A PROVEN FOUNDATION FOR FRUITFUL MINISTRY
CONGRESS X PLAN OF ACTION
Most Reverend John H. Ricard, S.S.J.
President of the Board of Trustees
(Article: Page 11 of 19)
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NBCC Special Report: A Proven Foundation For Fruitful Ministry ~ Congress X Plan of Action NBCC Special Report: A Report from the NBCC Commission on HIV and AIDS NBCC Special Report: Appreciative Inquiry: Impacting Black Catholic Communities NBCC Special Report: Blessings Received In Buffalo! NBCC Special Report: Crisis in Sudan: Ending the Violence NBCC Special Report: Pope Benedict XVI NBCC Special Report: Progress on First Year Goals of the Pastoral Plan of Action NBCC Special Report: Welcoming the G8 Commitments; Calling for Action

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CONTINUING OUR SOLIDARITY IN ACTION (2007-2012)
Goal #1
To encourage every parish to evaluate their efforts of evangelization for the purpose of creating an aggressive evangelization plan that includes all aspects/ ministries of parish life and a timeline to implement the plan.

Steps to Achieve Goal #1
#1: Provide educational forums to assist parishes in their understanding of evangelization, which includes leadership training and guidance on creating an evangelization plan.

#2: Organize a diocesan Black Catholic "Evangelization Camp Meeting" that provides tools to assist local parish efforts.

#3: Place this goal on Parish Council or Pastoral Council agendas so that parish leadership can discern how the parish should be structured to promote evangelization.

Goal #2
To encourage each national Black Catholic organization to design, promote and implement an evangelization initiative within their organization.

Steps to Achieve Goal #2
#1: Seek ways to engage the leadership and membership of national Black Catholic organizations in conversation about implementing an evangelization initiative.

#2: Encourage organizations to designate a committee to examine how the organization contributes to the evangelization mission of the Church and how its contribution can be strengthened.

#3: Place this goal on the agenda of national gatherings of these organizations.

SACRAMENTAL FOUNDATIONS THAT HELP OUR EFFORTS TO BEAR FRUIT
Sacrament of Baptism ~ Preparing adult catechumens and candidates for full communion with the Catholic Church helps them to appreciate how sacramental grace promotes union with Christ. Preparing families for the baptism of infants is a moment for evangelization. We proclaim the good news that God has not abandoned the crown of His creation to the power of sin and death. In a world created good by God's choice, but which is wounded by the sinful choices of human beings, we claim our children for Christ! The parish serves as partner with parents and godparents in raising the children in the practice of the Faith.

Sacrament of Confirmation ~ The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given for the building up of the Church. They enable believers to give witness to their Faith in word and action. Leadership training is important to guide the disciples in using their gifts and talents to build the Church and further her mission. The anointing of the Holy Spirit can help parishioners to understand the teaching of the Church, since the Holy Spirit leads us to all truth, as communicated through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

Sacrament of the Eucharist ~ The central act of worship within a parish is the celebration of Holy Mass. The importance of well-planned liturgies whose primary aim is to glorify God will edify believers and evangelize those who are apathetic about their Faith or alienated from the practice of the Faith.

Sacrament of Matrimony ~ Preparing engaged couples for marriage is another moment for evangelization. Sometimes this may be a time in which couples will become active disciples within the parish, if they are not already. The witness of the marriage covenant should proclaim to the community that this relationship strives to model how God loves humanity.

Sacrament of Holy Orders ~ Parishes are crucial in helping young people to understand what God is calling them to do in their lives. In what ways are parishioners encouraging men who may be called to the priesthood or permanent diaconate through the Sacrament of Holy Orders? Do we provide the support parishioners need to respond to a call to consecrated religious life or lay ecclesial ministry?

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