Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations.

Matthew 28:19

The President Speaks

Dear Friends,

A Special Anniversary.

I’m not really a great fan of cricket, but I am fascinated by how the real enthusiasts are always alert to any excuse for celebration and a round of applause: not just for the boundary, the century and the bowling-out, but the fifty partnership, the maiden over, and the 1000 runs in county cricket! You have to really know the game, and be up-to-date, if you don’t want to be ‘found out’ as a bogus supporter!

Now, I’m not trying to catch you out, but did you know that the year 2005 marks a very special anniversary in the church? In fact, it should be the cause for a whole-church celebration, because this year marks the 30th anniversary of the very important papal document, Evangelii Nuntiandi. This document, written by Pope Paul VI, and published in 1975, is known in its english translation as Evangelisation in the Modern World.

Following on from the Vatican Council, the Third General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was devoted to evangelisation. The Bishops had reflected on the challenging questions of how to present the unchanging message of the Gospel in the rapidly changing world that we continue to experience in these post Vatican II years. Pope Paul then set himself to put in writing the fruits of these deliberations and produced a most exciting and challenging set of teachings and reflections that lose none of their relevance as we make our way into the third millennium.

Now maybe I should come clean! I’m no expert on either the great number of documents that come from Rome, or what must be the endless numbers of anniversaries that might be noted each year. However, I have a particular interest in documents related to this great theme of evangelisation, and Evangelii Nuntiandi stands out as the most influential and significant document related to this topic. I have the honour of being president of Sion Catholic Community for Evangelism, and we would say that one of the fruits of Evangelii Nuntiandi is that our Community came into being, dedicated specifically to respond to that great command of Jesus, ‘Go out into the whole world, and proclaim the Good News’ (Matt 25:19).

However, Pope Paul reminds us that evangelisation is not just for the fearless few:

‘We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelising all people constitutes the essential mission of the church’ (para 14).

What a challenging teaching! Faith is something to be treasured but not hoarded, protected but generously shared. And this message is for the whole church to hear, that we might all participate in, or contribute to, the work that Jesus entrusts to us. We can’t say it’s for someone else to respond, but we are each called to say, ‘Here I am, Lord. Send me!’

However, the document does not leave us overwhelmed with anxiety about our inability to take up the challenge of being evangelisers in our own lives. Pope Paul leaves us with a most wonderful teaching:

‘The most perfect preparation of the evangeliser has no effect without the Holy Spirit… it must be said that the Holy Spirit is the principal agent of evangelisation’ (para 75).

In Evangelii Nuntiandi we learn that the themes of mission, evangelisation, the Holy Spirit, the church and prayer are all inter-related; they come together in the same package which is the gift of God, mysteriously alive and active in our world. Now isn’t that good news that’s worth more than a ‘Bravo!’ and a polite round of applause?

On Saturday 16th July, Sion Community is holding a special event to Celebrate 30 Years of Evangelii Nuntiandi at Corpus Christi Church in Miles Platting, Manchester. Msgr. Keith Barltrop, the director of the new agency to promote evangelisation (C.A.S.E.), established by the Bishops' Conference will celebrate mass and speak to us. Are you going to join us?

Fr Gerard Kelly,
President of Sion Catholic Community for Evangelism
April 2005