St. Thomas has always been an evangelizing community, even if we haven’t always identified it by that word. Our former pastor, Fr. Joel Fortier, put it this way: “We need to own our Baptismal faith as a conscious choice, an intentional commitment to be a member of a community of faith that welcomes, engages, nurtures a relationship with Christ for all people. We reach out to all peoples to warmly accept them and initiate them into the Body of Christ. Baptism is the point at which all members of the church are empowered to carry out the mission and ministry of Jesus. Our lives … become a process of growing into mature committed discipleship.”

The Church was founded to spread the kingdom of God over all the earth. Every activity of

The Body of Christ with this in view goes by the name of ‘apostolate.’ Being a baptized Catholic means you have a part to play in this mission. In a living body no member plays a purely passive part; sharing in the life of the body, it shares at the same time in its activity.

Proudly embrace your mission as an apostle. Get out there and share the Good News of God’s love!

In 1965 Vatican Council II issued the Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People. Before we get to the meaning of ‘apostolate,’ let’s consider ‘the laity.’ What is it? Who is it?

In a nutshell, it’s us — you and me. A lay person is anyone who is not ordained; the laity are all of us together. We are to be — as our parish Mission Statement says — “Christ in the world.” We do that through the exercise of the apostolate. Tune in next week to find out what that entails.

YOU are an apostle! In the Nicene Creed, we profess that the Church is “one, holy, catholic and apostolic.” Though the Pope is the premier apostle in succession from St. Peter, we are each an apostle (from Greek “one who is sent”) — from the moment of baptism and participate in Jesus’ mission of evangelization. In coming weeks, we’ll look at excerpts from Apostolicam Actuositatem, the Vatican II “Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People.” That means it’s for all of us.

Now that we’ve taken a look at what evangelization is — sharing the good news of Jesus — let’s look at by whom it’s done. It was done first by the 12 Apostles; the small band of men who followed Jesus during his lifetime on earth and spread the news of healing and love (salvation) after His resurrection. Next came evangelists, the Gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, followed by generation after generation of missionary disciples.

Next week we find out how you fit into this picture …

Adults of a certain age will remember being asked out of anger or frustration “What are you doing, for Christ’s sake?” Just take out the comma and ask yourself the question “What are YOU doing for Christ’s sake?”

Take the first step into evangelization and share your answer with someone
else …

Both St. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Mary as the “Star of Evangelization” because of the way in which she brings people to Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI, reflecting on the meaning of Mary’s journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth writes, “[Mary] wants, above all, to help others meet Jesus. We have come to the truest meaning and most genuine purpose of every missionary journey: to give people the living and personal Gospel, which is the Lord Jesus Christ himself.”

One Sunday Mass when my son was 4 or 5, we were reciting the Prayer Before Communion, which at that time was “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” A tug on my sleeve and a small voice whispered, “What’s the word?” Startled, I managed “Huh?” Insistent, he repeated, “What’s the word? He (the priest) said there was a word. I want to know the word.” Panicked, I prayed the classic Holy Spirit prayer, “Help!” What came out of my mouth was “God says ‘I love you and I forgive you.’”

Who does God need you to share that word with? That’s evangelization.

Seen on a church sign: A church is a gift from God. Assembly required.

Assembly = congregation = people of God = you and me.

What part are you adding to the construction?

“What’s the good word?” That was my Dad’s standard opening to any conversation, whether with a client, neighbor or friend. It’s still a good question to ask others and, after listening carefully to their response, share your ‘good word’ about a God-moment in your life.

That’s evangelization …