Using barbecues, Mercy Nights and Facebook to evangelize

By Liz Lantigua - Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy HS

MIAMI | Helen Lopez from Blessed Trinity Parish didn’t consider herself an evangelist, but after participating in the Parish Missionary Discipleship training program, she feels very differently. 

“I prayed a lot about participating. I wasn’t really sure because I don’t consider myself an evangelist,” said Lopez. “I’ve always believed that I would show more with my actions than by talking but I went to this and really enjoyed it. It showed me how much I need to read and learn scripture in order to really talk to people and bring them back. Action alone isn’t enough.”

Lopez was one of the parish leaders from nine local churches who attended the training, comprised of a full day, once a month, during the past 12 months. The training is the first initiative toward putting the strategic pastoral plan from the archdiocesan synod into action. The theme was “Disciples in Faith, Missionaries of Hope.”

“This is not about another program,” said Stephen Colella, director of Evangelization and Parish Life for the archdiocese. “This is about creating a vision and plan that makes us look outside our usual experience with outreach, evangelization, and discipleship to realize what more can be done.”

During the year-long training, teams of about eight members from the nine parishes listened to speakers from all over the United States and from outside the country. The speakers shared their broad knowledge and expertise in different areas. 

Tom McCabe, special archdiocesan consultant for Ascension Press, spoke about his experience as a pastoral leader during the Columbine tragedy in his community. This resonated with many of the attendees because of the importance of knowing those who live in their area and meeting their specific needs.

Deacon Ralph Poyo spoke on the dynamics of conversion, preaching and living the Gospel.

Peter Braudis, a retired chemical engineer and businessman, spoke on the culture of change management: How to build the right team and implement leadership skills among those who lead parish ministries.

Finally, Father Charles Rochas, director of the Emmanuel School of Mission in Rome, explained the importance of being a “joyful disciple” because joy is contagious. In his talk, he stressed being genuine because “it’s not about doing. It’s about being.”

Father Rochas also reminded the parish leaders that when Jesus selected his 12 apostles he didn’t just send them out; he instructed them before sending them out. Thus, the importance of academic formation.

Parishioners and their pastors learned how to transform their parishes to meet the needs of their community, what it means to genuinely live as a disciple, and how to apply good business practices and leadership skills to their outreach programs. They also discussed how to acquire information from current studies and use digital technology to achieve their goals.

Taking all this in account, the participating parishes presented their evangelization plan to Archbishop Thomas Wenski at their final meeting Feb. 24.

Blessed Trinity carefully mapped out a plan that consists of several activities inside and outside their church.

“We learned that faith needs to be taken out into the public square and that we must become proactive in reaching out to non-practicing Catholic,” said Father Jose Alfaro, pastor of Blessed Trinity. “As a result, we are bringing the Emmanuel School of Mission from Rome to assist us in these efforts.”

The event, titled “God Never Tires of Forgiving Us” (from a Pope Francis quote), will include adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a prayer service and praise and worship, and take place from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day from May 2 to 5.

Wednesday, May 4, will be a Youth Night with praise and worship and Thursday, May 5, is Couples Night � an evening for married couples dedicated to highlighting the sacrament of Matrimony. The couples will listen to witness testimonies of other married couples “who will share how they strive to live their faith,” Father Alfaro said. The event will be in a candlelight setting and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

A healing Mass with confessions, titled Mercy Night, will be held Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. The parish will be reaching out to the whole community on Saturday, May 7, at 5 p.m. with the reciting of the rosary and a bilingual Mass celebrated by Archbishop Wenski outdoors at the Miami Springs Circle Gazebo. Following the Mass, there will be a concert at 7 p.m. with testimonies and food trucks for all to enjoy.

“I liked that I was able to see the big picture of what the archdiocese is doing as part of the New Evangelization,” said Lemay Rodriguez, parishioner of St. Mark in Southwest Ranches. “Many times we get caught up in our parishes and can have tunnel vision. I thought it was great to see and hear what other parishes are doing to energize their parishioners.”

Keeping with the theme of reaching out to others in the community, St. Mark’s strategic plan is called “2016 Listening Tour.” It begins with “Backyard Barbecues � A Celebration of Relationships,” where parishioners invite neighbors for gatherings at their homes.

Rodriguez explained it can be your street neighbor or your neighbor in the pew beside you at Mass. While it sounds simplistic, the project has several goals, among them to invite the unengaged parishioner to take an active role and participate. It also allows engaged parishioners to expand their ministry to other people.

“The ultimate final goal is for all to increase our faith, build upon our spirituality and ultimately lead everyone to a personal relationship with Christ,” said Rodriguez.

Father Paul Vuturo, pastor of St. Louis Parish in Pinecrest, explained how they plan to do better follow up with their Emmaus, marriage prep and baptism programs. They will work on other simple details such as inviting the parents of the youth group participants who wait for their kids in the parking lot to come in and gather for a Bible study group. They will also take a look at their current ministries and, focusing on evangelization, reorganize them and try to make disciples out of others.

Every parish team was given a poster board to draw and explain their new plan.

“If you don’t have passion nothing moves,” said Alicia Martinez from St. Francis de Sales Parish in Miami Beach, pointing to a huge flame symbolizing the Holy Spirit in her poster. “The flame in the center is that whatever you do you have to have passion and that drives the Church and drives the individual in whatever calling they have.”

The parish leaders also drew a bus with the words Facebook to symbolize their plans to tap into the digital world in order to better communicate.

“We have not tapped into technology as we should,” said Martinez, who is director of religious education at St. Francis. “We are still at the bulletin level. We are not fully taking advantage of our digital world. We need to get on the bus to move in that direction forward.”

She said they also plan to target the youth and elderly of their community, to learn more about them and identify parishioners that have the passion to work in these areas.

It seemed like the Holy Spirit had come upon the Convocation Hall at St. Thomas University, where the last day of training was held, for words such as passion, fire and purposecame forth from the attendees’ lips as they explained their new initiatives in spreading the Good News.

Sending them forward on their mission, Archbishop Wenski referred to the Aparecida document written by the Latin American Bishop’s Conference. He reminded participants that “to be a Christian, Catholic, is not a burden. It is a gift. And to have an encounter with Jesus Christ is the best thing that has happened to each of us; to share Christ with others is a joy.”