Print Resources

What follows is a short list of print resources on the topic of evangelization.  Each has a brief description of what can be found in the book.  For videos, please go to the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis and click on “Video and Print Catalogs” and initiate a search on the word “evangelization”.

Catholics Can Come Home: A Guide For The Journey of Reconciliation with Inactive Catholics.  Carrie Kemp, Paulist Press, 2001.  This book, written for those seeking reconciliation with the Church as well as those reaching out to the non-practicing Catholics, offers her experience of a process called “Catholics Coming Home.” Which she leads in her parish.

Creating the Evangelizing Parish. Frank DeSiano and Kenneth Boyack, Paulist Press, 1993.  Evangelization is explained and the authors offer a model for placing the ministry of evangelization into the framework of personal relationships.

Evangelizing Catholic: A Practical Handbook For Reaching Out.  Frank P. DeSiano, Paulist Press, 1998.This practical handbook contains a wealth of information and incentives to help parishes and individual Catholics to discover opportunities and practical strategies for reaching out to Catholics who are away from the faith.

Evangelizing Catechesis, A Series Of Articles On Themes from the General Directory for Catechesis.  National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, 2000.  In these six articles, the authors cover such topics as “Evangelization and the Catechist”, Evangelization and Catechesis”, Faith in Cultures:  Inculturation and Catechesis”.

Evangelizing Unchurched: A Pocketbook For Catechists. Therese M. Boucher, Resource Publications, 2000.  This very short book names one of the problems facing catechists:  baptized children who know very little about their faith.  The author offers some ideas for addressing the spiritual side of these “unchurched” children.  She also offers concrete suggestions on how to be an evangelist versus a conventional religion teacher.

Lay Ministers Lay Disciples: Evangelizing Power In the Parish. Susan Blum Gerding Ed.D.and Frank DeSiano C.S.P., Paulist Press, 1999.   “This book is about the evangelizing dimensions of all parish ministries.  It contains practical helps and new ides for … persons who are involved in serving the people of our parishes.  There are also points for reflection to review the effectiveness of the different ministers.”

Assets of an Evangelizing Parish. Archdiocese Of Milwaukee, 1998.  This resource names the assets and offers suggestions for how these assets can become a reality in parish life.

Catholic Evangelization: The Heart of Ministry.   Rev Robert J Hater PhD, Harcourt Religion Publishers, 2002. This book is a blend of stories, insights, theological wisdom and practical application.  It answers basic questions such as:  What does evangelization mean for today’s Catholics?  How might Catholics approach the work of evangelization in their lives and through the parish?

Reclaim the Fire:  A Parish Guide to Evangelization.  Martin W. Pable, OFM Cap.  Ave Maria Press, 2002.  Fr. Pable recaptures the heart, the soul, and the mission of the church.  He outlines a way to reverse discouraging trends and bring people back to faith.

Re-Imagining Evangelization:  Toward the Reign of God and the Communal Parish.  Patrick J. Brennan.  Crossroad Publishing Company, 1995.   Fr. Brennan offers a blueprint for creating evangelizing faith communities.  This book takes pastoral leaders through the actual steps that a faith community must take to transform vision into conversion.

Growing True Disciples:  New Strategies for Producing Genuine Followers of Christ.  George Barna.  Waterbrook Press, 2001.  George Barna, author and researcher, helps pastors and leaders assess how well their churches are fulfilling their roles as makers of disciples.  He offers models and examples that will equip churches to dramatically be more effective.

A User-Friendly Parish:  Becoming a More Welcoming Community.  Judith Ann Kollar.  Twenty-Third Publications, 1998.  This common-sense guide offers to parish leaders, staff, ministers and other committee members practical tips on how to be a more welcoming community.

On Evangelization in the Modern World (Evangelli Nuntlandi). Pope Paul VI, 1975.  In this apostolic exhortation, Pope Paul VI speaks to the essential mission of the Church: to evangelize, to bring the message of God’s saving love to all people.

General Directory for Catechesis.  Congregation for the Clergy, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, USCCB, 1997.    “The object of this Directory is to provide those fundamental theologico-pastoral principles drawn from the Church’s Magisterium, particularly those inspired by the Second Vatican Council, which are capable of better orienting and coordinating the pastoral activity of the ministry of the word and concretely catechesis.” Throughout the directory catechesis and evangelization are inseparable.  Catechesis is an essential moment in the process of evangelization.

Go And Make Disciples:  A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States.  United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1993.  This document “offers an unequivocal statement by the bishops regarding the primary mission of the whole Church in the United States:  Evangelization!  … This national plan … includes three major goals thirty-one specific objectives and over one hundred concrete strategies.”