To that end, the institute鱿鱼视频app summer program will feature speakers who have successfully implemented parish renewal.
The program will feature exemplars of parish renewal who will come and address the two-week institute that runs from Aug. 4-14 at Ottawa鱿鱼视频app Saint Paul University. They include Fr. James Mallon, author of Divine Renovation: from a Maintenance to a Missional Parish, who will share his experiences in helping bring renewal to St. Benedict鱿鱼视频app parish in Halifax; and Ottawa Auxiliary Bishop Christian Riesbeck, who will speak about his experience at the Companion of the Cross parish Our Lady Queen of Peace in Houston.
鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app the course I am most excited about,鈥� said Mission of the Redeemer Ministries co-founder Michael Dopp. The institute is a collaborative partnership among Saint Paul University鱿鱼视频app theology department, Catholic Christian Outreach聽 and MRM.
鈥淲e talk a lot about new evangelization, but a lot of people have never seen it.鈥�
The new course will give concrete examples of what the parish looked like before renewal, what principles were applied that brought it about and how those principles can be applied in other parishes, Dopp said.
This summer, the institute launches its second year of a three-year program to equip leaders in the new evangelization.
Last year 35 students, including diocesan staff, lay people and religious, took the program. This year, Dopp said they hope for 50.
Dopp described evangelization as a 鈥渢wo-stage rocket.鈥� First, people have to be inspired to participate in the new evangelization. Secondly, people have to learn how to do it.
鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app great to have a heart for the lost, but most Catholics do not have a clue where to begin,鈥� Dopp said.
Once Catholics are evangelized and 鈥渟et on fire鈥� for God, they try to bring that fire to their parish, but they often become 鈥減aralyzed,鈥� because they 鈥渄on鈥檛 know where to start,鈥� Dopp said. The purpose of the institute is to 鈥渇orm leaders for parish renewal.鈥�
Parish renewal is crucial, 鈥渂ecause the Church in North America is dying.鈥� The methods used to pass on the faith that have been used over the past 30 years are not working. New evangelization involves the baptized, and 鈥渢he plan is to see people set on fire with the love鈥� of God and to invite others to experience it, he said. Through evangelization 鈥渨e are equipped to answer our baptismal call.鈥�
The recent referendum in Ireland in support of same-sex marriage, despite the fact 90 per cent of the voters attended Catholic schools, is an example how catechesis alone is not enough to prevent a collapse of the faith.
鈥淓vangelization comes before catechesis,鈥� he said. If people do not know and love God, they can have knowledge but 鈥渋t鱿鱼视频app the relationship鈥� with God that makes people take catechesis to heart.
Michael Hall, CCO human resources director, said without the personal relationship with God, people 鈥渃an have hearts of stone,鈥� and catechesis will have no impact.
鈥淭he renewal of the Church is going to have to start with vibrant, evangelizing, missional parishes,鈥� he said.
Hall said the institute is designed to 鈥渂uild up the new generation of leaders to do the next round of new evangelization.鈥�
CCO is involved because 鈥渨e see it as an opportunity to share what we鈥檝e learned over 27 years鈥� in evangelizing on university campuses, Hall said.
Hall said CCO鱿鱼视频app campus experience shows the impact of presenting a basic four-point Gospel message. They have found, 鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app news to people.鈥�
More information can be found at cco.ca/sine with an opportunity to register before the June 30 deadline.