Synod Fathers Calling For a New Pentecost, says Cardinal Wuerl

By Matthew A. Rarey
10/20/2012
CNA: Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com/)

Cardinal Wuerl emphasized that the synod wants all Catholics to fulfill their roles as witnesses for Christ.

"Many Synod Fathers called for a new Pentecost . of seeing the action of the Church today, enlivened by the Holy Spirit. Many of the fathers spoke of the similarity between those early days of the Church and our moment in time today."

Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C.

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VATICAN CITY (CNA/EWTN News) - Mixing old with new, a progress report on the synod of bishops on the New Evangelization was delivered in Latin, the ancient language of the Church.

"Many Synod Fathers called for a new Pentecost . of seeing the action of the Church today, enlivened by the Holy Spirit, as a reflection of the energy in the early Church when the apostles set out to bring the first disciples to the Lord," Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., said late in the afternoon on Oct. 17.

"Many of the fathers spoke of the similarity between those early days of the Church and our moment in time today."

The 71-year-old American cardinal is charged by Pope Benedict XVI with steering the work of the synod. Under the title of General Relator, Cardinal Wuerl guides the discussions of the 262 participants as they attempt to map out a plan for bringing the Gospel to the modern world.

Part of his job is presenting the Oct. 7-28 synod with a summary of over 230 formal speeches and innumerable off-the-record discussions during the synod's first half.

First, he thanked Pope Benedict for his inspiration and guidance. At the synod's opening session, the Pope reminded participants to keep in mind that "the two great pillars of evangelization" are a commitment to "know and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ" and to do it with love.

"It is only when we have the word inseparably lived in love that we achieve the evangelization so hoped for in this synod," Cardinal Wuerl said.

One understanding in the synodal discussions that has emerged "very clearly," he reported, is "the understanding that the foundation of the New Evangelization for the transmission of the faith is above all the work of the most Holy Trinity in history." It is because Christ gave the Church "the commission to share and make known his victory (over sin and death)" that "the Church's primary mission is evangelization."

The synod has also discussed ways of helping priests and bishops to be more effective evangelizers in the modern world, from doing parish work to media apostolates.

But Cardinal Wuerl emphasized that the synod wants all Catholics to fulfill their roles as witnesses for Christ.

"The synod highlighted the important role of every disciple of Christ in the mission of spreading the faith," he said. Laypeople must use their God-given gifts to evangelize with "eager dedication."

To do so effectively, requires a spiritual renewal involving both heart and mind, he said. "Spiritual renewal is the most important element of the New Evangelization insofar as it involves the renewal of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and a catechesis that fosters our spiritual growth."

The role of proper catechesis, or instruction in the faith, has been a hot-topic at the synod.

"A number of bishops spoke of the need to reinforce the role of the Magisterium (teaching authority) of the Church when dealing with all of those who are engaged in teaching the faith," Cardinal Wuerl said. This applies "at the level of theological speculation or teaching at the elementary, secondary or university levels, and in all the expressions of catechesis."

Sound catechesis is a big topic at the synod because the New Evangelization requires teaching the faith well to those who do not know it - children, for example - as well as presenting it anew to fallen-away Catholics who suffered inadequate or theologically unsound catechesis.

To this end, Cardinal Wuerl said the synod has been considering how the Church can devise "a program of catechesis which is both basic, complete and inspiring in the search for truth, goodness and beauty."

On Oct. 19, the synod fathers will begin working in smaller groups focused on different aspects of the New Evangelization - from using new media to priestly formation - with the aim of giving Pope Benedict XVI specific proposals at synod's end.

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Founded in continued response to Pope John Paul II�s call for a �New Evangelization,� the Catholic News Agency (CNA) has been, since 2004, one of the fastest growing Catholic news providers to the English speaking world.

Keywords: Synod, New Evangelization, Year of Faith, New Pentecost, Matthew A. Rarey

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1 - 6 of 6 Comments

John Hunt
7 months ago
As a kind of aside I offer that the Synod "in Latin" may be offering the world which is multi-lingual an opportunity to translate a lot of stuff. The biggest problem of the Vatican, Universal Church, a Synod, an Ecumenical Council et. al. is translating.

People everywhere seldom are aware that when someone says the" Catholic Church says" that you have to filter in down or up into hundreds of languages. It therefore takes a lot of time to simply get the message.
Terri K
7 months ago
"To this end, Cardinal Wuerl said the synod has been considering how the Church can devise 'a program of catechesis which is both basic, complete and inspiring in the search for truth, goodness and beauty.'"

If I learned anything from teaching high school catechism classes at church, it's that if the kids don't get it at home, they don't get it. The Church needs to encourage catechesis in the family first. Homeschooling deserves a place of distinction.
Tom McGuire
7 months ago
From my reading of the Synod on New Evangelization great emphasis is being placed on imitating the humility of Christ and living out the evangelical values of the poor. Msgr. Gervas Rozeario, Bishop of Rajshahi, Bangladesh, called the "Church leaders" to "let themselves be evangelized by the evangelical values of the poor." "Evangelical poverty", said the bishop, is "something that the Church is called to live and preach, especially in Asia. As true believers in Jesus Christ, we must learn not only to renounce material goods, but also to appreciate the simplicity and humility of the poor, their happiness in the little they have and their concern for others". "The leaders of the Church - he added - must open their hearts to let themselves be evangelized by the evangelical values of the poor. Such a culture of solidarity with the poor will certainly show us ways to address environmental justice and hunger in the world."

Bishop Gerveas Rozeario speaks of Asia, but his words reflect a need in the world Church, yes even in the United States. The reflection on the life of early Christians calls us to a greater sense of self sacrifice than what we, here in the United States, are used to.

Yes the appeal of Cardinal Wuerl to the intellectual side of evangelization is important, but conversion takes place when we give witness by the way we live to the values of the Gospel. Jesus emphasis on humble service, washing the feet of his disciples, feeding the hungry, and healing the sick represent what appeals to the heart of the seekers in the world.
Stephen Volk
7 months ago
CATHOLIC BALLET FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION! All New Evangelization Catholic leaders are requested to write us at Requests!TheDancerBallet.com and to visit TheDancerBallet.com to help activate this Catholic creativity for the New Evangelization. Please forward to those who may have an interest....
Daniel
7 months ago
I would like to say regarding a new Pentecost that we have been blessed with 45-years of the Renewal. http://www.nsc-chariscenter.org/

I can say that the Renewal has been a great blessing in my life and it is for real. The Holy Spirit is alive and well and is acting in amazing ways among God's people. A reading of 1 Cor 12 becomes so much more alive to me as having actually experienced praise tongues, hearing prophecies, words of knowledge.
michael
7 months ago
Bl. John XXIII called for a new Pentecost when he began the council on October 11, 1962. We're still waiting. The problem is that good Pope John failed to read the signs of the times. The council suffered from an unwarranted enthusiasm and a misplaced optimism. Pentecost is a one time event but it is a mystery that continues within Holy Church for the Holy Ghost is always being poured forth. Reading the signs of the times correctly, we are in and headed for a new dark ages with the membership of the Church splitting a part more and more...call it the Balkanization of the Church or another tower of Babel experience. These dark times call for a clinging to Catholic Tradition and finding a place of refuge gathered around fellow Catholics who actually believe the Apostolic Faith.

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