Christ's final command was to "make disciples of all nations," a command we continue to respond to in our Catholic schools and religious education programs. But how are we to evangelize in a culture that is apathetic -- if not hostile -- to religious faith? Using the Year of Faith as a backdrop, this session will explore the history and meaning of the New Evangelization with an emphasis on practical strategies for parishes and schools. This presentation was given at the 2012 CACE Annual Meeting in San Diego.

1. The New Evangelization
and the Year of Faith
Jonathan F. Sullivan
CACE Annual Meeting | October 22, 2012

2. Opening Prayer
Through Christ our lord.

4. Jonathan F. Sullivan
 Director of Catechetical
Services, Diocese of
Springfield in Illinois
 Technology Committee
Chair, NCCL
 Blogger and podcaster
 Married father of five

5. Outline
1. What is the New
Evangelization?
2. Affirmative Orthodoxy
and the New
Evangelization
3. The Year of Faith as an
Expression of the New
Evangelization
4. Implementation of the
New Evangelization
5. Q&A
6. Suggested Resources

6. What does “New Evangelization”
mean to you?

7. What is the New Evangelization?
No, it’s not like New Coke.

8. What is the New Evangelization?
 Vatican Council II
 Paul VI
 Bl. John Paul II
 Benedict XVI
 Synod on New
Evangelization

10. What is a disciple?
1. Living, growing
relationship with God
2. Excited Christian
activists
With this in mind,
3. Knowledgeable about
the faith, Sacred
what percentage
Scripture, etc. of the people in
4. Know and use their your school or
charisms parish are
5. Know their vocation and intentional
actively live it disciples?
6. Engage in fellowship
with other disciples

11. Affirmative Orthodoxy
Putting first things first.

12. Affirmative Orthodoxy
 Termed coined by John
Allen in 2008
 “[A] tenacious defense of
the core elements of
classic Catholic doctrine,
but presented in a
relentlessly positive key.”
Image by arimorre/ FlickrCC

13. Affirmative Orthodoxy
“Christianity, Catholicism,
isn’t a collection of
prohibitions: it’s a positive
option. It’s very important
that we look at it again
because this idea has
almost completely
disappeared today. We’ve
heard so much about what
is not allowed that now it’s
time to say: we have a
positive idea to offer.”
- Pope Benedict XVI, 2006

14. Affirmative Orthodoxy
How does your
 Not about soft-peddling
experience of
“difficult teachings”
catechesis in your
 Emphasis on the
positive, affirmation parish or school
 Joy as charism of New
reflect a spirit of
Evangelization Affirmative
Orthodoxy?

15. The Year of Faith
Proclamation, celebration, witness.

16. The Year of Faith
“To rediscover the content
of the faith that is
professed, celebrated, lived
and prayed, and to reflect
on the act of faith, is a task
that every believer must
make his own, especially in
the course of this Year.”

17. The Year of Faith
 Faith in who?
 What does faith call us
to?
• Proclaim
• Celebrate
• Witness

18. Strategies for Parishes and
Catholic Schools
Because we’re evangelizing one way or another.

19. 1. Relentless Focus
on the Person of
Jesus Christ
• Use the Name
• Tell the Story

20. 2. Hire for
Evangelization
• Seven Qualities of a New Evangelist
• Evangelization in the Job Description
• Evangelization in Performance
Evaluation
Image by SpDuchamp / FlickrCC

21. 3. Invitation to
Discipleship
• Priority of Discipleship
• Within the Cultural Context
• High Standards
• Life-Long Process

22. 4. Utilize New
Media
• Go to Where the People Are
• Keep it Christocentric
• It’s About Relationships

23. Q&A
The only stupid question is the unasked one.

24. Q&A
Is your school or parish
committed to and engaged
in the New Evangelization?
If so, how?
If not, what is one step you
could take to begin?

25. Resources
Here’s where you go next.

26. Resources
Forming Intentional
Disciples: The Path to
Knowing and Following
Jesus by Sherry Weddell
(OSV, 2012)

27. Resources
Disciples Called to Witness:
The New Evangelization
(USCCB, 2012)

28. Resources
Fr. Robert Barron’s Word on
Fire Video Commentary

29. For notes and links
go to www.JonathanFSullivan.com

30. Thank you!