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Quote by William E. Simon Jr.

“For many of us Catholics, the word evangelization evokes one of two responses. Maybe we associate it with overzealous, in-your-face, fire-and-brimstone fanatics, and so we write it off completely. Or we think of it as we think of exercise: we know we should be doing it, but we aren't so we carry a lot of guilt about not doing it enough or not doing it at all.”

Quote by William E. Simon Jr.

Book:Great Catholic Parishes: A Living Mosiac: How Four Essential Practices Make Them Thrive
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Great Catholic Parishes: A Living Mosiac: How Four Essential Practices Make Them Thrive

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William E. Simon Jr.

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“In the end, the purpose of evangelization is not to ‘make converts’ or ‘fill the pews’ but simply to open doors –to let others know the Good News that Catholic faith has made a positive difference in our lives and that God’s love is available to others as well”

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Book:Great Catholic Parishes: A Living Mosiac: How Four Essential Practices Make Them Thrive
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“Let me stress that we cannot bring anyone to faith though pressure, guilt, argument, or cleverness. Conversion and true faith are works of the Holy Spirit. But it is also true that we can, by our responses, help or hinder another's journey. Responding to seekers in a way that does not accept and honor their lived experience may cause them to "freeze" or even move away from God. Understanding the thresholds can help us help them or, at least, help us to not get in the way of what God is doing.”

SpiritualityEvangelization
Author:Sherry A. Wedell
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“Missiologists have in recent years begun to think seriously about inculturation, and historians have begun to learn from them. When the Christian message is inserted into a cultural framework, if the messengers are insensitive to the local culture the result can be cultural imperialism. On the other hand, if they grant too much hegemony to the local culture, the result at best is 'syncretism' and at worst 'Christo-paganism.' Things are most wholesome when sensitive interchange takes place leading to 'a truly critical symbiosis.' But for this to happen, there must be a second stage - a time of 'pastoral follow-up work,' of catechizing and life formation enabling the new faith to express its genius in the institutions and reflexes of its new host culture.”

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Book:The Change of Conversion and the Origin of Christendom
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“Do you know, sometimes when I think of the unhappiness of the world, I wonder if priests and nuns are not greatly responsible for men and women not listening and not obeying more. You see, we have such a very wonderful thing to say and we say it so badly. Shall I tell you a truth? Sometimes when I read holy papers I feel like becoming a little worldly myself, because of the big phrases in which big truths are stated. For big truths are most powerful in little phrases -- but there I go preaching again, and committing the sin of spiritual pride as well, because I don't express our Lord's wisdom very wisely myself.”

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Book:Vespers in Vienna
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“Fred coughed, which caused Sam and Ellie to look over at her. “Hey, Ellie. Watch this.” Mentally apologizing to her oldest friend, Fred seized Jonas by the shirt collar and heaved him out of his chair and through the (fortunately open) sliding door. Jonas was densely built (“Deliciously so,” Dr. Barb might have said over the sound of Fred’s retching), but no match for Fred’s hybrid strength, and the air velocity he achieved was really quite something. Fred ignored his wail (“My sundaeeee!”), which became easier to do the fainter it got.”

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Book:Swimming Without a Net
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