New Evangelization, says Blessed Pope John Paul II, in his address
to the Episcopal Conferences of Latin America, March 9, 1983 in Haiti, is “one
that is new in its ardor, new in its methods, and new in its expression”. As we
start this year the nine-year preparation for the 5th Centennial
Anniversary of our being the only Catholic country in Southeast Asia, we
reflect again and again on renewing our ardor, methods and expressions in
professing, celebrating, living and praying our faith in Jesus Christ.
We may start by making a thorough review of the doctrines of
our Catholic faith synthesized to us systematically and organically by the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The very
first step is to grab a copy of it and start a calm but persevering reading of
its pages, in which, according to Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI, “we find that
what is presented here is no theory, but an encounter with a Person who lives
within the Church” (Porta fidei, no. 11)
– Jesus Christ.
Getting involved in the Catechetical activities of our
respective parishes, organizing group studies and discussions on social issues
today in the light of the Catholic doctrines and coming up with reflections and
resolutions for effective actions could be some of the concrete things every
Catholic may undertake. The point is: we cannot just sit back and wait for
things to happen. We must contribute even the littlest of what we can do. Christ
is passing by in this Year of Faith. We might miss Him!
In Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Obrero, we have already
begun a detailed study and discussion of the Catechism. What moves us to come
every Saturday evening is our thirst for understanding the faith that the
Apostles had transmitted to us. Our motto is the Augustinian “Fides quaerens intellectum” (Faith
seeking understanding): we believe first what the Church teaches; then, we try
to understand in the measure God allows us to.
How can we reach out to more people, not only to those who
attend daily masses, but most especially, to those who don’t even care that the
response to the greeting “The Lord be
with you” has already been changed to “And
with your spirit”? This is our greatest challenge today, Catholics of the
21st century! And in order to meet this challenge, the Blessed Pope
John Paul II, the Great suggested that we would take on new ardor, new methods
and new expressions in this daunting task of new evangelization.
* * *
Is it possible to employ jokes and funny stories to transmit
good ideas and thought-provoking concepts? If YES, then, why not start there? But
choose the jokes that contain not only a clean sense of humor but also a heart-moving
moral lesson. Let us try this one:
A signage placed at the exit of a church for people who would leave
during the final hymn reads: Judas left early too.
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