My presentation from the 2014 National Catholic Educational Association Convention and Expo: For fifty years the Church has exhorted the faithful to engage in a “new evangelization.” The call to be missionaries is especially relevant for Catholic schools where young people are formed as disciples of Christ. This presentation for Catholic school teachers and administrators helps focus their work in the context of the New Evangelization. Participants will gain an understanding of the New Evangelization and learn steps for integrating it into the classroom and school community.

1. Catholic Schools: Centers
of the New Evangelization
Jonathan F. Sullivan
NCEA Convention and Expo | April 22, 2014

2. Opening Prayer
Through Christ our lord.

4. Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the cross,
Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing,
Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heav'nly King,
Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave,
Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save,
Alleluia!
But the pain which He endured,
Alleluia!
Our salvation has procured,
Alleluia!
Now above the sky He's king,
Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing,
Alleluia!
Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as His love, Alleluia!
Praise Him, all you heav'nly host,
Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia!
Words: 14th Century Bohemian Latin carol. Stanzas 1-3 translated in John Arnold's Compleat Psalmist, 1749.Stanza 4 Charles Wesley, 1740, alt.
Music: 'Easter Hymn' from Lyra Davidica, 1708.
Setting: composite found in "Church Praise: with tunes", 1885.
copyright: public domain.

6. Jonathan F. Sullivan
 Director of Catechetical
Services, Diocese of
Springfield in Illinois
 Evangelization
Committee member,
National Conference for
Catechetical Leadership
 Blogger
 Married, father of six

7. Who is in the room?
 Teachers
 Parish Catechetical
Leaders
 Pastors
 Principals
 Diocesan Staff
 Interested Others

8. Outline
1. Opening Activity
2. What is the New
Evangelization?
3. Affirmative Orthodoxy
and the New
Evangelization
4. Strategies for Catholic
Schools
5. Q&A
6. Suggested Resources

9. What does “New Evangelization”
mean to you?

10. What is the New Evangelization?
No, it’s not like New Coke.

11. What is the New Evangelization?
 Vatican Council II
 Paul VI
 Bl. John Paul II
 Benedict XVI
 Synod on New
Evangelization
 Pontifical Council for
Promoting New
Evangelization
 Francis

13. What is a disciple?
1. Living, growing
relationship with God
2. Excited Christian
activists
3. Knowledgeable about
the faith, Sacred
Scripture, etc.
4. Know and use their
charisms
5. Know their vocation and
actively live it
6. Engage in fellowship
with other disciples
With this in mind,
what percentage
of the people in
your school or
parish are
intentional
disciples?

14. Affirmative Orthodoxy
Putting first things first.

15. Affirmative Orthodoxy
 Term coined by John L.
Allen in 2008
 “[A] tenacious defense of
the core elements of
classic Catholic doctrine,
but presented in a
relentlessly positive key.”
Image by arimorre / FlickrCC

16. Affirmative Orthodoxy
“Christianity, Catholicism,
isn’t a collection of
prohibitions: it’s a positive
option. It’s very important
that we look at it again
because this idea has
almost completely
disappeared today. We’ve
heard so much about what
is not allowed that now it’s
time to say: we have a
positive idea to offer.”
- Pope Benedict XVI, 2006

17. Affirmative Orthodoxy
 Not about soft-peddling
“difficult teachings”
 Emphasis on the
positive, affirmation
 Joy as charism of New
Evangelization
How does your
experience of
catechesis in your
school or parish
reflect a spirit of
Affirmative
Orthodoxy?

18. Strategies for Catholic Schools
Because we’re evangelizing one way or another.

19. New Evangelization and the Four-
Fold Purpose of Catholic Education
Catholic schools provide
an atmosphere in which… The New Evangelization…
The Gospel is proclaimed Emphasizes the kerygma,
the basic proclamation of the
Gospel
Community in Christ is
experienced
Invites young people to be a
part of a community of
disciples
Service to our sisters and
brothers is the norm
Recognizes that service,
especially to the least, is an
integral part of discipleship
Thanksgiving and worship of
God is cultivated
Focuses on the person of
Jesus Christ, to whom we
owe worship as Lord

20. 1. Relentless Focus
on the Person of
Jesus Christ
• Use the Name
• Tell the Story

21. 2. Hire for
Evangelization
• Seven Qualities of a New Evangelist
• Evangelization in the Job Description
• Evangelization in Performance
Evaluation
Image by SpDuchamp / FlickrCC

22. 3. Invitation to
Discipleship
• Priority of Discipleship
• Within the Cultural Context
• High Standards
• Life-Long Process

23. 4. Utilize New
Media
• Go to Where the People Are
• Keep it Christocentric
• It’s About Relationships

24. For Reflection
Is your school or parish
committed to and engaged
in the New Evangelization?
If so, how?
If not, what is one step you
could take to begin?

25. Q&A
The only stupid question is the unasked one.

26. Resources
Here’s where you go next.

27. Resources
#CatholicEdChat
- weekly Twitter chat,
Saturdays 9a-10a (ET)

28. Resources
Forming Intentional
Disciples: The Path to
Knowing and Following
Jesus by Sherry Weddell
(OSV, 2012)

29. Resources
Disciples Called to Witness:
The New Evangelization
(USCCB, 2012)

30. Resources
Fr. Robert Barron’s Word on
Fire Video Commentary

31. For notes and links
go to www.JonathanFSullivan.com