The news sometimes features the collapse of a building due to an undetected sinkhole beneath its foundation. Whether the cause was soil erosion over time or not having done quality dirt work and packing in the first place, the result is the same: ruination of the structure. The Church must protect itself from just such a demise.
The preparatory work we do in order to make evangelization possible, especially in its more formal expressions, is simply called pre-evangelization. Pope Francis has demonstrated an expertise in this area during the first year of his Pontificate. He has made a concerted effort to make the Catholic Church a more appealing institution to be associated with, equally for Catholics and those of other faith traditions. And he tirelessly has encouraged all of us, clergy and laity alike, to do the same.
The basis for pre-evangelization is making the Church—including its parishes, schools, hospitals and other sponsored institutions—places of warmth and welcome. This task sounds so simple, but, sadly, it is accomplished only with difficulty. One of our problems is that our physical inclinations too often direct our spiritual activity. All of us can relate to this tendency with regard to the cold of winter. Once we are inside enjoying the warmth and comfort of our own home, we don’t tend to go outside looking for others with whom to share this blessing. All too often, we also get overly comfortable in our spiritual home, the Church. Accordingly, we fail to reach out and invite others in. So sad!
Many parishes have a Welcome Ministry that is employed before Masses and other parish functions. This practice is easy to support and is very effective, especially in our larger parishes that have many visitors on a regular basis. A simple smile and a friendly “hello” go a long way in setting the stage for inviting people to share in the manifold graces and blessings that we have enjoyed and that our Church wants to share.
Some parishes have sponsored special events designed specifically to reach out to all members of the community, especially those who are not active members of the Church. A speaker or a quality video presentation might be used to attract people to the event. Oftentimes a free CD or book is given to those who attend, or a little gift might be included with the written invitations. Such special events can be repeated multiple times during the year, depending upon the size of the parish, and they certainly provide to all involved in the project a great opportunity to be involved in pre-evangelization work.
Our declining church attendance and the readiness of many Catholics to side with cultural trends rather than with the teachings of Jesus and His Church are having a corrosive effect that is creating perilous spiritual sinkholes. We sometimes need to get our hands “dirty” by challenging folks to practice their faith or to think about the eternal ramifications of their lifestyle. But that’s what it means to be a baptized Christian. We need to be professional welcomers and inviters in order to lay the groundwork for the essential work of evangelization. If that means getting our hands a bit dirty from time to time, so be it.
