A New Evangelisation Service for
Dioceses, parishes and schools
“The Lord wants us to belong to a Church that knows how to open her arms and welcome everyone. Not a house for the few, but a house for everyone, where all can be renewed, transformed, sanctified by his love, the strongest and the weakest, sinners, the indifferent, those who feel discouraged or lost. Are we a Church that calls and welcomes sinners with open arms, that gives courage and hope, or are we a Church closed in on herself?”
Pope Francis, The Church of Mercy, Darton, Longman & Todd, 2014
How do we contibute to Pope Francis' new vision for the Church? How can we ensure we are open and welcoming and not "closed in on ourselves?" How can we assist in making the Church, “The Church of Mercy”?
The answer, Pope Francis tells us, is that we must "rethink our solidarity”, and become "revolutionaries for Christ". If we are ever to fully achieve his vision, we need to identify and open up issues that divide us and challenge our faith; we need to discuss them; we need to refer to Scripture and draw in depth of knowledge and understanding from leading thinkers, scholars and experts and also those with lived experiences of the challenges.
New digital series, Quest: exploring Faith in Action puts Pope Francis’ words & vision into action
Examine Scripture with a modern-day lens
Initiate conversation about modern-day issues that impact our faith
Explore contemporary issues and revisit relevant Scripture passages
Connect your parish and school community to Pope Francis' vision of an evangelising, merciful and inclusive church
Increase the knowledge and confidence of parish and teaching staff to discuss key issues with believers and others
Provide faith formation across your whole diocese, parish and/or teaching faculty - a great resource to enable robust Christian conversations
About Quest
Quest: Exploring faith in action will be launched in January 2015. This new, digital series will identify issues that impact faith in the modern world. It aims to assist teachers, parents and parishioners to explore key questions in the real world lives of Catholics today in the context of Scripture, and in doing so, inspire a renewed Catholic Church.
It will be produced ten times per year, coinciding with key events in the liturgical calendar—events that can help us in our search for meaning. Each edition will be sent to parishes and schools who have subscribed, who can then distribute to parishioners (Mass-attending or not), teaching staff and senior secondary students either electronically or as printed copies.
Benefits
Quest: Exploring faith in action is an evangelising digital series designed for dioceses, parishes and schools (primary and secondary).
Benefits for diocese and parishes include:assist parishioners and adult faith formation groups to deepen their understanding of their faith and how Christ’s teaching remains relevant in their daily lives
Unpack the meaning of Scripture in a modern-day context, and apply it to society in Australia today
Facilitate openness, courage and hope for all
Engage parish leaders and parishioners in conversations about what we believe and why
Use as a tool to evangelise the good news of Jesus.
Provide school leadership groups, teachers, parents and senior students with information and contemporary insights to build confidence necessary to discuss matters of faith in today’s complex world
Build and enhance the Catholic identity of teachers and senior students
Engage teachers, senior students, and parents in conversations about what we believe and why
Provide an Australian voice and perspective to matters of faith and Scripture.
Writers
Highly-respected Australian writers, with particular expertise or personal experiences, will explore the topics, and what Scripture and the Church teach on the issue. By revisiting the Bible in a modern-day context, new light may be shed on the issues that challenge us.
Complimentary Second edition
This second complimentary edition offers a reflection on Australia Day, and importantly looks at who we are and our role as Christians in the aftermath of the terrible events of the Martin Place siege in December.
Complimentary First edition
This edition relates to Christmas and explores the importance of protecting God’s gifts and the culture of waste. This complimentary edition will be mailed electronically to all parishes and schools, encouraging them to distribute widely. Future topics and authors are currently being determined. This edition relates to Christmas and explores the importance of protecting God’s gifts and the culture of waste.
