Targeting the Parish Fringe
In just about every parish I visit these days, I am hearing about the dramatic and consistent drop in attendance at Mass and other activities. Everyone is describing to me […]
A Lack of Conviction
When I a young teenager, going through my religious education, I recall going on a Diocesan retreat. There was a notable surprise about the retreat that meant nothing to me […]
Developing Effective Community for Yourself
When a predator moves in on a flock of sheep, its goal is to single out one of the sheep and separate them from the flock. Once they are removed […]
Not Just Learning But Living
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Matt. […]
Getting Grounded in the Disciplines
Three Weeks! ? Three Weeks! ? Three Weeks! After a person encounters Jesus Christ through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, all that Satan needs to get someone back […]
Time For Staff Training and Planning
Having worked for three Catholic churches, ranging in size from 500 – 3,100 families, I have a very good understanding of the rigors of ministry life. Like any other job, […]
Catechizing for Action
In response to what appears to be a tremendous lack of knowledge of the Catholic Faith in Catholic adults & teens, the Church has greatly improved its efforts to instruct […]
An Office or Committee of Evangelization 2
The process of evangelization wasn’t done within the vacuum of one particular ministry. Jesus commissioned the Apostles and the rest of the Church to go out and make disciples of […]
An Office or Committee of Evangelization 1
Since the 1960s, the Church began calling for a “New Evangelization” as the Bishops began to recognize a phenomenon occurring in Europe. Within the twenty-first century, we have come to […]
The Church’s Responsibility for the Mission
II Tim. 4:1-5 “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: […]