
Catholic Word of the Day: CONGREGATION FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF PEOPLES, 06-29-09
Ordinations End Shanghai Diocese's Celebration of 400 Years of Evangelization
[Oregon] Rosary Bowl focuses on links between prayer, evangelization

[Salvation]

The author should come with me some day. All evangelization involves in
Contact
and Invite

And repat that process every day as you go about your business.

People are always asking me how I am doing, right?

So I tell them — I’m doing great.....I’m attending a Faith Formation 101 for Adults tonight at my church (or cooking for it.) Why don’t you come and listen to the speaker................... In fact the last speaker we had was a young couple on a pilgrimage spreading the word about evangelization.

Evangeliztion is THE STRENGTH OF THE LAITY!

[Salvation]

**All evangelization involves is

Repeat that process

[count-your-change]

I think Jesus set the model when sending out his disciples.
(Matt. 10:5-42) And he had taught them by example too.

So it wasn’t just everyone going off on their own and sort of ‘doing their own thing’ or spreading their personal opinions as gospel.

[redhead]

"Bible scripture only please..."

A "tithe" represented roughly ten percent. Malachai 3:10

[mlizzy]

haha that's me too, the guy going to the back of the other line dragging his family along, just so I can receive from the priest :) At least our priest is pretty good with his routine so we know which side of the isle to sit on most days so this happens only rarely.

Our priest (I thought) had his routine down a certain way, and lo and behold, he switched it around to accommodate a family or two who wanted communion only from him, and so he had the EM switch places (after the EM was finished with their side), and I got "caught." I'm so happy that sometimes we go to a TLM in Chicago (depicted), and there's no worries whatsoever. No EMs, altar girls, bringing up of the gifts, sign of peace, and so on.

[RnMomof7]

Tithing was an old Testament law..In Israel the tithe was like our taxes..the money went to support the widows and orphans and other works we now pay taxes for..

There is no New Testament Tithe law mentioned..

2 Cor 9:7 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Often a requirement to tithe is placed on the neck of people like a yoke ... We are obliged to care for our families and pay our bills as is honorable.. then to purpose in our hearts what is right and good to give.. It may be 1% or 20% ...God looks at the heart

Tithing is not demanded , it is not a "sin" not to tithe .It might be a sin TO tithe if you are doing ot for selfish purposes like many of the prosperity teachers teach to get back 100 fold..then it is not about heart giving to the servants of Christ but getting MORE for yourself..

Each should give as he purposes in his heart..

[roamer_1]

Never let a little thing like a loaded shotgun stop you from telling the truth...

LOL! That's a hillbilly sentiment if I ever heard one... Probably not gonna convince anyone that doesn't live down in the holler...

(Of course, they don't understand that he was being neighborly by not pullin' the trigger...) :D

[BenKenobi]

Well I want to throw my hat in the ring.

I am a convert to the Catholic church. This evangelisation through words and action is important. It cannot be one or the other. A convert must have a good understanding of the teachings of the Catholic church. A convert must live their life in such a way as to honour God.

There were people who addressed both ends of this for me. The mind was Scott Hahn and his book, Road to Rome. I also borrowed a copy of the catechism and spoke with the local parish priest. This helped me understand what the church actually taught, and not the misconceptions which had accrued over the years.

The second one is living a life in harmony with Christ. I personally can attest to the Catholics in my life who have inspired me in this fashion. I have great respect for them.

Personally, in my own life, I find it much easier to evangelise with words. But I am working on the conduct aspect.

[BenKenobi]

Would you like someone to arrange for a visitation?