10 things Pope Francis wants You to Know about Evangelisation:

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1.   Everyone is Meant to Evangelise

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Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelisation; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love.—Evangelii Gaudium

2.   Want Authentic Personal Fulfillment? Evangelise

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When the Church summons Christians to take up the task of evangelisation, she is simply pointing to the source of authentic personal fulfilment. For “here we discover a profound law of reality: that life is attained and matures in the measure that it is offered up in order to give life to others. This is certainly what mission means”.—Evangelii Gaudium

3.   Evangelisation Starts with Our Own Relationship with Jesus

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The spread of the Gospel is not guaranteed either by the number of persons, or by the prestige of the institution, or by the quantity of available resources. What counts is to be permeated by the love of Christ, to let oneself be led by the Holy Spirit and to graft one’s own life onto the tree of life, which is the Lord’s Cross.—Homily, Mass with Seminarians and Novices, July 7, 2013

4.   We Must Witness the Faith with Our Lives 

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If you happen to be with an atheist who tells you that they do not believe in God, you can read them the whole library, where it says that God exists, and where it is proven that God exists, and they will not believe. [However] if in the presence of this same atheist you witness to a consistent, Christian life, something will begin to work in their heart…. It will be your witness that brings them the restlessness on which the Holy Spirit works.—Homily, Domus Sanctae Marthae, February 27, 2014

5.   An Evangeliser Must be Joyful

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Consequently, an evangeliser must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral! … And may the world of our time, which is searching, sometimes with anguish, sometimes with hope, be enabled to receive the good news not from evangelisers who are dejected, discouraged, impatient or anxious, but from ministers of the Gospel whose lives glow with fervour, who have first received the joy of Christ”.—Evangelii Gaudium

6.   We Must Encounter People to Evangelise

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Be servants of communion and of the culture of encounter! I would like you to be almost obsessed about this. Be so without being presumptuous, imposing “our truths,” but rather be guided by the humble yet joyful certainty of those who have been found, touched and transformed by the Truth who is Christ, ever to be proclaimed.—Homily, World Youth Day, July 27, 2013

7.   We Must Know How to Give an Initial Proclamation of Jesus

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On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you…. nothing is more solid, profound, secure, meaningful and wisdom-filled than that initial proclamation. ” —Evangelii Gaudium

8.   Get Out of Our Comfort Zone

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I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church concerned with being at the center and which then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures.—Evangelii Gaudium

9.   Evangelisers Love People

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Evangelisers thus take on the “smell of the sheep” and the sheep are willing to hear their voice. An evangelising community is also supportive, standing by people at every step of the way, no matter how difficult or lengthy this may prove to be. It is familiar with patient expectation and apostolic endurance. —Evangelii Gaudium

10.  Everyone Needs to be Evangelised

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Jesus teaches us that the Good News, which he brings, is not reserved to one part of humanity, it is to be communicated to everyone.—Angelus, January 26, 2014

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SOCIAL JUSTICE

CONSCIOUSLY SHAPE A MORE JUST SOCIETY

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• Actively support Vinnies

• Volunteer with MSC Mission Group

• Connect with and advocate for refugees

• Engage with parish pastoral care group

• Create/promote social justice events

• Develop social justice awareness in our parish

COMMUNICATION

OFFER MEANINGFUL COMMUNICATION TO ALL

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• Contribute and support the parish website and Facebook page

• Contribute your photography and graphic design expertise

MUSIC & LITURGY

MAKE OUR WEEKEND EXPERIENCE EXCELLENT

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• Support a Music Ministry

• Develop/join a parish choir

• Develop contemporary music repertoire

• Create family friendly liturgy

• Make our liturgy inviting and attractive to newcomers

• Community prayer at Seaside Silence and Vigil Mass

WELCOMING

ENSURE FROM YOUNGEST TO ELDEST YOU ARE WELCOME

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• Welcome and visit new parishioners

• Visit those unable to attend mass

• Create opportunities to welcome young families

REFLECTIONS