The Catholic New Evangelization in the 21st Century

 

What is the New Evangelization?

The New Evangelization refers to an initiative within the Catholic Church that seeks to re-ignite the faith of believers who may have drifted away from the Faith. While evangelization traditionally means spreading the Gospel to non-baptized individuals and those currently in other religions, the New Evangelization is focused on reaching out to baptized Catholics who are no longer practicing their faith or are experiencing a weakened relationship with the Church.

What Are the Key Aspects of the New Evangelization?

1. Re-evangelization of the Baptized: The New Evangelization is aimed at Catholics who may have lost touch with their faith, helping them rediscover a vibrant, living relationship with Christ and the Church. Many of them are likely poorly catechized and need to understand the Church's true teachings in order to understand the great depth, mystery, and beauty of the Faith.
2. Context of modernity: It recognizes the challenges posed by secularism, materialism, and relativism in the modern world. These ideologies often compete with or replace religious belief and practice.
3. New methods and expressions: The New Evangelization encourages the use of modern means of communication (like digital media) and more engaging, relatable forms of witnessing and teaching the faith to reach people in new ways. We can teach the same truths of the Faith in new and more engaging ways without watering it down at all.
4. Holistic approach: It involves authentic catechesis, liturgical renewal by frequent reception of the Sacraments in a reverent and traditional manner, community building by forging lasting connections with fellow Catholics, and a deeper emphasis on on-going personal conversion.
5. Missionary focus: While directed at revitalizing the faith of Christians, it also extends to those who are marginalized, spiritually lost, or unfamiliar with the faith.

Why Do We Need A New Evangelization of Baptized Catholics?

Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell further illustrates the consequences following the changes post-Vatican II. These decades saw significant changes in the Sacramental life of Catholics and the customs and practices of living out a Catholic life (e.g. times of fasting, processions, cultural celebrations). The Church was also shaken by the disastrous consequences of the sexual abuse crisis by some of Her priests. The results are grim: only 30% of Americans who were raised Catholic are still practicing and 10% of all adults in America are ex-Catholics.

In one often-quoted study, data by D’Antonio, Dillon, & Gautier in 2013 showed 33% of American Catholics are unaware of the Church’s teaching of Christ in the Real Presence and an additional 4% even deny this central tenet of the Faith. The number of Catholics who are unaware of the official Church teaching illustrates the inability of modern religious education to meet the needs of today’s Catholics.

There are a number of challenges facing every single Catholic parish in the nation. But with the growing secularism and anti-Catholicism present in the country, there is not a more important time to provide sound religious formation to our children and reverent, beautiful liturgies.

3 Reasons Why Young People Leave the Catholic Faith As Adults

The overall reasons why those who were raised in the Catholic Faith fall away can generally be aggregated into three categories:

1. Those Who Deny or Doubt the Church’s Teachings
2. Those Who Experience Serious Life Challenges or Doubts
3. Those Who Do Not Feel Connected with the Faith

For those who deny or doubt the Church’s teachings, we must regularly ensure that we are teaching the fullness of the Catholic Faith and doing so in a way to combat the errors of modern society. These errors which preach so called “justice” and “equality” also violate God’s law by calling for the murder of unborn children in abortion or the legalization of same sex “marriage” or access to artificial contraception. Young people must be taught by word and by example that these are grave evils which violate God’s law, harm the young person, and derogate personal dignity. All points must be addressed. We must be fully informed on these matters, present them prudently and with charity and conviction, and live out a life in conformity with what we profess. A Catholic does not need to remove himself completely from the world and live like the Amish. We are called to live in the world and regularly engage with others. And we must be informed to engage effectively.

Similarly, when someone is going through difficult challenges in life or is experiencing doubts about the Faith, bullying, struggles with school or with interpersonal relationships, they should have recourse to prayer. The Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, the Mass, and daily prayers should be foundational. When we allow life’s busy schedules to push these aside, they will seem unimportant. But at the same time, if we never allow our children to do leisure activities due to scheduled prayer times, they will resent us and the Faith. Prudentially balancing of all things – and doing so while always in charity, kindness, and love – is essential. In all things, a parent should be praying for guidance at all times to do what is necessary. And no parent must ever lose their temper as the consequences mentally and emotionally can last a lifetime for a child. How you discipline or motivate your children will differ depending on their temperament.

And for those children who do not feel connected with the Faith, this is a sad consequence of the collapse of the Faith after Vatican II. The Faith must not be something we only ever practice on Sunday mornings. We must regularly practicing fasting and abstinence as a family. We should go to Mass more often than only Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. We must make time for the daily Rosary as a family. We need to also ensure that our children make friends with other children at the parish, attend parish gatherings, and associate their life with the Faith. Being Catholic is not just something that the child can choose to do or not do. The child’s whole live is intertwined with the Faith.

Online Catechesis Is Part of the New Evangelization

While the Faith never changes, the manner in which we teach it has always changed. The Church rightfully so did not neglect to use the printing press when it was invented by claiming that was a protestant tool only. And in the same manner, it would be wrong to dismiss all virtual technologies by claiming that the Internet is also used by immoral organizations. The Internet and technology is a tool that can be used for good. Parishes have resources at their disposal to use technology to teach the Faith in new and engaging ways that reach people where they are at while never compromising on the integrity of doctrine.

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Education published a meta-analysis of evidence-based studies of K-12 and postsecondary online learning programs. The study reported that “students who took all or part of their class online performed better on average than those taking the same course through traditional face-to-face instruction.” We have reason to believe that children in religious education will also perform better.

Children want to learn and be challenged. The discipline in a secular classroom should carry over to religious education. Children should have regular activities and homework — including frequent reception of the Sacraments, the practice of prayers and pious devotions, and ample opportunities for them to share what they learn. Children want to be part of something bigger than themselves. They want to feel connected and a part of something; the internet provides this connectivity and hands-on learning, so long as parents and priests help foster this life.

CatechismClass.com Is A Response to The New Evangelization

Our programs have been used since 2004 - we are the oldest running online religious education course. Our founder, Fr. James Zatalava, launched our comprehensive children's programs and expanded from there. We are different from other online religious education programs because we are one of the most comprehensive. We have everything from online K-12 programs, RCIA classes, adult continuing education, marriage preparation, baptism preparation, confirmation prep, quince prep classes, catechist training courses, NFP classes, and more. No one else offers the breadth of services we do for the Faith.

Our courses have the endorsement of many US Bishops and theologians, including Dr. Scott Hahn, and other Catholics. CatechismClass.com has the highest support any online Catholic organization can have. We have a bishop as our official advisor and many priests and theologians who have endorsed our work and courses. Learn more about our organization.