EVANGELIZATION COMMISSION

I.            PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION

            The Evangelization Commission serves as a catalyst for the total evangelizing efforts in the parish.  Commission members work directly with, or in service to, the pastoral staff, the Parish Pastoral Council and the other Commissions in their forming of a strategy for the liberation of all peoples and the realization of the reign of God among them.  Thus, evangelization is understood as a constitutive element in every aspect of parish life.  This Commission is to propose a budget to the Stewardship Commission for the needs of the commission and overall parish evangelization needs which are not already covered by a Commission.

In his book, Successful Parishes: How They Meet The Challenge of Change, Thomas Sweetser, lists key elements that make for a vibrant, alive and nurturing parish: adult development opportunities; vehicles for bridging the gaps between parish groups; celebrative rituals; facilitating leadership; environments which foster community; a sense of "ownership" among the people; efforts at long-range planning; room and welcome for the marginals; a pervasive image of service beyond the limits of the parish; opportunities for shared ministry and responsibility; and creative methods of passing on its ideals, traditions and beliefs to the next generation. St. Mary's Evangelization Committee is structuring itself on these principals. 

The Evangelization Committee sponsors the following projects: RENEW, Welcome Breakfast for New Member of our Parish, Parish Mission, Living Room Dialogs, Advent Tea and Lenten programs.

II.            FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION

A.            EDUCATION

1.              To become knowledgeable about the scriptural, theological and ecclesial bases for establishing evangelization as the basic mission of the parish.

2.              To form themselves into an evangelizing group through prayer, reflection, sharing, and study.

3.              To provide for the training of parish evangelization teams.

4.              To set goals and create a plan of action.

B.            SERVICE

1.              To assist individuals and organizations in the parish develop greater appreciation of the evangelization dimension of their ministry/activity.
2.              To assist individuals and organization in developing programs and activities that will help create a climate for a total parish evangelization effort.

3.              To collaborate with the Archdiocesan Leadership Formation Office and the Blue Water Vicariate Evangelization Committee in evangelization efforts.

4.              To act as a catalyst and coordinator of efforts to reach out to active Catholics, alienated and inactive Catholics, the unchurched, and youth.

C.            EVALUATION

1.              To periodically evaluate the effectiveness and the progress of the commission.

2.              To create a simple yearly evaluation instrument with representative members of the pastoral staff, the Parish Pastoral Council and the Commissions.  This evaluation measures the strengths and weaknesses of the evangelization efforts of each Commission.

III.            STRUCTURE OF THE COMMISSION

            The Evangelization Commission will include appropriate pastoral staff, members from the parish, and a representative from the various areas of evangelization, which will constitute ad hoc committees.  These committees will include members from the Evangelization Commission as well as other members of the parish not on the Commission. 

            The Commission chooses one of its members to become a member of the Blue Water Vicariate Evangelization Commission.