Bishops whose dioceses are along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route have tried to counter moves to make it just a cultural or tourist experience. French and Spanish bishops released a pastoral letter setting out the possibilities of evangelisation of those travelling the route. The bishops admit that 70 per cent of those walking the Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Evangelisation’
US archbishop categorises people who come to Mass
Tuesday, July 21st, 2015
An American archbishop has categorised people who come to Mass and has spelled out to clergy how best to speak to them. In a letter to priests and deacons, Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit stated: “Many people have been sacramentalised, but never evangelised.” Such people “knew about God, but they didn’t know him”. Another group Read more
Anglican Alpha founder praises Catholic evangelisation
Tuesday, July 14th, 2015
Alpha course founder Rev. Nicky Gumbel has said the Catholic Church is leading the way in evangelisation. Speaking at the Proclaim ‘15 national Catholic evangelisation gathering in Birmingham in England on July 11, Rev. Gumbel said he loves the Catholic Church. Rev. Gumbel, an Anglican minister from Holy Trinity Brompton, is the pioneer of Alpha, Read more
Dame Lyndsay Freer: 30 years as a Catholic communicator
Friday, July 10th, 2015
Last month marked 30 years since Dame Lyndsay Freer started working in media and communications for the Catholic Church in New Zealand. She has been arguably the most visible and recognisable “face” of the Catholic Church in New Zealand. Recently NZ Catholic interviewed Dame Lyndsay Freer about her career in Catholic communications. Dame Lyndsay worked Read more
100s of non-Catholic children on Catholic school waiting lists
Tuesday, July 7th, 2015
Expectant parents are registering their unborn children with Waikato church-run schools in a bid to ensure a place for them when they turn five. Hundreds of non-Catholic children are already registered on Catholic school waiting lists in Hamilton city alone and this has Hamilton Diocese planning a new primary school north of the city. The Read more
PNG: Muslim customs more compatible than Christian ones?
Tuesday, June 16th, 2015
Islam is growing rapidly in Papua New Guinea, converts finding Muslim customs have more in common with their traditions than Christianity. Catholic priest Franco Zocca, based at the Melanesian Institute research centre in Goroka, said Islamic leaders explained to him that “Islamic beliefs and practices are more compatible than Christianity with traditional Melanesian values”, especially Read more
Melanesian Brotherhood celebrate their founder
Friday, June 12th, 2015
Members of the Brothers of the Church of Melanesia came together on the week end to remember and honour their founder, Ini Kopuria. Solomon Star West Guadalcanal stringer John Toki reported that more than 30 members of the Melanesian Brothers, Selwyn College students and members of the surrounding communities participated in the program. The Melanesian Brotherhood Read more
Native Americans oppose Junipero Serra canonisation
Friday, April 24th, 2015
Native Americans are voicing their opposition to the canonisation of Blessed Junipero Serra, which the Pope plans to do on September 23. A Spanish Franciscan, Blessed Serra introduced Christianity to much of California as he marched north with Spanish conquistadors in the 18th century. Many Native Americans, though, say Blessed Serra and other missionaries helped Read more
The Ned Flanders effect – religious people unattractive?
Tuesday, April 14th, 2015
A collaborative study carried out by a number of universities around the world, including the The University of Otago in New Zealand, has found evidence for the existence of the Ned Flanders effect. Nedward “Ned” Flanders, is a character in the long running TV series The Simpsons. He is the Simpson family’s extremely religious next “diddly-door” Read more
Top 10 ways churches drive away newcomers
Tuesday, March 10th, 2015If you attend a church regularly, you may have noticed a person shows up for a worship service, but he or she never returns. Thom S Rainer carried out a twitter survey to see if he could find out how church communities drive away newcomers. This is what he discovered: Having a stand up and Read more