DR MICHAEL SLATTERY: Evangelisation Challenge

Our ability to evangelise and make disciples of school communities and parishes remains a real challenge.

We encounter sacramentalised parents and students, and our challenge is to evangelise them to have a personlised relationship with Jesus - to share faith with others, to be open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to know basic Catholic theology, to have a daily prayer life; to experience Christian community, committed to Sunday eucharist, celebrate the Sacraments, serve in ministry and to see their lives as mission oriented. This is a masive challenge for our schools and parishes.

The sacraments cannot take care of it alone, and are not a replacement for evangelisation. They nourish and strengthen our discipleship but need accompaniment with a life of faith. The Catechism (CCC #1072) tells us that the sacred liturgy 'must be preceded by evangelisation, faith and conversion". In this way Eucharist becomes 'the source and summit of a Christian life' - a life lived out in faith.

We pray that our school communities do make disciples, teaching them to live out full lives.

 

 

Follow mnnews.today on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Dr Michael Slattery Image
Dr Michael Slattery

Dr Michael Slattery is the Director of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.