Recommended Resources / Reading

• DeSiano, Frank, CSP. The Evangelizing Catholic: A Practical Handbook for Reaching Out. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1998. Contact: PNCEA at 800-237-5515
  • A “how-to” book on individual and parish evangelization, this book contains a wealth of information and incentives to help the average Catholic and average parish discover opportunities and practical strategies for reaching out in faith.
  • Highlights: _ becoming disciples who help others encounter Jesus through us (pp. 6-15) _ personal evangelization/sharing faith in daily situations, the workplace, at home (38-61) _ involving parishioners in parish evangelization efforts, including welcoming activities, mailings, home visitation (70-123) _ evangelization teams (124-34)

• National Conference of Catholic Bishops. A Time to Listen . . . A Time to Heal. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 1999. Contact: www.nccbuscc.org
  • Reaching out to inactive and alienated Catholics must be grounded in a spirit of reconciliation so that they may be healed in order to respond to the invitation given to them. The US bishops developed this resource directory to help in this ministry of reconciliation and evangelization.
  • Highlights: _ reconciliation is needed (pp. 3-6) _ societal challenges to evangelization efforts (7-11) _ components of reconciliation programs (12-17) _ 12 model programs for reaching out to inactive Catholics (19-28) _ 6 model faith-sharing sessions (29-34)

• Also, for a current listing of church documents and other resources for Catholic evangelization, reconciliation, and small Christian communities, see the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website, www.nccbuscc.org/evangelization.

Teen and Youth Evangelization

• Center for Ministry Development. Young Adult Works. Binder Two: Evangelization and Outreach. Naugatuck, CT: Center for Ministry Development, 1997. Contact: 203-723-1622
  • This 287-page binder focuses on evangelization strategies for young adults (aged 18-35). It is part of a project to develop new approaches, strategies and resources to energize ministry with young adults. The focus is "how to" and includes numerous suggestions for activities, practical planning worksheets and handouts, examples of web pages, and much other supporting information.
  • Highlights: _ connecting young adults with the church through one-to-one contacts (pp. 35-40), the internet (55-95), adopt-a-young adult (97-98), sports and recreation (123-24), luncheon programs (125-28), vacations with a purpose (129-34) _ connecting young adults with Jesus through their hunger for relationships (221-29), for hope (231-43), for meaning (245-51), for Sabbath (253-67), to serve (267-77), for accomplishment (279-87)

• Mercadante, Frank. Growing Teen Disciples. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1998. Contact: PNCEA at 800-237-5515
  • The focus of this book is ministry to teens (aged 14-18). The approach is comprehensive and considers the whole process of disciple-making—from developing a team of adult and teen leaders to evangelizing and making disciples of the teens (and adults). It contains extremely practical worksheets, charts, and sample activities. A Catholic approach and world-view by one who learned how to evangelize from Evangelicals.
  • Highlights: _ Catholic youth evangelization and its need (pp. 117-26) _ programming that evangelizes (127-32) _ large group evangelization (158-77) _ ways to reach uninvolved teens (179-81) _ innovative outreach (182-86)

• Mercadante, Frank. Seeds of Faith. A One Day Training Seminar for Catholic Youth Workers on Sharing the Good News. St. Charles, IL: Cultivation Ministries, 1997. Contact: PNCEA at 800-237-5515
  • Four audiocassettes in vinyl case. Mercadante considers the role of evangelization in disciple-making youth ministry, the importance of solid relationships in youth ministry, and how to communicate the faith in a meaningful way to teens. The tapes contain many practical ideas and ideas for events and programs. These tapes are based on Mercadante’s nearly 20 years in ministry to teens.
  • Highlights: _ characteristics of people who successfully share their faith with teens (tape 1) _ four-step process of relational outreach (tape 2) _ practical tools to help sharing faith with teens (tape 3) _ five-step process for developing evangelization events (tape 4)

• National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry. Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 1997. Contact: www.nccbuscc.org

• National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. The Challenge of Youth Evangelization. Washington, DC: National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, 1993. Contact: www.nfcym.org

Audiocassettes

• Mercadante, Frank. Growing Teen Disciples. A One Day Training Seminar for Catholic Youth Workers. St. Charles, IL: Cultivation Ministries, 1997. Contact: www.cultivationministries.com

• Mercadante, Frank. Seeds of Faith. A One Day Training Seminar for Catholic Youth Workers on Sharing the Good News. St. Charles, IL: Cultivation Ministries, 1997. Contact: www.cultivationministries.com

Parish Evangelization Teams

• Hulbert, Dorothy and Priscilla Lemaire, RJM. Evangelization Teams in the Making: A Catholic Parish Manual. Boca Raton: Jeremiah Press, 2000. Contact NCCE: 800-786-6223

• See Chapter 10, “Forming Evangelization Teams,” in Creating the Evangelizing Parish by Frank DeSiano, CSP, and Kenneth Boyack, CSP, as referenced above.

• See Chapter 4, “Evangelization Teams,” in The Evangelizing Catholic, A Practical Handbook for Reaching Out by Frank P. DeSiano, CSP, as referenced above.

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