Evangelization
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Vision for Lay Apostolate
We seek to equip Catholics in Michigan's Upper peninsula with the attitudes, habits, and skills to make disciples. God uniquely sends each lay Catholic into the secular world - in families, office buildings, schools, sports fields, driveways, and neighborhoods - to reach people who trust them and are ready to take steps toward Jesus. Any Catholic can make a huge difference in their circle of influence as they pray and fast, act, and speak in the right ways at the right times with those around them.What does lay formation consist of?
Lay Catholics can be formed and trained to live with apostolic consciousness (they know the world needs Jesus), apostolic attitudes (they seek intimacy with Jesus and want everyone to experience His life), and apostolic skills (they are able to make disciples according to their gifts).
Fr. Ryan Ford, Vicar for Evangelization & Catechesis, works with a few pastors at a time to discern and invite 8-12 people into an initial mission training group. The Diocese of Marquette uses training materials developed by The Evangelical Catholic (evangelicalcatholic.org).
Rather than short-term events that fade with time, we provide deep formation in attitudes and habits that last, grow, and bear fruit over time. Leaders are developed and coached in each location to take ownership of the mission movement.Coaching
In each location, the initial 8-12 people will be trained and activated into personal apostolates, and 2-3 point people identified who will co-lead the second group with Fr. Ryan. They and the pastor will then be coached by Evangelical Catholic to gain competency and maturity, set goals, and continue the mission process of Jesus: discern, invite, form and train, send, and shepherd.
United in Mission
We face an increasingly difficult landscape. With many things competing for people's time and attention, activities can become compartmentalized as parish staff and volunteers compete for participation. A focus on mission can unite us, and everyone has a contribution to make.Rather than try to draw people to our turf and ask them to serve our activities, we can serve the faithful and form them to engage secular life on their turf. Rather than people being the means to build up the parish, the parish can be the means to build up people in apostolic holiness and mission. Rather than the parish being the primary place where evangelization happens, the parish can be the center of formation where laity are equipped to evangelize in the secular world.
The Method of Jesus
The way forward is Jesus’ mission process: discern and invite a few people at a time and equip them, then send them out and shepherd them along the way. This creates an ever-expanding team of people who love Jesus, connect with God at a deeper level, and seek opportunities to draw others into His life, a few people at a time.