Dear Friends in Christ,

When I became the President of the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association, it was a privilege for me to join this Paulist organization which has such a wonderful history of helping Catholics reach out to those who are searching for faith. Among the many programs that PNCEA has offered, one of the most important, and successful, projects is Disciples in Mission.

Since 1996 3,600 parishes in the United States have used Disciples in Mission. Over 4,500,000 Catholics have encountered Christ in dynamic ways that renew their faith, build Christian community, and foster parish leadership. Because of DM, parishioners become more intentional disciples who live and share their faith. They bring the light of Christ to their families, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

We can use our imaginations to picture what this means--all those Catholics having an opportunity to talk about their faith with each other and, even more, experience themselves as disciples. Catholics so often think of themselves as "parishioners," and think of their Church only in institutional terms. Disciples in Mission helps them think of themselves in a very new, and much more correct, way--as personal followers of Jesus who have something to share with others.

One of the huge hurdles we have to overcome if we will become the evangelizing Church we are supposed to be is this: how to help Catholics get in touch with the depth of their faith and feel comfortable enough to share their faith with others who are searching for a religious home or looking to reactivate their Catholic faith. Only by dynamic processes of small-group sharing, around the experience of the Scriptures, can Catholics begin to attain the confidence and competence to do this.

Disciples in Mission is a proven program to help accomplish this. Please look over the material assembled on this website about this program. Do not hesitate to contact us at PNCEA if you are interested in this powerful experience for your parish community.

On behalf of all of us at PNCEA, and with the best wishes of all in the Paulist Fathers community, I am,

Sincerely in Christ, Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP President

Frequently Asked Questions About DM

What is Disciples in Mission?
Disciples in Mission is a pastoral process that integrates the Sunday liturgies, small faith-sharing groups, catechesis, family activities, teen groups, planning, and follow-up activities into a coordinated parish-wide experience of evangelization. It fosters spiritual renewal by placing the missionary dimension at the heart of the community of faith-thus transforming it by the power of the gospel.

How does Disciples in Mission advance the Church’s evangelizing mission?
This ministry responds to Pope John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization-"new in ardor, methods, and expression." It also implements the U.S. bishops’ document, Go and Make Disciples, A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States, and other Church documents. DM equips parishioners to grow in holiness, share their faith enthusiastically, and witness to Christ in the home, the workplace, the neighborhood, and society.

How does a parish begin Disciples in Mission?
Any parish can begin this ministry by following four easy steps. • Step 1: Parish leaders review the DM materials and recommend to the pastor that the parish begin Disciples in Mission. • Step 2: The pastor, with input from the parish staff and perhaps others, appoints a DM Parish Leadership Team Coordinator and designates a parish staff member to work with this person. • Step 3: With input and approval from the pastor, the Parish Leadership Team Coordinator assembles a Parish Leadership Team. • Step 4: The Parish Leadership Team Coordinator orients and trains the Parish Leadership Team, which implements DM in the parish.

Does the PNCEA provide all the materials for Disciples in Mission?
Yes. The materials are listed under Order a Parish Kit. They enhance the effective preaching, leadership training, and creative evangelizing work a parish is already doing.

Is Disciples in Mission available in Spanish?
Yes. The Spanish materials meet the needs of this large segment of the Catholic population. Both the Spanish and English editions are easy to read and incorporate multicultural awareness and sensitivity. Disciples in Mission materials are also available in other languages.

Will Disciples in Mission work in any parish?
Yes. The DM process respects the unique character of each parish, whether the faith community is large, small, rural, urban, suburban, or multicultural. It harmonizes and enhances the already existing evangelizing and community-building ministries. Each parish proceeds at its own pace and decides how best to achieve its unique evangelizing potential.

How was Disciples in Mission developed?
PNCEA began developing Disciples in Mission in 1993, and gathered input from over 65 experts in various areas of ministry to produce the original materials. Building on the experience and input of participating parishes and dioceses, PNCEA introduced a second edition of the Parish Leadership Team Manual in 2000. After learning even more effective ways to foster parish-based evangelization, PNCEA developed the third edition of the Parish Leadership Team Manual in 2004.

How much does it cost?
Parishes participate in DM free of charge; they pay only for the materials they order. The cost of the materials is available by clicking on Order Forms on the DM website. Parishes tells us that the DM costs are reasonable and provide an excellent investment in forming parishioners as disciples of Jesus. Parishes like the benefit of purchasing only the materials they need each year.

What is the deadline for a parish to commit to participate in Disciples in Mission?
Optimally, a parish will commit by July 1 in order to begin DM the following Lent. Time is needed to select the Parish Leadership Team Coordinator and to train the Parish Leadership Team. The team should be in place by September in order to complete the elements of the Preparation Period listed in the next section below.

What is the impact of DM in a parish?
Disciples in Mission gets results. Parishioners grow in their excitement and love for Scripture and develop a new commitment to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. The pastor, parish staff, and parish pastoral council use the valuable insights from the Parish Reflection Day to affirm existing ministries and create new ones that help parishioners grow in holiness and missionary activity. Experience and research prove that Disciples in Mission does assist a parish in reaching its full evangelizing potential.

