We all participate in the Church’s mission of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus to the world. In this statement, the bishops present a pastoral plan to help Catholics advance in their role as disciples, by awakening a renewal in the ministry of adult faith formation—and helping all to grow to the full maturity of Christ. In four parts, the plan examines the challenges and opportunities faced today, the key qualities of a mature faith, the principles and approaches for providing sound adult faith formation, and the critical roles of parish leadership and diocesan support. Anyone who works with adults—in parishes, dioceses, seminaries, hospitals, retreat houses, monasteries or other pastoral settings—has an opportunity to help them grow in faith; Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us offers the vision and principles to guide this essential ministry.

Building on the bishops’ call for a renewed commitment to adult faith formation contained in Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, this leader’s guide provides step-by-step guidance in bringing that vision to life at the parish and diocesan level. The guide includes easy-to-follow models of group sessions aimed at helping adult believers better understand their faith, proclaim their faith and live their faith. Adaptable to a wide range of parish and diocesan groups and committees, the sessions can be facilitated by anyone interested in helping adults to be touched and transformed by the life-giving message of Jesus. Includes the complete text of Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us.

Compiled from presentations given at a national symposium, this collection explores the richness and diversity of Catholic men in their roles as husbands, fathers, workers and disciples of Christ. An essential guide, the volume includes scriptural reflections on men’s spirituality, along with guidelines for developing men’s ministry programs on the diocesan and parish levels.

Captures the vitality of the African American Catholic community through poetry, music, and the recounting of family activities.

Explores the common challenges of these groups and seeks mutual reconciliation in the areas of race and language. Bilingual edition.

The Church in the United States is a church of many races and cultures. And as this moving pastoral statement presents, the rapidly growing Asian and Pacific American communities have helped the Church shine as a sacrament of unity and universality. The work celebrates their contributions, reflects on their particular pastoral needs, and suggests helpful approaches for all to build toward a common future.

Using highlights from Asian and Pacific Presence: Harmony in Faith, this brochure includes discussion questions that can be used during staff or council meetings, days of reflection, small faith-sharing gatherings, or retreats.

Evangelization is a defining moment for all who are disciples of Jesus Christ. For there is no discipleship without evangelization—and there is no evangelization without disciples. In this compendium of major presentations from the first North American Institute of Catholic Evangelization, the vital link between ministry and disciples is examined and celebrated by a diverse panel of contributors, including Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Rev. Ronald Rolheiser, Rev. Donald Senior, Carole Eipers, Msgr. Raymond East, Bishop Wilton Gregory, Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski, and others. From catechesis to secularized culture, media to missions, Ministry through the Lens of Evangelization covers a world of issues—making it a resource of broad interest to all church members.

As Christians we are called to evangelize the world around us. However, Vatican II made it clear that we are also called to be people of dialogue, especially with people of other faiths. In a society that is ever more diverse, how can we properly dialogue with non-Roman Catholic people of faith, yet remain faithful to our mission to evangelize? The presentations offered in this book give helpful insights to this timely question.

Even more timely than when it first appeared, this bilingual tenth anniversary edition provides the faithful with a powerful instrument for opening wide the doors of Christ to help all find sense and salvation in today’s tumultuous world. This compelling work presents a broad vision of what Catholic evangelization is, the command to bring the Good News of Christ and his gifts to all strata of society, and the imperative of implanting his Church in every place, to make salvation readily available to all. Includes goals and strategies useful to leaders in evangelization, youth and campus ministries, dioceses, and parishes and more.

This exciting resource from Oregon Catholic Press guides small faith communities and prayer groups in their reflection on the Lectionary readings throughout the church year. Containing a synopsis of the Sunday readings, Disciples in Prayer also offers musical selections and suggestions, and study group questions based on three themes: personal spiritual growth, community growth, and outreach into and beyond the community.

Building on Go and Make Disciples, the bishops’ pastoral plan for evangelization, this new directory was developed to further Pope John Paul II’s call for reconciliation. The directory includes reflections, models, and faith-sharing guides for evangelization staffs and all those involved in mission work.

From Pope Paul VI.

The Pontifical Council for Culture outlines proposals for evangelization.

Summary of Go and Make Disciples.

An introduction to the meaning of evangelization.

The story of family life is the story of love—shared, nurtured, sometimes rejected or lost. And in this uplifting message, the bishops offer families everywhere an inspiring reflection on love: how it is experienced in a family, how it is challenged by the pressures of modern society, how it grows, how it is supported by the whole Church. Included discussion questions make it ideal for use in marriage or family enrichment programs or parish retreats.

Pope John Paul II addresses the role of the family in society as a believing and evangelizing community in dialogue with God.

Central document in family ministry, includes techniques for implementing a family perspective into all policies, programs, and services of the Church.

