"Large things always begin from the small seed".

(Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, speaking at a Conference during the Jubilee of Catechists, 10th December 2000)

Pause for thought:

Which of the methods outlined on this page have you used before? Choose one other which you will try to put into practice in your daily life once you log-off this website.

• What's that?
• Deep roots
• Message
• Methods
• Target
• Personnel
• Spirituality
  

Methods: So how do I do it then?

Make a start:

The biggest challenge we all face is deciding in what ways we can and are able to evangelise. Most of us, whether we spend most of our time in the parish, are at school, at home, at work, or elsewhere, are happy to take on board the theory side of things, but the difficulty comes in trying to put evangelisation into practice. It can at first appear to be a daunting task.

The key is, wherever you are at, resolve to make some kind of start, no matter how small or great the gesture might be. You'll be surprised at the variety of different ways you can share your faith. The Church has given us a carte blanche to be as creative as we can.

Methods of Evangelisation.

• Witness of life. There is no replacement for the witness of an authentic Christian life. Through our words and actions, as members of a Catholic parish, school, group and/or through our daily life, we can speak powerfully of the person of Jesus Christ.
• Preaching. The spoken word and modern means of communication can be used to good effect to evangelise. Many parishes now have their own website.
• Liturgy of the Word. Homilies given during our liturgies are crucial to our on-going Christian formation. They need to be simple, clear, direct, and Gospel centred.
• Catechetics. Instruction of children and young people is crucial if they are to live the Christian life. This means their teachers or catechists, in turn, need training and a solid formation.
• The Mass Media. Modern communications networks have enormous potential to reach vast numbers of people with the Gospel message. Television, radio, the internet, are the modern day pulpit.
• Personal Contact. Rubbing shoulders with people in our every day lives is a powerful way through which we, in simplicity, share our faith. This is the principle means through which the early church grew - neighbour to neighbour faith sharing.
• The Sacraments.The sacraments are a crucial way through which we touch the supernatural and draw strength from that contact. Any evangelisation must lead people to these sacred realities.
• Popular Piety. Expressions of faith are rich in value. They reflect our thirst for God and can help lead others to a personal encounter with God.