Book Review - The New Evangelization and You: Be Not Afraid

By Greg Willits, released June, 2013, Servant Books, Cincinnati, Ohio, 149 pages, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook,CD, and Audible Audio Edition, CD abridged. Available from Servant Books, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, Major books stores and Catholic and Christian book stores.

Reviewed by JEAN M. HEIMANN, M.A. in Theology, adult educator, new evangelizer, freelance writer, and oblate with the Community of St. John.

Archbishop Charles Chaput recently made the following controversial statement: “A new evangelization must start with the sober knowledge that much of the once-Christian developed world, and even many self-described Christians, are in fact pagan. Christian faith is not a habit. It’s not a useful moral code. It’s not an exercise in nostalgia. It’s a restlessness, a consuming fire in the heart to experience the love of Jesus Christ and then share it with others — or it’s nothing at all” (CatholicPhilly.com)

In The New Evangelization and You:  Be Not Afraid, Greg Willits helps each one of us rekindle the consuming fire of our faith within our hearts, stir it into flames in our lives, and spread the flames of transformation into our world. As Christians, we all need to be renewed in our faith and reminded what our mission is in this world. We all need a booster shot of enthusiasm and encouragement. The New Evangelization and You is a dose of exactly what I needed to get me fired up about my faith. In his fresh, charismatic, and candid style, Greg articulately explains exactly what the New Evangelization is and what we need to do to be successful evangelists. He inspires, motivates, and teaches us to know the faith more deeply, to live the faith more fully, and to share the faith more effectively.

In this short, but lively book, Greg draws us deeper into our faith and effectively convinces us that each of us has God-given gifts we can use to share the faith with others. With wit and charm, he relates personal anecdotes about his own evangelization experiences and shares brief profiles about average Catholics today who serve as new evangelizers in the world. He keeps us actively involved in the preparation process for becoming new evangelizers with thought-provoking questions and prayer at the end of each chapter.

As an experienced evangelizer, Greg reveals numerous practical, down to earth techniques to touch hearts and souls to bring them closer to the Lord. I found The New Evangelization and You to be a refreshing and exciting book and a must read for all who desire to remain fully and actively alive in their faith. I highly recommend it.

© Jean M. Heimann, July 2013.

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Seminarians and novices flock to Rome for special event with Pope Francis

July 03, 2013. (Romereports.com) Between July 4th and 7th, Rome will be the center of a special event dedicated to seminarians and novices from all over the world. According to the Vatican, the city will welcome more than 6 thousand people from at least 70 countries around the world.

Most of these pilgrims will be youths, so the event will in a way be a preview of WYD in Rio.
The train of celebrations in the Eternal City has been organized by the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization.

ARCH. RINO FISICHELLA
President, Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization
“I think that the presence of thousands and thousands of young people in Rome will be a witness of joy, first of all, and a witness that youths today can be once again able, even with difficulty, to follow Jesus Christ.”

The series of events will have a special focus on formation. On Saturday, July 6th, pilgrims will attend a special conference to analyze the role of clergy education plays within the new evangelization.

ARCH. RINO FISICHELLA
President, Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization
“I think that this is very important. But it this is also very important for seminarians, novices and all young people who desire to consecrate themselves to Jesus Christ, because formation also means 'to know our identity', it also means being able to 'go outside ourselves' and being instruments for the New Evangelization.”

The list of scheduled events includes a catechesis session in seven languages and special visits to Roman shrines. But the highlight, will be a meeting with Pope Francis on Saturday, July 6th. The audience will feature speeches by father Robert Barron, who is known as the popular social media priest.  Also on the list is film director Juan Manuel Cotelo and in the singing department, there's sister Glenda Valesca Hernandes Aguayo.

The Pope will also close the event with a special Mass at St. Peter's Square.

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Silver Fish' prize awarded to best Catholic film

(Romereports.com) The International Catholic Film Festival celebrated its fourth anniversary. Recognized as the most important festival of its kind, it promotes the New Evangelization through movies.

This year the Festival's prize, also known as 'Silver Fish' was awarded to Noelle, a film directed by David Wall, who also received  recognition for his work. The film is about the inner transformation of a priest who is sent to a small English village to shut down a parish. But in the process, he gets to know the people.

The prize for Best Leading Actress went to young Katia Miran for her role in the French film Je m'appelle Bernadette. She plays Saint Bernadette, the young shepherdess who witnessed the apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes, in France.

As a theme, the nearly 2,000 films presented this year shared the 'The Year of Faith.' Each movie deals with this very topic in an original way.  Some are about parishes, priestly vocations or  saints.

LIANA MARABINI
President, Catholic International Film Festival
“This is the founding idea of this festival, since a film is very accessible tool of communication. We believe that a film is much easier to comprehend to understand than a book or a conference or whatever, so we try to transmit trough the film those good values.”

The Festival's director says,  says that by transmitting those Christian values, one can be inspired to become a better person and be more open to spirituality.