A video documentary on the evolution and development of small church communities. In Spanish with English subtitles.

Beginning with a brief history of the events leading up to the 1997 Synod, the Holy Father encourages the faithful in America to experience the Lord anew. Genuine personal encounters will bring forth a renewal of the Church, for “the encounter with the living Jesus Christ is the path to conversion, communion, and solidarity.” The Holy Father concludes by inviting all Catholics of America to “take an active part in the evangelizing initiatives which the Holy Spirit is stirring in every part of this immense continent.”

The Hispanic presence in the Church in America has grown considerably in recent decades. In this pastoral statement, the bishops set forth the basic principles, priorities, and suggested actions for developing a truly effective ministry among Hispanics. This bilingual volume, which builds on the 1987 National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry, is an essential tool for all Catholics seeking to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by the diversity of cultures in our faith communities today.

In commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of a national office for ministry to Hispanics in this country, the bishops issued this English/Spanish publication on the Hispanic presence and the relationship between faith and culture.

The bishops call for a new era of ministry for Hispanic people. English/Spanish edition.

Perfect for wide distribution in parishes, especially where there is a Hispanic presence. Based on Encuentro & Mission, this brochure identifies guiding values and principles of Hispanic ministry, explores new pastoral dimensions, and suggests actions for building the Church’s response to the Hispanic presence in light of the New Evangelization.

Focuses on the development and progression of small church communities, particularly Hispanic communities.

An English/Spanish compendium of The Hispanic Presence: Challenge and Commitment; National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry; and Prophetic Voices: The Document on the Process of the III Encuentro Nacional Hispano de Pastoral.

A Benedictine monk is called to active duty as a chaplain to a Marine expeditionary unit. A Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is called to duty inside a state penitentiary for women. Through the experiences of these two distinct ministries, this hope-filled documentary highlights how separation from family and friends affects people and strengthens their need for a special connection to the faith community. Originally aired on ABC-TV affiliates.

Change the world by living a life of gratitude and responsibility—a life of Catholic stewardship. Specifically designed for young adults in parish, campus, and diocesan settings, this vibrant, eight-panel brochure engages young adults in a conversation about what Catholic stewardship is and how to live a stewardship lifestyle in today’s world. Use the challenging discussion questions with a small faith community, at a young adult meeting, or during a vocations or stewardship presentation.

Ten years after its publication, this pastoral letter continues to challenge the faithful to take up the twin mantles of discipleship and stewardship—and experience its power to change how we understand and live out our lives. As the work makes clear, stewardship is all encompassing, from the simplest individual gesture of kindness to global communities working for systemic peace. This tenth anniversary edition provides a gospel blueprint for building good stewards at every age and every level. Each section ends with questions for reflection and discussion, ideal for a variety of group uses. The edition also includes To Be a Christian Steward, a summary of the bishop’s pastoral letter on stewardship, along with Stewardship and Development in Catholic Dioceses and Parishes: Resource Manual.

An overview of Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response.

Create a young-adult-friendly parish using the wisdom, insight, and examples from the authors of this unique book. This resource is not about how to do young ministry—it’s about how to do ministry with the young adults already present in the life of your parish. This text builds on the vision of the bishops’ pastoral statement Sons and Daughters of the Light to motivate parish leaders to draw young adults into the life of the community and receive the gifts that they bring.

Early adulthood is a time of discovering answers to questions like “Who am I, what is my place in the world?” In this comprehensive plan, the bishops offer an effective guide for helping young adults discover the answers to life’s most profound questions, through a personal relationship with Jesus and the Church. Whether a parish, diocese, campus ministry center, or military chaplaincy, this volume provides a range of strategies for connecting young adults to Christ and to the mission of the Church in the world. Additionally, the plan offers ten key steps for use by pastoral planners in starting a young adult outreach and ministry.

In 1976, the bishops issued their seminal document, A Vision of Youth Ministry, combining the best of Catholic traditions with emerging ideas from Church leaders across the nation. Two decades later, confronted by the challenges of an ever-changing world, the bishops enlarged that vision with the publication of Renewing the Vision. This new volume provides all who minister to young people with an effective blueprint for building a truly meaningful ministry, centered on three important goals: To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ; to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Church; and to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

Starting with the first Sunday in Advent, this weekly journal highlights a quote from the Sunday reading and offers a few reflection questions for the pilgrim. The journal is interspersed with the words of Pope John Paul II to the youth of the world as well as the lives of 12 saints. Use the journal to prepare pilgrims for the journey to World Youth Day in Cologne. Lead pilgrims at home in a spiritual journey as they reflect on the scriptures of the liturgical year.

These colorful pins will remind you and others that you are one of the many pilgrims from the United States at World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany.