Evangelization Supplement 2008

Friendship with Christ: The goal of evangelization

By John Valenti

The Church’s vision for evangelization was summarized well by Pope Paul VI: “The task of evangelizing all people constitutes an essential mission and our deepest identity; the Church exists in order to evangelize” (“On Evangelization in the Modern World”).

Evangelization is the incorporation of new members into the Church and ongoing faith formation. It is an entrance into a friendship with Christ which humanizes mankind and the world.

According to a recent survey released by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, Catholics account for nearly one-quarter of U.S. adults. Nevertheless, former Catholics outnumber Catholic converts by roughly four to one, and approximately one in 10 adults are former Catholics. Overall, one-third of those who were raised Catholic have left the Church.

Some speculate that Catholics have left the Church because of poor religious instruction. That is one explanation. But if our adult Catholics suffer from religious illiteracy, another question is “Why should anyone be interested in religion or anything else which does not effectively communicate the positive aspects of participation?”

Bishop Robert Vasa of the Diocese of Baker, Ore., stated, “Without an evangelized heart, without falling in love with Christ—which is really what it means to be evangelized—the practice of the faith redounds to duty and obligation. There is only a slim possibility of persevering in the practice of a faith that is viewed primarily or exclusively this way.”

Auxiliary Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Diocese of San Diego echoed the sentiments: “The need for better catechesis and ongoing adult formation is widely acknowledged. To keep our people in the Church, their Catholic identity must result from deep love for and cultural connection with their faith tradition. … If they don’t, and if they are unhooked from this deep-seated Catholic identity, then it is not surprising if they go elsewhere to find it.”

Some helpful questions we might ask of ourselves and our parishes are:

• Is lifelong adult faith formation at the core of your planning and resources?
• Are catechetical efforts placed within the context of evangelizing the baptized?
• Are programs centered on conversion to Christ and our Catholic faith?
• Does your parish promote evangelization and adult formation through renewal programs and hospitality?
• Does the parish reach out to inactive Catholics and newcomers of various ethnicities?
• Do you encourage training and leadership development for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and other adult faith coordinators?

The work of evangelization and adult faith formation is never done. Both require a lifelong process of ongoing faith development. We also need Catholics to evangelize and animate our Catholic faith. The challenge is to make adult faith formation and evangelization a priority.

(John Valenti is the associate director for evangelization and catechesis for the archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Education.) †