LIANA MARABINI
President, Catholic International Film Festival
“What I think is that, in this moment we need to spiritually heal people, because I think society now feels loneliness, it feels fear, it feels lost.”

This year, the festival also focused on Kateri Tekakwitha, the first north-American indigenous saint canonized by Benedict XVI on October 21st, 2012.

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A Conference in Rome on Understanding and Professing the Liturgy in the 21st Century

June 30, 2013. (Romereports.com) What's the best way to study, understand and appreciate the Liturgy? What's the most efficient way to profess it in the 21st century? These were some of the questions that were analyzed during a four day 'Sacred Liturgy' Symposium organized by French Bishop, Dominique Rey, in Rome.

MSGR. DOMINIQUE REY
Bishop of Fréjus-Toulon (France)
“The center, the source, the summit of Christian life, as said by the Council, is the Liturgy. Because in the Liturgy we have the presence of God.”

Msgr. Dominique Rey says that when it comes to understanding the Gospel, there's a lot more than meets the eye. As the Church promotes the New Evangelization, it's essential understand how to profess the Liturgy and its relevance, in the modern world.

In fact, about a month after being elected, the Pope talked about irreplaceable role of the Liturgy during an audience with the Biblical Commission.

POPE FRANCIS
April 12, 2013
“That is why the center of our faith isn't just a book, but a history of Salvation, and above all, it's about a person: Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh.”

It's not just about words, he says, but about living out one's faith. The Liturgy, by nature has many dimensions to it.

MSGR. DOMINIQUE REY
Bishop of Fréjus-Toulon (France)
“All the dimensions are there. The faith is proclaimed by the Gospel the faith is nourished, the faith is purified by communication.”

The symposium also reflected on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, regarding the Liturgy. About 300 people took part in the meeting, including American Cardinal Raymond Burke. The group also included many priests, religious and lay people.

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Quote of the Day: Archbishop Chaput on the New Evangelization

Blessed Pope John Paul II saw the outline of our new “new world” more than 30 years ago.  And following his lead, the Church has been calling Catholics to the work of a “new evangelization” ever since.  But there’s a natural human tendency to attach magic powers to slogans, which then replace serious thought and effort — as if saying the slogan, or talking about it, actually makes mission work happen.  In practice, the words “new evangelization” are overused and underthought.  Unless we reconfigure our lives to understanding and acting on it, the “new evangelization” is just another pious intention – well meaning, but ultimately infertile.

~ Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M.CAP., excerpted from his speech at the Serra International Convention, June 22, 2013, Mallorca, Spain.

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Pope's Prayer Intentions for June

Vatican City, 31 May 2013 (VIS) - The Pope's general prayer intention for June is: “That a culture of dialogue, listening, and mutual respect may prevail among peoples.”

His mission intention is: “That where secularization is strongest, Christian communities may effectively promote a new evangelization.”

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June 2nd: Vatican invites Catholics around the world, to join the Pope in prayer

May 28, 2013. (Romereports.com) On June 2nd, Catholics worldwide will pray simultaneously. It will be a truly historic event: Pope Francis will lead the Eucharistic adoration in St Peter's Basilica, joined by the faithful in cathedrals all over the world.

ARCH. RINO FISICHELLLA
President, Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization
“It will be a historic moment, because for an hour cathedrals throughout the world will be in communion with the Pope in Eucharistic adoration. We had a massive support to this initiative: it extends beyond the cathedrals and involves episcopal conferences, parishes and religious congregations, especially cloistered convents and associations.”

It is going to be a simple celebration, with no speech or homily by the Pope. However, the Vatican will broadcast footage of the Basilica and connect with countries around the world. Prayer will take place between 5 and 6 PM Italian time (16.00-17.00 GMT). In Mexico, it will be at 10 am, in Iceland at 3 in the afternoon. Korea and Japan will pray at midnight; Papua New Guinea at one in the morning and Honolulu at 5 am.

MSGR. JOSE OCTAVIO RUIZ ARENAS
Secretary, Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization
“It will be a great encouragement for all Christians to know that we are praying together with the Holy Father for the same intentions. First of all, that the Church may be holier, purer and more immaculate. Also, we will pray for Christians to be an expression of the Lord's love and mercy. Finally, for something that the Holy Father holds very dear: that we may turn to those who suffer and travel to the outskirts of society.”

According to the Vatican, since the Year of Faith began on October 11, 2012, some 4.3 million pilgrims have participated in the scheduled events.

Another mass meeting is on the agenda in June: Evangelium Vitae Day, which will culminate in a Mass celebrated by the Pope in St. Peter's Square on Sunday 16.

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Pope to meet with Catholic Lay Movements. More than 120,000 expected

May 16, 2013. (Romereports.com) On Saturday May18th and Sunday 19th, Pope Francis will meet with leaders and members of different lay movements. The meeting is a way to recognize their contributions to the Church and to mark the Year of Faith. Those two days will be quite busy. Roughly 120,000 tickets have already been given out for the Pope's Pentecost Sunday Mass.

