Beacons of Light Phase 2 Evangelization Team: Highlight on Coordinator of Marriage and Family
The main goal of Phase 2 for the Evangelization principle is the establishment of the Evangelization Team under the Director of Evangelization.
The purpose of the Evangelization Team is to break down ministerial silos and form an evangelizing community of parish evangelists who will work together to prayerfully discern, plan, promote, and coordinate a parish evangelization plan.
One of the positions that we are asking Families of Parishes to consider is a Coordinator of Marriage and Family. The primary role of this person will be to implement the Marriage Catechumenate within the Family of Parishes. Just as many RCIA Coordinators have been identified since the creation of the RCIA, we need a dedicated person on staff to coordinate the shepherding of couples through the journey of the Marriage
Catechumenate.
This could be a stand-alone position or it could be added to the current job description for a Deacon, a Pastoral Associate, an RCIA Coordinator, or an Adult Formation Coordinator.
Join us for an Evangelization Team Orientation webinar on Tuesday, November 28 to learn more about building the Evangelization Team, the role of the Coordinator of Marriage and Family, and other appropriate positions for the Evangelization Team. See details below to register.
Sean Ater
Director, Center for the New Evangelization sater@catholicaoc.org
CNE Spotlight: Nominees Being Accepted for Awards
It's time to nominate parish evangelists for the annual Radiate Christ and New Fire Awards! Winners will be honored at our annual Evangelist Appreciation Banquet on February 3, 2024.
These awards are given to evangelists who exemplify the spirit of the New Evangelization, are committed to
accompanying others in their relationship with Jesus Christ, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit to renew parishes and communities.
Nominations will be gathered by an award committee, and the winners will be selected after a period of review and discernment. Please see the tab below for the nomination form. Deadline to nominate is December 1.
Here are my answers to some more questions I've recently received regarding the RCIA:
Q: Are the Scrutinies required or optional?
A: They are required. Only the bishop can dispense from one, on the basis of some serious obstacle, or two scrutinies, in extraordinary circumstances (RCIA 34.3). See RCIA 141-146 for the important
spiritual benefit of the Scrutinies.
Q: Can the Rite of Sending and the Scrutinies be celebrated outside of Mass?
A: The Rite of Sending can be celebrated outside of Mass. When this is the case, it should take place within a “Celebration of the Word of God” (RCIA 81-89) in the parish church with the local parish community present (RCIA 107-109). That said, there doesn’t appear to be any allowance for the Scrutinies to be celebrated outside of Mass.
Do you have a question about the RCIA process? Email me at nhardesty@catholicaoc.org. The Peace of Christ to you, Nicholas Hardesty Assoc. Dir. of Adult Evangelization and RCIA
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS
Evangelization Team Orientation Webinar
The Beacons of Light Evangelization Parameter #1 says: “Every Family of Parishes will have an Evangelization Team, overseen by the pastor and led by competent and qualified staff.”
Now that the Director of Evangelization has been identified, Phase 2 is the time to form the Evangelization Team for your Family of Parishes. These team members must be competent and qualified staff members who will report to the Director of Evangelization.
This webinar will be an orientation on the Evangelization Team and will address who should be on the Team, what their job descriptions should be, and how they should work together to implement a plan for evangelization and discipleship.
Webinar Details: Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Register Here
Still Time to Register for Marriage & Family In-Service
The Marriage & Family Evangelization team is pleased to invite all marriage apostolate leaders, clergy, marriage preparation mentor couples, parish evangelization leaders, and NFP instructors to attend the Marriage & Family In-Service at St. John the Evangelist in West Chester on Oct. 24 and Oct. 26 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
The topic of the in-service is the Marriage Catechumenate, and will include in-depth presentations, break-out sessions, and brainstorming time. Each session will be covering different content,
so it is recommended to sign up for both sessions.
Please register separately for each event at the links below:
Understanding Gen Z (and the Mistakes We Make Ministering to Them)
Youth ministers, DREs, campus ministers, pastors, volunteers, or anyone with a heart for sharing Jesus with the next generation are invited to join others to watch Understanding Gen Z (and the Mistakes
We Make Ministering to Them) with Dr. Tanita Maddox on Thurs. Nov. 9, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Diocese of Covington Curia Office - Madison Square, in Covington, KY.
Dr. Maddox is the Associate Regional Director for the Western Mountain Region for Young Life and wrote her doctoral thesis on sharing the gospel with Gen Z. She will be presenting from the NET Center in Minnesota. The event will be livestreamed and evangelists are invited to gather as a local community to watch it live with the Diocese of Covington.
In this live event, you will gain better insight into the lives and culture of teenagers and learn practical skills on how to effectively communicate the unchanging gospel in a constantly changing landscape.
For more information and to register, please go here or see the flyer below.
