Evangelisation vs Private Catholics?

by Jael SC · September 12, 2016

John Lee, Johannesburg – For most of us, evangelisation means to proclaim the four marks of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.

The word evangelisation has overtones of Protestantism for many of us. In fact it is only in comparatively recent years that “evangelise” appears in official Catholic documents — chiefly since Pope Paul VI and Evangelii Nuntiandi.

Having been a member of many parishes in my life, it is clear from the terminology of many Catholics that the basic Gospel message, the kerygma, has not been fully apppropriated; that we are sacramentalised rather than evangelised.

Many aspire to the “teaching”, be good and God will love you. However, God loved us while we were still sinners. We achieve salvation and are justified by saving faith in Jesus Christ, working in love.

I have great admiration for Jehovah’s Witnesses who are not afraid to stand on street corners, joyfully, while distributing their literature.

There should be no such thing as a so-called “private Catholic”. Others should know we are genuine Catholic believers by the contagious joy that flows from us to others.

Next time at Sunday Mass, let us approach someone, lovingly, whom we have never spoken to or who is a loner or a newcomer. We may receive an unexpected surprise from the Lord!