Implementation Schedule for DM

PREPARATION PERIOD

1. Parish commits to DM; the pastor appoints a Parish Leadership Team Coordinator and a Parish Staff Representative
2. Orientation for the Parish Leadership Team Coordinator and Parish Staff Representative, using materials included in the DM Parish Kit
3. Recruitment of the Parish Leadership Team, and their orientation to the vision of Catholic evangelization and the tasks necessary to implement DM in the parish, using materials included in the DM Parish Kit
4. Parish Leadership Team Coordinator orients parish leaders to DM

	IMPLEMENTATION YEARS
Season	Year I	Year II	Year III
Pre-Lent	Parish prayer campaign; parish training for leaders of small groups	Parish prayer campaign; parish training for leaders of small groups	Parish prayer campaign; parish training for leaders of small groups Parish leaders plan events to celebrate the end of DM and plan for ongoing evangelization efforts
Lent	Lectionary-based faith-sharing groups; Lectionary-based family activities; evangelizing homilies; bulletin inserts based on Go and Make Disciples	Lectionary-based faith-sharing groups; Lectionary-based family activities; evangelizing homilies; bulletin inserts based on Go and Make Disciples	Lectionary-based faith-sharing groups; Lectionary-based family activities; evangelizing homilies; bulletin inserts based on Go and Make Disciples
Easter Season	Using Goal I of Go and Make Disciples, the parish reflects on its mission and develops a Parish Evangelizing Profile for Goal I	Using Goal II of Go and Make Disciples, the parish reflects on its mission and develops a Parish Evangelizing Profile for Goal II	Using Goal III of Go and Make Disciples, the parish reflects on its mission and develops a Parish Evangelizing Profile for Goal III
Pentecost	Parish Pentecost Novena	Parish Pentecost Novena	Parish Pentecost Novena and Pentecost celebration of the evangelizing mission of the Church
Summer/Fall	Parish Leadership Team evaluates the parish experience of DM and plans for Year II	Parish Leadership Team evaluates the parish experience of DM and plans for Year III	Parish leaders evaluate the parish experience of DM and plan for ongoing evangelizing efforts
Year-round	Parish carries out planned evangelization activities for Goal I	Parish carries out planned evangelization activities for Goals I and II	Parish carries out planned evangelization activities for Goals I, II, and III, and continues efforts to foster the Church’s evangelizing mission

Comments from Parishioners and Parishes

COMMENTS FROM PARISHIONERS

"Disciples in Mission is a great process. It has really gotten our parish going in evangelization activities."

"Disciples in Mission has been very positive in our family spirituality. Very rewarding-it should be held every Lent."

"An excellent program. I hope to see it continued in some way throughout the year."

"As a high school youth coordinator and teacher, I am very impressed by the response from our youth on Disciples in Mission. They were greatly interested and involved more so than usual."

"The Disciples in Mission program was very successful and we’ve implemented the suggestions in our church since the first year."

COMMENTS FROM PARISHES

"An overwhelming majority of participants have a clearer understanding of the goals and objectives of Catholic evangelization for our parish and are able to see how our current programs and ministries are carrying on the evangelizing mission of Jesus Christ. We are encouraged by the fact that Disciples in Mission was well received and expect that this year’s success will lead to even greater success next year." - St. Columba Parish, Chicago

"Disciples in Mission was an excellent vehicle for our use at Our Lady of Peace Parish. You have helped me bring alive the Church’s central mission in my parish." - Rev. Darryl J. Pepin, Pastor, Ironwood, Michigan

Special Benefits of Disciples in Mission

Disciples in Mission

• Equips a parish to experience what Pope John Paul II calls the new evangelization-"new in ardor, methods, and expression."

• Provides a proven and effective way to implement the three goals of Go and Make Disciples: Goal I-spiritual renewal in Christ and growth in holiness; Goal II-a deepening commitment to welcome and invite; and Goal III-a new awareness of the transforming presence of Christ in the family, the neighborhood, and the workplace.

• Presents a collaborative model of ministry among clergy, religious, laity, and people of diverse cultures. All become united through a common vision of Catholic evangelization while respecting the different gifts and ministries in the body of Christ.

• Provides an evangelization experience for families in their homes.

• Enables teens to experience spiritual awakening.

• Complements and enriches the existing small communities in a parish.

• Complements and enhances existing parish planning efforts.

• Facilitates high-quality preaching.

• Fosters the development of an evangelizing perspective for all parish ministries and activities.

• Promotes multicultural sensitivity through quality materials, Spanish and other language editions, and participative planning.

• Calls forth new parish leaders.

• Frees the pastor to serve as pastor, since the DM Parish Leadership Team does the administration.

• Provides Lectionary-based materials for adults, teens, and families.

Order a Parish Kit

The Disciples in Mission Materials

The DM Parish Kit contains samples of all the materials your parish needs to conduct Disciples in Mission - a three year experience of evangelization.

Disciples in Mission Brochure Small Group Leader’s Guide Small Group Participant’s Booklet Teen Leader’s Guide Teen Participant’s Booklet Family Activity Booklet Reproducible Bulletin Inserts Homily Guide Prayer Cards (3) Pentecost Novena Card Poster Sign-up Sunday Brochure A Summary - Go and Make Disciples PNCEA Brochure DM Presentation Video Parish Leadership Team Manual (2 copies) Training Video for Small Group Leaders Commentary and Planning Guide for Go and Make Disciples Discovering My Experience of God Lapel Pin

Click here to order

For More Information

Please contact:

Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association
3031 Fourth St., NE,
Washington, DC, 20017-1102
(202) 832-5022, Fax (202) 269-0209
email: pncea@pncea.org