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APPENDIX
Questions for Reflection
The New Evangelization is a way of being a Church that forms missionary
disciples. The following
considerations are meant to assist parishes in mov-
ing from the practice of maintenance to cultivating missionary
-
focused
discipleship efforts. Evangelization is not for a few but rather a challenge
for every baptized person
and the entire parish community. As such, this
section outlines personal and ministerial reflection questions
so that each
person invited into the process can participate fully.
The following considerations are not exhaustive, but they are
intended to help parishes assess their
current efforts to determine which
areas of ministry are effective and which need to be strengthened. The
description of each
stage of discipleship is followed by questions to spark
reflection and discussion. This outlines some of
the considerations that
parishes, schools, and apostolates ought to be attentive to in order to be a
missionary-oriented community.
The Soil of Missionary Discipleship
The Parable of the Sower (Mt 13:3-8) provides a helpful context and
insight into cultivating a missionary-oriented approach. It is important
that parishes, schools, and apostolates consider, tend to, and nourish the
soil in which the seeds of discipleship are to be planted. Each person
receives the seeds of God’s Word differently. Parishes, imitating Jesus, are
called to be attentive to the specific needs and level of receptivity of
those
to whom they minister. Provision should be made for fostering a culture
of accompaniment so that
persons are supported and encouraged on their
journey. It is also important to remember that the seeds a
parish plants