2019 New Evangelization Summit Invites The Faithful To On-Going Conversion
By Deacon Eric Gurash
Along with thousands of like-minded Catholics from around the world, close to 80 men and women from across the Archdiocese of Regina gathered at Holy Rosary Cathedral on Saturday, May 4th for the sixth annual New Evangelization Summit. Begun in 2013 by Mission of the Redeemer Ministries founders Michael and Linda Dopp, the New Evangelization Summit seeks to bring together Catholics throughout Canada, the US and the world to inspire, form and connect Catholic evangelists to further the Church’s missionary activity.
The summit, held each year in Ottawa, Ontario is streamed to host sites from coast to coast in Canada as well as to several dozen sites in the US. This year also saw host site participants joining in from as far away as Australia and Guatemala. Speakers included Gerald Cardinal LaCroix, Archbishop of Quebec, Fr. James Mallon, Author & Founder of Divine Renovation Ministries, Michael Dopp, Founder of Mission of the Redeemer Ministries, Fr. Jon Bielawski and Michele Thompson Co-developers of the Genesis Mission, and Michelle Moran Founding Member of the Sion Catholic Community for Evangelism.
In his keynote address, Cardinal LaCroix did not hesitate to address the challenges faced by the Church today. “How do we stay focused on our mission in a very troubled world? By being a missionary disciple and turning to Jesus, the course of authentic fulfillment.”
Calling to mind St. Paul’s words in First Corinthians “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it…” (1 Cor 12:16), Cardinal LaCroix reminded participants that we cannot turn away from the challenges of the present age, but are called to walk together in our woundedness.
“The whole People of God are called to be a Holy People…this is a call to an on-going process of conversion”, said LaCroix. “We cannot underestimate our collective responsibility to each other. By our baptism, we are indebted both to the Lord and to each other.”
Fr. James Mallon spoke to the role of the evangelist in navigating change in parish culture and governance providing helpful tips for those engaged in the mission of evangelization who may not necessarily be involved at the leadership level. Mission of the Redeemer founder Michael Dopp addressed the characteristics of the evangelist, while Michelle Moran from the United Kingdom spoke to the roll of the Holy Spirit and a “New Pentecost for the New Evangelization.”
The day-long event wrapped up with some insight into the “Genesis Mission,” one example of a very practical ministry of evangelization developed by Fr. Jon Bielawski and Michele Thompson. Bielawski and Thompson spoke of the importance of the human encounter as a means of providing transformative encounters with Jesus Christ. The Genesis Mission is a model that encourages individuals to actively create connections with the lives of others and, through prayerful guidance, be ready and willing to take active interest in their lives, offer prayerful intercession, and share how the Good News of Jesus Christ in Scripture and Tradition, has been an aid in our own experiences of life’s ups and downs.
In addition to those gathered at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Regina, several participants were brought together at a second host site at Christ the Redeemer Parish in Swift Current. For those who missed out on the Summit this year, and parishes who may wish to operate a host site in the future, the date of the next New Evangelization Summit has already been set for April 25, 2020.
