The evangelization ministry actively seeks ways to invite others to visit our church, become a part of our faith community and share the “joy of the gospel”. We do this in a plethora of ways. We seek face to face encounters by knocking door to door and inviting persons to visit our church and praying for their spiritual needs when requested.  We actively encourage others to evangelize by adopting a block to invite neighbors and friends to become more active participants of the faith community; by distributing religious pamphlets that encourage and welcome others to renew their faith and return to the faith community; and by distributing The Catholic Update which promotes understanding of the tenets of the Catholic faith.

Evangelization might be understood as a small act of Love that can gradually change the world.  No need for each of us to have the gift to attract multitudes or perform miracles; no need to argue a theological point of your way as the best way or try to prove your beliefs right and others wrong.  Our commission, The Great Commission, carried out in modern times is simple.  Invite others to come sit beside you at Mass or outside of Church, and give them the gift of new life—introduce them to Jesus, whom you know.  Jesus will prepare their hearts and minds to embrace Him.  But first they must have an opportunity to encounter Him. You are part of the encounter! All of us are called to Evangelize!

All parishioners are invited to join the Evangelization group.  We meet at the Adoration Chapel for prayer before commencing our journey to encounter persons to invite to our Divine Mercy Parish Masses as well as invitation to our other parish events or socials.

Resources from the Vatican
(in English and Spanish)

Pope Francis

As our Holy Father, Pope Francis has promoted the New Evangelization in a number of documents and speeches, including:

• Lumen Fidei, The Light of Faith, Pope Francis' First Encyclical Letter (En español)

• Laudato si', On the Care of Our Common Home, Pope Francis' Second Encyclical Letter (En español)

• Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation (En español)

• To Participants in the Meeting of the Pontifical Mission Societies (En español)

• To the Bishops of East Timor on their Ad Limina visit (En español)

• General Audience on Baptism and Discipleship (En español)

• To the Bishops of Gabon on their Ad Limina visit (En español)

• To Participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization (En español)

• Homily of Pope Francis at the "Mass for the Evangelization of Peoples" in Ecuador (En español)

Pope Benedict XVI

During his time as our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI promoted the New Evangelization in a number of ways.
In 2010, he announced the creation of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization (En español).
In 2011, Benedict XVI met with Leaders involved with New Evangelization (En español), and held a Mass for the New Evangelizers (En español).
Pope Benedict XVI also called for the 2012 Synod of Bishops, with the topic New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith. Documents related to the 2012 Synod of Bishops include the:

• Lineamenta, which outlines the orginization of the 2012 Synod (En español)

  • (Press release explaing this document) (En español)

• Instramentum Laboris, which is the working document summarizing the responses prior to the 2012 Synod (En español)

• Homily of Pope Benedict at the opening Mass of the 2012 Synod (En español)

• Message to the People of God at the Conclusion of the Synod (En español)

• Homily of Pope Benedict at the closing Mass of the 2012 Synod (En español)

Pope St. John Paul II 

Pope St. John Paul II also promoted the New Evangelization through his writings. He wrote encyclicals related to the New Evangelization, including Redemptoris Missio, on the Permanent Validity of the Church's Missionary Mandate (En español). John Paul II also published several Apostolic Exhortations, including Christifideles Laici, on the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful (En español), and Catechesi Tradendae, on Catachesis on our Time (En español).

Bl. Pope Paul VI

Bl. Pope Paul VI released two Apostolic Exhortations related to Evangelization, Evangelii Nuntiandi, on Evangelization (En español), and Gaudete in Domino, on Christian Joy (En español). In additon, there were several documents from the Second Vatican Council released during Paul VI's Papacy related to Evangelization, including Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (En español), Gaudium et Spes, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (En español), and Ad Gentes, the Decree on the Missionary Activtity of the Church (En español). Nostra Aetate, the Decleration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, (En español) and Apostolicam Actuositatem, the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, (En español) are also two more great resources from the Second Vatican Council on Evangelization.

Internet Resources

Ecclesial Sites

www.vatican.va  — Vatican Website
www.usccb.org — United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
ww.wearesaltandlight.org — USCCB Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development
www.nolacatholic.org — Archdiocese of New Orleans

Publishers/ Periodicals

www.americanbible.org — American Bible Society
www.americancatholic.org — St.Anthony Messenger Press
www.americancatholic.org — Catholic Updates Library
www.avemariapress.com — Ave Maria Press
www.harcourtreligion.com — Harcourt Religion Publishers
www.litpress.org — Liturgical Press
www.loyolapress.com — Loyola Press
www.ltp.org — Liturgy Training Publications
www.osv.com — Our Sunday Visitor
www.pauline.org — Pauline Books and Media
www.pflaum.com — Pflaum
www.rclweb.com — RLC Benziger
www.rpinet.com — Resources Publications
www.sadlier.com and www.cyberfaith.com — Wm H. Sadlier
www.smp.org — St. Mary’s Press
www.twentythirdpublications.com — Twenty-Third Publications

Books & Other Media

Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith, by Bishop Robert Barron

The Church and New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists, and Bishops Who Tweet, by Brandon Vogt
Creating the Evangelizing Parish, by Frank P. DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack
Welcome Home! Stories of Fallen-Away Catholics Who Came Back, edited by Victor Claveau
The Evangelizing Catholic: A Practical Handbook for Reaching Out, by Frank P. DeSiano
The Parish Guide to the New Evangelization, by Robert J. Hater
Search and Rescue: How to Bring Your Family and Friends Into—or Back Into—the Catholic Church, by Patrick Madrid
John Paul II and the New Evangelization, by Peter Williamson and Ralph Martin
Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living With Passion & Purpose, by Matthew Kelly
From Maintenance to Mission: Evangelization and the Revitalization of the Parish, by Robert S. Rivers, CSP
Rebuild My Church: God’s Plan for Authentic Catholic Renewal, by Alan Schreck, Ph.D.
Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus, by Sherry A. Weddell
Becoming a Parish of Intentional Disciples, by Sherry A. Waddell
Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21^st Century Church, by George Weigel 
The Evangelization Equation: The Who, What, and How, by Father James A. Wehner, S.T.D.
Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost and Making Church Matter, by Tom Corcoran and Michael White
Jesus the Evangelist, a Gospel Guide to the New Evangelization, by Allan F. Wright
New Evangelization: Passing on the Catholic Faith Today, by Cardinal Wuerl