lediocese072513handout

Special Webinar for Diocesan Leaders 25 July 2013

Welcome!

Fr. Frank DeSiano

Fr. Kenneth Boyack

Meeting Topic:

Challenges and Opportunities for the New Evangelization

Presenter:

Frs. Frank DeSiano, CSP and Kenneth Boyack, CSP

Date:

25 July 2013 3:00 pm ET

Audio:

Available only through internet (computer speakers or headset)

Technical difficulties call: 800-237-5515

Prayer for the New Evangelization

Frs. Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack Addressing Issues to Foster the New Evangelization

Living the Eucharist as a Needed Resource for the Church

Overview • Key issues that affect diocesan life and ministry today • The Church’s response to these issues Synod on the New Evangelization USCCB’s strategic plan for the New Evangelization • Living the Eucharist as a dynamic and proven Li i h E h i d i d resource to foster the New Evangelization • Sharing about Living the Eucharist in the Diocese of Shreveport and the Diocese of Knoxville • Two opportunities for questions and comments from webinar participants (use Text Chat at bottom of screen)

As diocesan leaders, we see larger pictures than many people who have only a parish perspective have only a parish perspective.

We see the problems that face us all today!

The Crisis of Community— y in society today

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Special Webinar for Diocesan Leaders 25 July 2013 • Community is hard to form in parishes because Catholics are scattered • People live in “virtual worlds” of their own choosing • Communities are inherently unstable because of transitions and economic changes

Frs. Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack

Question

How do people experience a meaningful community of faith today?

The Problem of Congregationalism— how hard it is to sustain a sense of the larger network of parishes and a broad image of being Catholic

• Parishes operate more autonomously than before • Shortage of priests inadvertently causes this—people have to pull together • Catholics do not have as great a sense of “being Catholic” so much as being a parishioner in a particular parish • This increases the sense of “shopping around” or church as “preference”

Question

The Problem of Ministers— adequately staffing parishes today

How do we help people feel connected with the wider Catholic Church?

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Special Webinar for Diocesan Leaders 25 July 2013

Frs. Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack

Question • Shortage of priests • Many international priests who serve valorously in a different culture • Increased expense for parishes due to hiring Increased expense for parishes due to hiring lay staff • Possible growth of a sense of Church “without need for sacraments”

The Problem of Families— their connection to each other and to the Church

How do we help Catholics feel empowered as Catholic laypeople but still have a fundamentally Eucharistic consciousness?

• Families do “sacramental preparation” but not much more • Divorce of family life from parish life: two different worlds different worlds • Lack of a sense of prayer and daily spirituality for the family • Parents fear that they do not know what to share with children

Question

The Problem of Youth— how much “gray hair” will we grow as a Church?

How do we help families sense their own spiritual capacities?

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Special Webinar for Diocesan Leaders 25 July 2013

Frs. Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack

• Youth live in an increasingly different world from (aging) Church leadership • Youth have spiritual questions that do not always line up with the methods we adopt for them • Many youth retain only a residual identity Many youth retain only a residual identity with the Church and the Catholic faith

Question

How do we solidify youth’s sense of identity around Catholicism and the Eucharist?

The Issue of Multiculturalism— A Church with so many languages, cultures, and forces operating at the same time

Question

• New immigrants come to this country and have a skittish relationship with the parish ( d (and many organizations) i ti ) • New immigrants need to organize differently than established Catholics—they are where the Irish were in 1860, the Italians in 1890 • New immigrants need ways to come to share, and share faith, that will help them feel identified with the parish, not separate from it

An Agenda Today  Engaged Catholics who see themselves as disciples  Growing as parishes and growing in their broader Catholic identity

 Involving parents and families in the transmission of faith through patterns instilled in the household g p

 With a sense of empowerment as lay people, sharing the Word and living the Eucharist

How do we help people of diverse cultures share in the same programs of renewal?

