1. COMMISSION FOR PROCLAMATION / EVANGELIZATION

Secretary: Fr Gerald Sagar Itga

Joint Secretary: Fr George Lobo Chincholi

Core Group: Mr Praveen Paul Bidar, Sr Snehal SRA Santhpur, Mrs. Jeeja Sabastian Gulbarga, Dr. Joyce Bidar, Sr Elizabeth Kuriakose Kanakal.

Introduction

“The Joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus” says Pope Francis in the very first line of his Encyclical Evangelii Gaudium (EG 1). With Christ, Joy is constantly born anew. He exhorts all the faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this Joy.  

Evangelization takes place in obedience to the missionary mandate of Jesus, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”(Mt 28: 19-20). In these verses we see how the Risen Christ sent his followers to preach the Gospel, so that faith in him might spread to every corner of this earth. We cannot forget that all the Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone. By virtue of our Baptism, all Christians are called to be missionary disciples of the Lord (EG 120). It is giving the Good News of Jesus of Nazareth whom I have experienced, one who suffered, died, rose and glorified for me. We proclaim the Good News first and foremost to those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have always rejected him. (EG19). The Church by its very nature is missionary, it exists to evangelize and it has no reason to exist if it ceases to Evangelise.

The Word of God constantly shows us how God challenges those who believe in Him, “to go forth”. Abraham received the call to set out for a new land. (Gen.12:1-3), Moses heard God’s call “Go I send you” (Ex.3:10), to Jeremiah He says “to all whom I send you, you shall go” (Jer:1:7). In our day, Jesus command to “go and make disciples” echoes in the changing scenarios and ever new challenges to the church’s mission of Evangelization, and all of us are called to take part in this new missionary “going forth”. Each Christian and every community must discern the path that the Lord points out, but all of us are asked to obey his call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the peripheries in need of the light of the Gospel (E.G.20).

The gospel joy which enlivens the community of disciples is a missionary joy. The seventy-two disciples felt it as they returned from their mission (Lk: 10:17). Jesus felt it when he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and praised the Father for revealing himself to the poor and the little ones (Lk: 10:21). It was felt by the first converts who marveled to hear the apostles preaching “in the native language of each” (Acts: 2:6) on the day of Pentecost. This Joy is a sign that the Gospel has been proclaimed and is bearing fruit. The Lord says “let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out” (Mk: 1:38). Once the seed has been sown in one place, Jesus does not stay behind to explain things or to perform more signs, the spirit moves him to go forth to other town.

An evangelizing community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative, that he has loved us first (1 Jn. 4:19). And therefore, we can move forward, boldly take the initiative, go out to others. Seek those who have fallen away, stand at the crossroads and welcome the outcast. (E.G 24). The formation not only of local clergy and religious, but also of a mature and responsible lay faithful, in this way, the community which itself has been evangelized goes forth into a new region of the world (Christifidelis Laici,35).

The Commission for Evangelization and Proclamation with several objectives is stressing upon Lay Evangelization and Missionary Childhood Association, where we train Spirit-filled Lay Evangelizers and also transform our children into ‘little missionaries’. There are a good number of educated and Spirit-filled Lay Evangelizers who are willing to serve, they are ready to go forth. Are we ready to train them and send them? The Commission will fulfill its objectives and every parish or mission will give prime importance to the mission mandate of the Lord and desire to make the community an evangelizing community, a community of missionary disciples.

VISION: A Spirit filled community evangelizing its neighbors.

MISSION

1. Inculcating missionary zeal in the community (children, youth, adults and mission team) through animation, involvement and exposure to the missions.
2. Well-equipped Youth & Lay faithful dedicate themselves for evangelization.
3. Evangelization is done in new missions.( unreached areas)
4. Evangelization done through effective CECs.

GOALS

1. Committed and enthusiastic Evangelizers are available.
2. The Diocese (Parishes, Mission Centres) focuses attention on reaching out for Evangelization to new areas through innovative methods.
3. CECs are established in the diocese catering to the needs of the Seekers. (Believers & Non-Christians)

Goal 1: Committed and enthusiastic Evangelizers are available.

Objective 1: The Diocese has at least 60 enthusiastic and committed lay evangelizers by 2024

Indicators

1. The resource team and material for training the lay evangelizers is available.
2. Minimum of fifty lay volunteers are trained for evangelization.
3. Ten lay evangelizers (full/part timers) are ready to serve at parishes and mission centres. (The diocese also welcomes evangelisers from outside)

Objective 2: By 2024, every parish, mission centre and village (wherever possible) has at least 1 active unit of Missionary Childhood Association.

Indicators

1. Forming a UNITS of M.C.A. in every parish, mission centre and every village is mandatory.
2. The diocese has well trained animators in every parish, mission centre and village.
3. The leaders of MCA Units are trained to be little missionaries taking up evangelizing activities in their respective parishes, mission centres and villages.

Objective 3: By 2024, Mission team and the Seminarians of the Diocese with renewed missionary zeal serve in the missions with great enthusiasm.

Indicators

1. The Mission Team (Priests &Sisters), Teachers, Social Animators and other staff are enthusiastic about the mission.
2. At least 15 days/one month training and exposure to missions is provided to all Seminarians.
3. The Mission Team, Seminarians and Formees meet the children and youth promoting vocations particularly to priestly & religious life.

Goal 2: The Diocese (Parishes, Mission Centres) focuses attention on reaching out for Evangelization to new areas.

Objective1: Every mission centre contacts and adopts at least one new village for faith formation by 2024.

Indicators

1. Every mission centre has adopted one village for faith formation.
2. Mission centres plan for new missions or bifurcation where it is necessary.

Objective 2: The Diocese establishes at least two new missions by 2024.

Indicators

1. Religious congregations are invited to collaborate in establishing new missions.
2. Diocesan clergy volunteers for establishing new missions.

Goal 3: CECs are established in the diocese catering to the needs of the Seekers (Believers and Non-Christians)

Objective1: At every deanery headquarter, at the Shrine, and at Retreat Center, a CEC functions effectively by 2024.

Indicators:

1. Every CEC is served by a full time dedicated and trained person.
2. 0Free literature is made available at CECs and regular correspondence is done with the enquirers.

STRATEGIES

1. Decentralized functioning. (Denary wise core committees are actively functioning with the Commission)
2. Regular mission animation programmes are held.
3. ‘Catch them young’ – to instil missionary zeal among young children.
4. Meetings of core team, zonal MCA, and lay evangelisers are held at regular intervals.
5. Creating resource- financial and personnel for the mission.