Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Welcome! Meeting Topic:
Conversion – Entry into Discipleship
Presenter:
Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
Date:
21 March 2013 1:00 pm ET
Audio:
Available only through internet (computer speakers or headset)
Conversion
Entry into Discipleship M ti Topic: Meeting T i
Conversion – Entry into Discipleship
Presenter:
Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
Date:
21 March 2013 1:00 pm ET
Audio:
Available only through internet (computer speakers or headset)
• Download handouts and troubleshooting tips at any time with LINKS at top left • Use computer speakers/headset for audio • Submit questions at any time in Q&A Box below
Welcome! Meeting Topic:
Conversion – Entry into Discipleship
Presenter:
Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
Date:
21 March 2013 1:00 pm ET
Audio:
Available only through internet (computer speakers or headset)
1
Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Mission America • 6 easy to read chapters • First two chapters explore p ideas about conversion • Only $12.95 • Visit www.pemdc.org/ MissionAmerica
The Context of Today: Conversion is Adult Decision (Roger Williams)
What questions does this raise for Christians who baptize their children?
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Two Worlds?
Is there another different Christian world for those who are raised in faith?
Is there one Christian Ch i ti world ld ffor those more conscious, more perfect, who accept Christ?
Parable of the Sower How do we understand the p phrase: "Thirty, sixty, a hundred fold" in the parable of the seed?
Conversion
Are there different levels of conversion? Is conversion nuanced? What do we see in our own lives?
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Kingdom Scripture: Gospel of Matthew,, Mark: Matthew
The appointed time has come. come Repent and believe in the Good News. The Kingdom of God is at hand.
“Metanoia” Metanoia” Idea of repent: ""metanoia metanoia““ —to turn one's mind around, to change one's heart, to think differently— differently— it assumes a "before" and ""after." after."
Conversion and Kingdom
Conversion is related to the Kingdom: by changing one's heart, one is able to see the Kingdom of God, God's inbreaking of love, of call, of grace, of salvation
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Process Conversion,, then, is not it's own goal: Conversion it is a process toward the Kingdom of God
Conversion is not the end; it’s the start
Assumptions of Evangelicals
Evangelical Challenge: Is conversion only for adults? For mature b li believers? believers ? Does this disqualify the Christian experience of all others?
Questions for Evangelicals Questions: 1) Backsliding 2) Continued Growth 3) All All--or or--nothing approach to others 4) Shift of eschatology into the present life
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Definition Definition: Conversion is the turning of one's self toward God by placing God, and the things of God, at the center of one's life, in such a way that God continues to act upon the person, and upon the human community
Implications • Conversion has to be ongoing; it is never complete in our present experience. ((We can always y turn back,, backslide.)) • The process of conversion is never finished: we continue to grow in faith=continued growth in conversion=continued experience of conversion
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Catholic Conversion Conversion in Catholic understanding has two frameworks: (1)experiencing (1) experiencing conversion consciously for the first time in life; (2)being (2) being born in a context of conversion where the goals of conversion (involvement God through Jesus Christ) are brought about by God's use of the dynamics of the family
Adults Catholic Conversion in Adults: the RCIA
Inquiry Commitment Sustained Commitment Sacramental Signs Mystagogy (=progressing in the Mystery) Discipleship
Synod The New Evangelization requires personal and communal conversion, new methods of evangelization and renewal of the pastoral structures, to be able to move from a pastoral strategy of maintenance to a pastoral position that is truly missionary. The New Evangelization guides us to an authentic pastoral conversion which moves us to attitudes and initiatives which leads to evaluations and changes in the dynamics of pastoral structures which no longer respond to the evangelical demands of the current time. (Proposition #22)
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Non--Adults Non Catholic Conversion in nonnon-Adults: Faith of the family becomes the form of faith for the child Commitment Sacramental Sign Sustained Commitment Sacramental Signs Discipleship
Call to Holiness • Conversion: Universal Call to Holiness Vatican II transforms Catholic understanding • Before: All have sacraments and try to get to heaven; some live holiness out explicitly • Now: All are called to holiness; the Sacrament of baptism shows this
Holiness Holiness=following of Christ in such a way that, through the Holy Spirit, believers "put on" the mind of Christ: They assume Christ's view of God, of God's purposes, of humankind
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Discipleship • Lived Holiness is Discipleship: Conversion is introduction to life of Discipleship • Discipleship and Conversion: Encounter with Jesus Christ in such a way that the implications of this encounter change human life
Catechesis & Evangelization “The Christian faith is, above all, conversion to Jesus Christ. . . . Faith is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, Christ making of oneself a disciple of him. This demands a permanent commitment to think like him, judge like him, and to live as he lived.” Gen. Dir. for Catec. Catec. #53
Religious Formation Children: to bring about an encounter with Jesus Christ, to further actualize the state of conversion begun in baptism
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Religious Formation AlreadyAlreadybaptized Adults: to deepen encounter with Jesus Christ in the continued growth of discipleship
Religious Formation Need to change our vocabulary from "classes" to "formation" and from "learning" learning . . . to "experiencing "experiencing"" in order to capture the basic thrust of “encounter with Jesus Christ."
Discipleship: Fundamental Elements • Formation in the Word of God • Expression of Relationship with God (in prayer) • Shared Christian life in Community • Unfolded in Christian life through Service and Charity
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Conversion and the Word • Word gives us the categories by which we can name, know, and relate to God • Word brings us to conversion and commitment
Conversion and Expression • Christian express their relationship through prayer and worship • Personal Prayer: Growth in one one's s ongoing encounter with Jesus (the God of Jesus) • Community Prayer: Celebration and deepening of conversion through Word and Sacrament
Mass: Celebration of Conversion • Deepening of Conversion • Re Re--Commitment to Christ in C Conversion i • Identity with Jesus Christ • Acceptance of mission
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Conversion and Community • We are saved by belonging to Christ's community • Community grounds and centers the Kingdom of God • Community supports, sustains, and challenges my individual faith
Conversion: Service and Love • Conversion is for the Kingdom • Kingdom is shown in liberating g deeds • Serving others, for their own sake • Showing Love expanding the Kingdom of God
Catholics and Conversion • Time to Start talking Conversion Language • Time to Start talking Relationship and Discipleship • Time to see Parish as Community of the Converted • Time to make Conversion our Basic Business
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Are Catholics Converted?
Seeking Christ Welcome and receive those who are seeking faith!
20% off Parish Preview Pack
•Eight Flexible modules •DVD reflections •Scripture Sharing •Reflections Reflections •Prayer •Take-home Reflection •Easy to use and effective
Expires: March 31, 2013
Visit www.PEMDC.org/SeekingChrist for more info
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Year of Faith Webinar Issues of Conversion Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
21 March 2013 Paulist Evangelization Ministries
Up Next…
• Building up the RCIA Wednesday,
April 17 at 2pm ET with Dr. Susan Timoney, Timoney, James Schellman, and Fr. Frank DeSiano
Discussion
Register at www.pemdc.org
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