 With ways to involve younger generations  With paths for new immigrants to feel their own

identity, but also identity with their new Church, creating paths for their children to become vital participants in the Church of tomorrow

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Special Webinar for Diocesan Leaders 25 July 2013 Synod on the New Evangelization Vision of Parish The bishops gathered in Synod affirm that the parish continues to be the primary presence of the Church in neighborhoods, the place and instrument of Christian life, which is able to offer opportunities for dialogue g , g g among men, for listening to and announcing the Word of God, for organic catechesis, for training in charity, for prayer, adoration and joyous eucharistic celebrations.

In addition the Synod Fathers would like to encourage parishes to find ways to orient themselves to a greater emphasis on evangelization which could include parish missions, parish renewal programs and parish retreats.

(Prop. 36)

The Elements of the Plan Titled Journey With Christ

Frs. Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack USCCB’s Strategic Plan for the New Evangelization

To engage more intently those who are faithful and need to be renewed with increased catechesis; To reach out to those who have never heard To reach out to those who have never heard the Gospel proclaimed; and To re‐engage those who are baptized but have lost a living sense of the faith in their daily lives

Faith Inviting Catholics to a deeper relationship with Christ, and a deeper understanding of and deeper understanding of and relationship with his Church, and knowledge of the faith.

Worship Inspiring confidence in the gospel and the teachings of the faith expressed in a of the faith expressed in a vibrant community and sacramental life, most intensively in the Eucharist and Penance, but also through Marriage and greater appreciation of the family as the domestic church.

Witness Strengthening of our understanding of the Christian vocation lived through a public witness to Jesus Christ and to the life and dignity of the human person where believers, living out their vocation to be witnesses affirm the freedom of vocation to be witnesses, affirm the freedom of religion and work to transform society through living and sharing their faith in Jesus Christ and giving recognition to the life and dignity of the human person.

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Special Webinar for Diocesan Leaders 25 July 2013

Frs. Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack

Answer. . . .

Dioceses can foster the New Evangelization in significant ways through

Encountering Christ Through Living the Eucharist • A dynamic and effective parish renewal experience for the whole parish • Takes place primarily during Lent Takes place primarily during Lent • Nearly 550 parishes across the U.S. have participated since Lent 2012 • Implements Pope Benedict XVI’s The Sacrament of Charity • Helps parishioners to 1) understand the Eucharist, 2) participate more fully and actively, and 3) live the Eucharist each day

Living the Eucharist Results Feedback from over 2,500 parishioners since 2012

• • • •

90% of adult small group participants rated their experience as “Excellent” or “Very Good.”

92% have a greater understanding of the Eucharist.

88% participate more fully in the Mass.

94% are more committed to live as disciples of Jesus each day.

Every component of Living the Eucharist rated overall as “Excellent” or “Very Good.”

• Renewed experience of the Mass as key to conversion and discipleship • Enriched by sharing in small groups • Extending insights of the Eucharist into the family’s daily life daily life • Developing processes for teens • Involving the whole parish in prayer • Calling all parishioners to conversion and a deeper experience of worship

Small Groups for Adults • Very successful adaptation of small Christian sharing groups • Materials: Participant B kl Booklet and Leader Guide d L d G id • Groups focus both on discussion and on shared prayer • Strong desire of many to continue Living the Eucharist next Lent

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Special Webinar for Diocesan Leaders 25 July 2013

Frs. Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack

Feedback From Living the Eucharist Small Group Members This was a GREAT experience and I look forward to continuing it next Lent!!

Small Groups for Teens

‐Parishioner, Chicago, IL

• An effective way to engage teens • Materials: Participant Booklet, Leader Guide, Videos • Groups focus both on a teaching and on shared prayer • Reporting back the next week on the “Action Challenge”

Feedback from Teens

Involving Families in the Home

‐Parishioner, Jackson Heights, NY

Being able to talk about the Eucharist, religion and spirituality with people my own age was new and exciting for me. I think more people in their 20s and 30s should have or make opportunities to talk openly about God and religion in small groups.

We had some very deep sharing and moments where I believe the Spirit was powerfully present. ‐Parishioner, Cottage Grove, OR

“It was super fun.”

“I came initially with some doubts and was reluctant about how this would work, but I y g found myself looking forward to attending each meeting.”

