| COURSE OVERVIEW
 Empowerment
to Personal Evangelization was developed in 1992 in response to the Bishops' document Go
and Make Disciples. A course that explained the document and gave examples of how to
implement the three goals was offered at the Paulist College in Washington, DC. Sandra
McConnell, SFO attended this weeklong evangelization course. With great enthusiasm and
zeal for the 'Great Commission' in her heart, Sandra met Father Marty Pable, OFM
Capuchin and together they developed a program that would help others to realize an
understanding of the command of Jesus Christ that all His people are to share their faith
wherever they are in life. This is a Franciscan ministry. All people are being called, as well as the Secular Franciscans, to be
instrumental in promoting this program.
The course was developed to teach people how
to share Jesus and His message of hope through their own faith journey in a
non-threatening way. It is a practical approach that equips people with the necessary
tools for effective evangelization. It familiarizes course attendees with the Bishop'
documents Go and Make Disciples and Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Exhortation Evangelization in
the Modern World. Included in the course is an overview of evangelization and the tools to
equip the participants with the necessary skills for personal use to include these points:
tells what evangelization is and is not;
encourages participants to personally
encounter the love of Jesus and then become His disciples and servants of His church;
teaches listening skills;
Helps participants to develop their own
faith stories to share with others
encourages reading and sharing the
Scriptures;
and encourages an increase in Sacramental
life.
A course manual is available to use as a
practical guide for implementing Empowerment to Personal Evangelization in the parish.
Empowerment to Personal Evangelization can be
taught at the parish or vicariate level. Time slots for presentation may vary: it can be
taught in a five-week plan (one weekly in a 2-1/2 hour format), in three consecutive days,
during a weekend retreat, or an all day workshop. Invitation is extended to the parish
community at large, its surrounding parishes and their vicariate.
From each course that is offered, participants
step forth to be involved in the evangelization process or committees within their
parishes. Each time it is presented new teachers are recruited to teach in their parishes,
the surrounding parishes, or throughout the vicariate. |