ARCH. RINO FISICHELLA
President, Pontifical Council for New Evangelization
“We chose this weekend when we celebrate Pentecost to highlight the presence of all these movements, new communities, lay associations and all the different ecclesial roles that are present within the Church. They are signs that reflect the presence of the Risen Spirit of Christ, that guides the Church in Her work of evangelizing.”

Over 150 different movements from all over the world will gather in Rome over the weekend.
Among them will be Catholic Action, Communion and Liberation, the Focolare Movement, the Community of St. Egidio and the Neocatechumenal Way. Other more recent movements that were born in the U.S, Argentina, Brazil, Congo, India and Trinidad will also be present.

The meeting will start of on Saturday afternoon in St. Peter's Square, where all the movements are invited. Musical group Gen Verde will be playing during the massive gathering.

ARCH. RINO FISICHELLA
President, Pontifical Council for New Evangelization
“Once Pope Francis arrives, we will mark the beginning of the gathering with a prayer. We will then pay homage to Our Lady Salus Populi Romani followed by a Gospel reading.”

Then on Sunday, again thousands are expected in St. Peter's Square. There will be a special seating section for the sick. There will also be a sign language interpreter for the deaf so that everyone can join in the celebration.

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St. Mark, the Evangelist

Giuseppe Vermiglio, Saint Mark the Evangelist, c. 1630

Today is the feast of St. Mark, the Evangelist. What a great model he is for us during the New Evangelization in this great year of faith!

John Mark, later known simply as Mark, was a Jew by birth. He was the son of that Mary who was proprietress of the Cenacle or "upper room" which served as the meeting place for the first Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). He was still a youth at the time of the Savior's death. In his description of the young man who was present when Jesus was seized and who fled from the rabble leaving behind his "linen cloth," the second Evangelist might possibly have stamped the mark of his own identity.

During the years that followed, the rapidly maturing youth witnessed the growth of the infant Church in his mother's Upper Room and became acquainted with its traditions. This knowledge he put to excellent use when compiling his Gospel. Later, we find Mark acting as a companion to his cousin Barnabas and Saul on their return journey to Antioch and on their first missionary journey. But Mark was too immature for the hardships of this type of work and therefore left them at Perge in Pamphylia to return home.

As the two apostles were preparing for their second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take his cousin with him. Paul, however, objected. Thereupon the two cousins undertook a missionary journey to Cyprus. Time healed the strained relations between Paul and Mark, and during the former's first Roman captivity (61-63), Mark rendered Paul valuable service (Col. 4:10; Philem. 24), and the Apostle learned to appreciate him. When in chains the second time Paul requested Mark's presence (2 Tim. 4:11).

An intimate friendship existed between Mark and Peter; he played the role of Peter's companion, disciple, and interpreter. According to the common patristic opinion, Mark was present at Peter's preaching in Rome and wrote his Gospel under the influence of the prince of the apostles. This explains why incidents which involve Peter are described with telling detail (e.g., the great day at Capharnaum, 1:14f)). Little is known of Mark's later life. It is certain that he died a martyr's death as bishop of Alexandria in Egypt. His relics were transferred from Alexandria to Venice, where a worthy tomb was erected in St. Mark's Cathedral.

The Gospel of St. Mark, the shortest of the four, is, above all, a Roman Gospel. It originated in Rome and is addressed to Roman, or shall we say, to Western Christianity. Another high merit is its chronological presentation of the life of Christ. For we should be deeply interested in the historical sequence of the events in our blessed Savior's life.

Furthermore, Mark was a skilled painter of word pictures. With one stroke he frequently enhances a familiar scene, shedding upon it new light. His Gospel is the "Gospel of Peter," for he wrote it under the direction and with the aid of the prince of the apostles. "The Evangelist Mark is represented as a lion because he begins his Gospel in the wilderness, `The voice of one crying in the desert: Make ready the way of the Lord,' or because he presents the Lord as the unconquered King."

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Against impenitence; attorneys; barristers; captives; Egypt; glaziers; imprisoned people; insect bites; lions; notaries; prisoners; scrofulous diseases; stained glass workers; struma; Diocese of Venice, Florida; Venice, Italy.


"Go out into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." ~ Mark 16:15

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Pier Giorgio Frassati: A commentary by Fr. Barron

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Vatican plans huge pro-life, evangelization gathering

A major highlight for the Year of Faith will be a two-day celebration in Rome on the Church’s teaching about the dignity of life and how it fits with the New Evangelization.

Father Geno Sylva, the English-language official for the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, hopes the event will speak so clearly to the secular world that it is “going to have to listen and say, ‘well, there is a culture of life coming out of the Church.’”

The June 15-16 international gathering will begin on Saturday morning with a catechesis session on “The Gospel of Life and the New Evangelization.”

The event will “explore the enduring and timeless truths of Blessed John Paul II's 1995 encyclical, ‘Evangelium Vitae,’ and the central role that the Gospel of Life continues to have in the Church's mission of the New Evangelization,” according to organizers. More

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