‐Teen, Indian Creek, IL

‐Teen, Alden, NY

• Family participation is an intrinsic part of Living the Eucharist through use of the Family Activity Booklet • Having a set time and place for families to learn, share, and pray • Involving children in the family prayer event I l i hild i th f il t • Using signs and symbols from the Mass that children can understand and that families can enshrine • Involving families in English and Spanish

“I actually understand the Eucharist now. Even though it’s happening a little later than it’s probably supposed to, I still find this experience extremely valuable.” ‐Teen, Colstrip, MT

Feedback From Families “Using the Family Activity Booklet in our home really helped us connect with the Sunday ih h S d Mass.”

“We grew in our faith by sharing the Gospel readings together as a family and reading them from an old family Bible.”

“I thought it was a great way for our family to get together and talk about what we believe in.”

Living the Eucharist Resources • Prayer cards • Small group materials for adults and teens • Parish bulletin inserts • Family Activity Booklet y y • Daily Lenten devotional booklet • Parish Retreat • Parish Leadership Team Manual • Preview materials at www.LivingtheEucharist.org • Outreach to inactive Catholics and unchurched • Parish pays only for the cost of the materials

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Special Webinar for Diocesan Leaders 25 July 2013 What Parishioners Are Saying “I grew in my faith by practicing the ‘Reflect, Act, and Pray’ sections of the bulletin inserts.”

Reading From Exodus to Easter each morning, and meditating on the topics presented, carried me through Lent in a very special way. I felt God’s presence in me so strongly. ‐Parishioner, Round Lake, NY

I had never practiced lectio divina and I felt very comfortable and filled with the Holy Spirit as I read the reading again and again. ‐Parishioner, Lake City, TN

Frs. Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack

What Parish Leaders Are Saying 97% said they would attend Living the Eucharist if were offered again. ‐Team Coordinator, Hampstead, NH

Our parish had the highest number of participants of any number of participants of any program offered by the parish in recent history. ‐Team Coordinator, Monroe, LA

Paulist Evangelization Ministries has given Catholic parishes around the United States a magnificent gift in Living the Eucharist. ‐Team Coordinators, Round Lake, NY

Conclusion

Sharing the Diocesan Experience

• Living the Eucharist does help dioceses and parishes to address key issues of the New Evangelization p y Offers multiple ways to encounter Christ Involves adults, teens, families…the whole parish Increases Catholic identity and commitment Includes outreach to inactive Catholics and the unchurched Available in English and Spanish; PEM can supply texts for translations in other languages Rated overall as “Very Good” or “Excellent”

Sharing the Diocesan Experience

Shelly Boles Director, Office of Catechesis, Diocese of Shreveport

Arch/Diocesan Partnerships • Living the Eucharist can help the bishop and diocesan leaders to achieve their pastoral goals • Partnership includes – Customized, personal program orientation and training – Free program resources and ongoing guidance Free program resources and ongoing guidance – Opportunities to help financially challenged parishes participate

Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM Director, Office of Christian Formation, Diocese of Knoxville

• Click on “Diocesan Participation” in the Learn About section of www.LivingtheEucharist.org to find out more • Contact Fr. Frank DeSiano, CSP, or Fr. Kenneth Boyack, CSP, using the “Contact Us” function on the Living the Eucharist website

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Special Webinar for Diocesan Leaders 25 July 2013 Types of Living the Eucharist Arch/Diocesan Partnerships • • • • •

Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon Archdiocese of Baltimore Diocese of Brooklyn Diocese of Great Falls Billings Diocese of Great Falls‐Billings Diocese of Portland in Maine

Choose an approach that works best for your arch/diocese

Frs. Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack Learn more at www.LivingtheEucharist.org Parish Starter Kit and Parish Resource Pack

Includes ground shipping and handling!

Order today at LivingtheEucharist.org/store

Up Next…

P l th A tl T d Paul the Apostle Today Tuesday, August 13 at 1pm ET Rev. Ronald Witherup, SS Check out the schedule at www.PEMDC.org/YearOfFaith

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