Pastor's Corner, February 16, 2014

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

We all have a role to play in the new evangelization. All the baptized have both the call and the gifts necessary to proclaim the Good News and attract others to Christ and His Church. What the Gospel offers others is “the chance to live life on a higher plane” and “authentic personal fulfillment” (“The Joy of the Gospel,” 10). We are offering the answers to life’s deepest questions and an opportunity to come to know God who loves us beyond all telling. We give others an opportunity to find the path to eternal happiness in heaven.

But sometimes evangelization can be a question of style.

Pope Francis points out that sometimes evangelization is not simply a matter of content but also of style. He says, “An evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!” (10)

What is the “style” of an evangelizer? For starters, it is a style embued with joy and peace. It is a style that exudes confidence and trust. A good evangelizer takes time to speak with people one-on-one and respects and values their opinions and the circumstances of their lives. If we want to share the Gospel with others we need to be utterly convinced and convicted by it and share it with style!

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker