Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta.
About The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1987)
PAGE 10 - The Georgia Bulletin, May 21. 1987 A? "A Disciple's Search" Offers Insights On Gospel Narratives ILLUSTRATION’S in the book, including that shown above, are by Father John Quigley. Avoiding Chaos In Parish BY PAULA DAY “Jesus A Disciple s Search, by Murray Bodo. St. An thony Messenger Press (Cincinnati, 1986). 131 pp., $5.95. For the reader of Scripture and particularly the Gospels, a book that helps deepen one's reflection on the gospel nar rative is welcome. And this unassuming paperback by Franciscan Father Murray Bodo is. Written as an internal monologue, set in the cadences cf speech, the author adopts the voice of the disciple, Nathaniel, the Israelite in whom Jesus found no guile, three years after the Resurrection. Bodo offers a subjective view, a behind-the-scenes and in-between-the-lines reflection on aspects of the Gospel narrative. The introspective voice echoes the tone and feeling of all who search for a savior they once knew but have lost in a time of spiritual dryness. Readers who have not considered and come to terms with the theological notion that Jesus' self-awareness, including his awareness of his divinity, developed as he “grew in wisdom and age," may find the book's assumption of this view either disturbing or thought-provoking or both. Using Nathaniel's voice, the speaker addresses Jesus: Your great poverty was in the struggle of the man- Jesus (who did not know who he was) New Approaches To Evangelizing “The Evangelizing Parish: Theologies and Strategies for Renewal," by Rev. Patrick J. Brennan. (Tabor Publishing, Allen, Tx.) pp.113 + $6.95. BY ANITA WILLOUGHBY Have you ever felt the Church was pushing families, teens, and young people through “programmatic hoops," with little evidence that their lives were changed? Have parish celebrations of sacraments appeared to you more like cultural milestones rather than “celebrations of in dividuals of familial conversion?” If so, then you have felt the same dissatisfaction that led Father Patrick Brennan to change his attitude and pastoral practice and devise new approaches for ministry and religious education. This book is the fruit of his awareness and experience as associate pastor, DRE, youth minister, director of the Office for Chicago Catholic Evangelization, president of the National Council for Catholic Evangelization and now director of the National Center for Evangelization and Parish Renewal. Many people today seem to be asking why the Catholic Church is into “evangelization" and why the Catholic Church is not marketing Christianity and salvation as some fundamentalists and evangelicals appear to be doing with much success. Parish staffs and leaders are wondering ‘ ‘ How and when do we evangelize?' ’ as well as “Who should be evangelizing?" and “What training is needed?" These are the questions that Father Brennan addresses in his book, “The Evangelizing Parish." Father Brennan approaches Catholic Evangelization by first clarifying the popular notion of evangelization, usually associated with fundamentalists and evangelicals, by- describing their underlying theologies and strategies. While acknowledging the weaknesses of their approach (automatic conversion, manipulative and judgmental ap proach, appealing to fears and anxieties) he reminds us of the strengths (focus where people are, use trained laity, be simple, central to Church's mission). I found this informa tion to be foundation and crucial for all Catholics involved in evangelization efforts. I believe Catholics can under stand why evangelization promoted by the Catholic Church is not the same as evangelization techniques carried out by evangelical and fundamental churches when the relation ship between theology and strategy is understood. An overview of Catholic Evangelization is provided with some definitions and principles. Evangelization is presented as the central mission of the Church in general and individual Christian in particular. Father Brennan suc cinctly describes the way the Catholic Church has recently understood and identified her mission as “evangelizing.” The contents of the Bishops’ study document “The Evangelization of the Modern World,” (1974) and the in fluential work of Pope Paul VI, “Evangeli Nuntiandi," (1975) were summarized as well as the role religious educators have had in this area. Due to the central relation ship of evangelization to baptism, Church, all ministries, Father Brennan continually emphasizes the “convergence’ model of evangelization. While there is a need to organize ministries, i.e., religious education, liturgy, youth, service, administration, he warns against “not communicating or collaborating with people who are involved in other types of ministries or who possess different gifts. " Such “compart- mentalization" he says, “leads to turfism or people fighting to maintain their kingdom but not really harnessing energies for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Father Brennan challenges us to share "common why for ministry," and to examine and balance evangelizing at titudes and strategies in relation to “invitation" and “mis sion." “To evangelize is to invite to the Kingdom, facilitate conversion and make disciples." Evangelization is not a program, and Father Brennan warns us to “beware of programitis!” "Programitis stacks program upon program often creating a chaotic, busy parish rather than an innovative, organic environ ment for renewal and ongoing conversion that is facilitated by “parish structures, the development of lay leadership, (shared) parish decision, prayer and worship." Rather than list successful programs (he did mention RENEW) he proposes eight general areas that parish staffs and leaders need to attend to in order to create an environment of spiritual renewal and conversion. Parish “renewal" is not something one graduates from and then moves on to something else but rather an ongoing process requiring constant effort. These areas for renewal he names “constants” by which parish staffs and leaders can examine parish life and develop strategies for renewal. I particularily liked the way Father Brennan addressed the issue of inactive or alienated parishioners. He not only defined why people leave (no one reason) and their emo tions but how to respond to the various situations. “We do not get people back to Church by trying to get them back to Church. Rather people may return to Church if they meet and relate to Christian people who have genuine concern and compassion for their fellow person. It is...non- manipulative dialogue that is an attractive, inviting ex perience for people." The importance and value of training is emphasized as Father Brennan presents three levels of training with particular emphasis on home visitation skills. Father Brennan's 15 years experience with youth work is most evident as he recognizes this age as a time for discovering sexuality, identity, as well as beginning the process of ideological commitment and owning faith and values. He speaks of the importance and value of an “oiganic growth" method of youth ministry with emphasis on peer ministry. He feels the major flaw in Catholic youth ministry efforts is that frequently it is “spotty or sporadic” and he advocates a “full cycle youth evangelization” which is many activities organized in a process sort of way toward conversion. This would be an excellent book to be read, reread, shared and discussed by members of parish staffs, parish council, boards of education, RCIA teams, evangelization committees or as Father Brennan writes in the preface, “anyone who cares about the future of the Church and the coming of God’s Kingdom.” Anita Willoughby is pastoral assistant at St. Jude, direc tor of the Atlanta Forum on the Catechumenate. and a member of the Archdiocesan Committee on Evangeliza tion. with the Goa-Jesus (who did). These were the polarities of who you were, and your whole life long you were bringing together this God and this man within you. In the end that inner reconciliation also brought together God and all creation which you also contained in your person. All during your life the God kept summoning you to become that which the man knew only in promise, only insofar as it was gradually revealed to him. (pp. 60- i) Superficially, the book might be called “A day in the life of... ” The section entitled ‘‘Morning" introduces the reader to the spiritual musings of the speaker who eventually moves from self-absorption to such real questions of Faith as “Who is Jesus?” “What does it mean that Yahweh saves 1 ” “How responsible am I for my own salvation?" The “Noon" section is a dialogue between the disciple and a widowed, son-less Mary of 50. “Dusk" traces briefly the personal relationship between disciple and Master and should resonate with anyone who has heard a personal “Follow me" from the Lord. The “Night" segment, too, will elicit a response of recognition from those who search for Him in today’s events, and relationships and struggles. “Dawn” finds the imaginary Nathaniel, peaceful now, and reconciled to the loss of his Lord. And, the paradox. With the acceptance of the loss comes the discovery of His presence. One gets the sense in this slender work of a mind and heart that has lovingly meditated on the Gospels. The result is not unlike those subjective insights poetry gives that open us to further reflection. Paula Day is a member of The Georgia Bulletin staff. NEW BOOKS BY RICHARD PHILBRICK NC News Service WASHINGTON (NC) — Here is a list of new books of particular interest to Catholic readers. “Disarming the Heart,” by Father John Dear, S.J., Paulist Press, $6.95, 132 pp. Links the message of Jesus lived out to the growing practice of professing a vow of non-violence. “Where is God Now?” by Sister Juliana M. Casey, I.H.M., Sheed & Ward, NPG, 160 pp. Faces the reality of nuclear terror, suggests alternatives, and ex amines the role of a peacemaker. “Julian: Woman of Our Day,” edited by Robert Llewelyn, Twenty-Third Publications, $6.95. 144 pp. Essays by Catholic, Church of England, and Episcopal scholars about a 14th century English mystic. “Laity Stirring the Church,” by Dolores R. Leckey, Fortress Press, NPG, 119 pp. Identifies six issues that are transfiguring today’s church through suffering, hope, and creativity. “The Laity Today and Tomorrow,” by Father Ed mund Flood, O.S.B., Paulist Press, $4.95. 112 pp. Ra tionale for the piace of lay persons in the church to day and some predictions about what their activities will mean for the church. “As I Take Christ,” by Dodie Gust, Ave Maria Press, $4.95, 135 pp. Guide for personal meditation and for groups that meet periodically for study, prayer, and Christian fellowship. “Thankful Praise,” edited by Keith Watkins, CBP Press, $9.95, 180 pp. Prepared by Protestant theologians as a resource for Christian worship on an ecumenicl basis. “Words of Faith,” by Father Karl Rahner, Crossroad, $5.95, 96 pp. Eighty-eight texts drawn from the author's popular spiritual writings, many of them long unavailable. “To Be a Revolutionary,” by Father James Guadalupe Carney, Harper & Row, $10.95, 471 pp. Paperback edition of the autobiography of an American-born priest killed in Honduras. It was well received when published in 1985. “Healing the Heart,” by Joseph A. Grassi, Paulist Press, $7.95,137 pp. Explores the deep significance of biblical heart language images.
