Make prayer a priority for the New Evangelisation

 

Make prayer a priority for the New Evangelisation

Catholics in the Diocese of Shrewsbury are to be invited to respond to the challenges posed by the rapid secularisation of society by becoming active in the “New Evangelisation” that has been proposed by Blessed Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
In a pastoral letter to be read out in churches across the diocese during Masses for the First Sunday of Advent, the Rt Rev. Mark Davies, the Bishop of Shrewsbury, will tell Catholics that both the future of the Church and the Christian character of the country will depend on the willingness of each of them to bear witness to Our Lord and His Gospel in their own lives.
He will say that the call to a New Evangelisation comes in recognition by the Church that the changing situation of life in the early 21st century, particularly in the West, demanded a “new response from us all”.
There was no strategy or long-term plan for this enterprise, the Bishop will explain, but that the success of the New Evangelisation would depend instead on deliberate commitments by each person to a “renewed love for Christ”.
First and foremost the New Evangelisation must be rooted in prayer, Bishop Davies will say, which the faithful must make a priority. For this reason, Year of Faith prayer cards are being published by the diocese and they will be distributed throughout churches during Advent and Christmas.
Bishop Mark Davies will say: “The Christmas celebration reminds us that Christianity lies at the foundation of our nation’s life. And yet, we are also aware that, of those 72 per cent of British people who declare themselves as ‘Christian’, so many are no longer actively part of a church or share a living faith. We see the Christian foundations of our society being challenged as never before, whether on questions concerning the sanctity of human life or the very identity of marriage.
“Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, invites us to respond to this challenging situation by nothing less than a New Evangelisation.”
The Bishop adds: “In the Diocese, we are setting up new commissions, and organising courses and conferences to help us meet this challenge. I realise, however, that what matters most is the influence of the lives of each one of you, and how you give witness to your Catholic faith amidst the difficult circumstances of our time. This must surely begin with prayer, much prayer.”

Christmas Day : Merry Christmas !

At the foot of the Crib

Midnight Mass

Day Mass

Christmas Carols at Ss Peter Paul and Philomena

The Holy Family is waiting for the Infant

Immaculate Conception Feast Day

Rosary in front of the big Monstrance at Ss Peter Paul and Philomena : Canons Moor (Parish Priest) and Montjean (Rector of the Shrine) praying together with numerous parishioners.

December Mass times at Ss Peter Paul and Philomena

Right Rev. Mark Davies' pastoral Letter for Advent

PASTORAL LETTER

On New Evangelisation

to be read in all churches and chapels of the Diocese

on the First Sunday of Advent

2nd December 2012

My dear brothers and sisters,

The Christmas celebration reminds us that Christianity lies at
the foundation of our nation’s life. And yet, we are also aware
that, of those 72 per cent of British people who declare
themselves as “Christian,” so many are no longer actively part
of a church or share a living faith. We see the Christian
foundations of our society being challenged as never before,
whether on questions concerning the sanctity of human life or
the very identity of marriage.
Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, invites us to respond to this
challenging situation by nothing less than a New
Evangelisation. This may seem a surprising phrase; it evokes
the “first evangelisation” which continues both at home and
overseas where the Gospel is announced for the first time.
What, then, is new about the new evangelisation? It speaks to
a new situation, the one we often meet today in our families,
parishes and society. One Archbishop of Paris famously asked
to be reminded - whenever he was in a crowded church - of the
many people who were not there. At Christmas time, we cannot
fail to think of many people who received the great inheritance
of the Christian faith, but in whom
“the light of faith has grown dim” (Pope Benedict XVI,
Closing Homily Synod of Bishops, 28th October 2012).
The need to announce anew our Catholic faith in Christ does
not mean that the past work of our parishes has failed. New
Evangelisation recognises that, together, we face a changed
situation, one which demands a new response from us all.

The Second Vatican Council, meeting fifty years ago, drew
attention to the fact that most people would only hear the
Gospel and know the Catholic Church through the members of
Christ’s faithful whom they meet. In other words, each one of
you listening to my letter today! I am often reminded of this in
conversations with people outside the Church who immediately
tell me of the Catholics they themselves know. The New
Evangelisation involves us all.
Blessed John Paul spoke of new evangelisation as being new
in its ardour, new in its methods and new in its means of
expression. It is no coincidence that he spoke first of a “new
ardour,” which means a renewed love for Christ and His
Church. New evangelisation begins in our hearts, because
without such love there will be no new energy to bring others to
know Christ. The Catechism puts this very simply:
“from the loving knowledge of Christ there springs up in
the believer the desire to evangelise and catechise, that
is, to reveal in the Person of Christ the entire design of
God and put people in communion with him”
(Compendium of the Catechism n. 80).
So, new evangelisation is not primarily about having new plans
or new strategies. New evangelisation flows from renewed
love, which in turn leads us to seek new ways of giving
expression to our Catholic faith, new methods by which to
communicate to our contemporaries the unchanging Gospel,
the faith of the Church in all its fullness. As I look to the years
ahead as your bishop I realise this is no small task. Pope
Benedict describes this as:
“the urgent need to proclaim Christ anew in places
where the light of faith has weakened, in places where
the fire of God is more like smouldering cinders, crying
out to be stirred up, so that they can become a living
flame that gives light and heat to the whole house”
(Closing Homily Synod of Bishops, 28th October 2012). 

In the Diocese, we are setting up new commissions, and
organising courses and conferences to help us meet this
challenge. I realise, however, that what matters most is the
influence of the lives of each one of you, and how you give
witness to your Catholic faith amidst the difficult circumstances
of our time. This must surely begin with prayer, much prayer.
Indeed, Our Lord reminds us on this First Sunday of Advent,
“stay awake, praying at all times …” (Luke 24:34).
It is why, since becoming your bishop, I have emphasized the
need to put prayer first. The prayer card for the Year of Faith
reminds us that the new evangelisation begins in prayer.
At the time of year which stirs the embers of the memory of
Christian faith in our country, we desire that all may come to
know the light of the
“Saviour who has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord”
(Luke 2: 11).
Wishing you the joy of Advent and a truly happy Christmas,
+ Mark
Bishop of Shrewsbury

Vespers and Benediction with Bishop Mark Davies

Right Rev. Mark Davies gives the Benediction 

after Vespers with priests friends of the Shrine