Worship and Evangelization Outreach / Theresa Inoue

‘Be not afraid’ to evangelize, welcome those fallen away

It should’ve been a quick stop. While on a mid-March retreat in Louisville, Ky., I stopped for gas and water at Costco, and as I was heading toward the checkout, a woman distributing samples stopped me in my tracks.

“Is it Lent yet?”

She did not ask me my name, didn’t say hello, didn’t offer a sample; she instead asked something of my faith.

“Yes, ma’am, it is Lent. It began on Valentine’s Day,” I responded with a smile.

Without an inkling of visible judgment on my face, she nevertheless proceeded to defend the unpredictability of her work schedule: She was not able to attend weekly Mass. I spent a few minutes to listen, no judgments, no questions, only openness. After providing her an ear and selective practical support, I asked for her prayer intentions, and said my goodbyes.

I have been meeting with priests throughout the 11 deaneries during the past year, learning both their vision of evangelization and their input for evangelization teams. In my consistent summary of typed responses, again and again I face the following incongruity: How do we reach out to those fallen by the wayside? Every parish could surely benefit from further financial resources and more dynamic programs. However, manpower from the pews is forever the deciding factor in the affectivity of evangelization.

I can assure you, evangelization is neither scary nor excessively demanding. That said, evangelization is demanded of us by Christ himself (Mt 28:18-20).

Not only are consistent prayer and our personal invitation free means through which we as parishioners can contribute, but even more so, they are likely the most effective resources we possess.

One group in particular stood out among interviews, a selective demographic our pastors desire to reach: those who have fallen away. Multiple factors contribute to one’s distance from the Church, but a common solution remains: an invitation. There is power in saying, “You have been missed.” Our hearts desire to be known. There are times when we feel lost among the crowd, an isolation which can lend itself to our straying from the faith.

The Good Shepherd will always pursue the lost sheep. So how do we go about seeking the lost?

First and foremost, we need to recognize the faces of the sheepfold. Even parish work proves sometimes intimidating, in introducing myself and in sustaining social interactions; yet, my heart has fallen more deeply in love with my parish family. This unity makes easier the recognition of disparity, not in judgment, but instead in love: “I really missed seeing Lisa this week.”

This endeavor presents an opportunity of following up, of checking on those who are missing. Take a moment of reflection, and ask: Who haven’t I seen? Am I able to contact them? If so, a simple invitation might mean the world to someone. Registration for a parish begins this welcoming period of inclusive recognition. In the meantime, are there friends and family who have stopped practicing? Are you able to reach out to them? Can you invite a neighbor?

The Church houses grace. We should take every opportunity to share it with others. Proclaim boldly, and lovingly invite. As Pope St. John Paul II would frequently exclaim, “Be not afraid.” Even the woman distributing samples is never too far to come home.
 

(Theresa Inoue is an Echo Apprentice within the archdiocesan Secretariat for Worship and Evangelization. She can be reached at tinoue@archindy.org.) †