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Comunidades de Evangelización
“Dar Con Amor, Recibir con Humildad”
A little bit of history
The early Christians met in homes to share the Gospel and “the breaking of the bread.” They were inclusive communities whose members, after the example of Christ, shared their resources and reached out to others in service. They were people of faith who welcomed others seeking to find a spiritual home. As these communities grew in acceptance and in the number of believers, larger gatherings became the norm. The Church as we know it today emerged from these early home-based communities. The relationship of parish, diocese, and universal Church, the Evangelization Community enables its members to participate on a personal level in the very manner that the earliest Christians experienced.
What is an Evangelization Community?
An Evangelization Community is a parish-based gathering of small groups of 8-10 adults in each group; and it is quite easy for anyone to establish a “comfort zone”. The groups gather regularly in one another’s homes to connect and share their faith and personal experience of God’s works with everyday living. They reflect on Catechism lessons, scripture and challenge each other to live the gospel and love in their daily lives. We welcome you to join. There is an Evangelization Community that is a perfect fit for you!
Quotes by Pope John Paul II
“Make yourselves builders of communities in which, after the example of the first community, the word of God lives and acts.”
“The parish is not principally a structure, a territory, a building. The parish is first of all a community of the faithful... that is the tack of the parish today; to be a community, to rediscover itself as community... Make yourselves builders of communities in which, after the example of the first community, the Word lives and acts."
Why Do the Evangelization Communities Exist?
Evangelization Communities gather together to socialize with others for mutual support during one’s life journey. To share, listen, support and encourage; to find peace and prayer in the spirit of Christ’s teachings and they grow to know, honor and celebrate one another.
The Communities exist in order to learn to take a wiser look at our Catholic faith and teachings. There is on-going formation in Scripture and Tradition that enables tangible connections between faith and life. While sharing, each person reflects on the message and is encouraged to share how a word, a phrase, or idea speaks to them in a personal way today.
The Community members are able to experience God in faith sharing and reflect on our lives by being open to talk freely in the light of the Gospel about God and about life experiences, and to reflect on these in the light of friendship and service. One of our members said, “God becomes more real for me when I share my faith with another because sharing helps me notice God and take the Lord seriously”. Somehow God has to be found in our everyday life in ordinary Catholics – working people, office professionals, young adults, and seniors. “Praying helps us to recognize the centrality of God's active presence in each member's life and in the life of the community”, says another member.
While in action, we are working for compassion, justice, reconciliation and peace within the group, in the family, in the workplace and in the neighborhood. Members are involved in numerous parish ministries as well as outreach projects born out of faith sharing. We also have a prayer line as a ministry within the community.
What are the gifts one enjoys within the Prayer Community?
•Participating in a personal and supportive environment with a sense of belonging.
•Relationships are formed by having the opportunity to be listened to in a confidential, trusting and non-judgmental atmosphere
•Sharing your life and Faith experiences with others
•Deepening your own Faith
•Meeting and building relationships with people from St. Patrick’s Church
•Having your abilities and talents encouraged and appreciated
•Feeling supported during times of challenge and joy
Who Belongs to the Evangelization Communities?
The Evangelization Communities are diverse in membership with single and married, young, middle age and older people coming together to share faith and life. Family life is strengthened by membership and participation. The richness of diversity of age, gender, ethnicity and lifestyle present are reflected when the parish family gathers for Liturgy.
How Often Do Evangelization Communities Meet?
After an initial six-week introductory experience, a retreat and follow-up groups, members meet on the average of once weekly, usually in homes on an evening of their choice. Meeting times vary in respect to time of day and the day of the week.
Jesus believed that prayer works.
Jesus offered thanks.
Praying did not make Jesus passive.
Jesus sang some prayers.
Jesus prayed alone.
Jesus prayed before making important decisions.
Jesus prayed in community.
Jesus prayed for his disciples.
Jesus prayed before meals.
Jesus continues to pray for us.
How Do I Join St. Patrick’s Evangelization Community?
Once a year all parishioners are invited to participate in a retreat. Normally the retreat takes place in September. If you are interested in learning more about our Evangelization Communities, please call the parish office at (956) 722-6215.
How Does St. Patrick Church Support the Evangelization Community?
•Information and activities generated by the Evangelization Community are found at St. Patrick’s Office and members of the Prayer Communities. Please call one of our members at (956) 206-6411 and speak to Margarita Cantu about your interest in our Evangelization Community.
•Gatherings specifically designed for the Evangelization Community members. We meet once a month with all the groups for a “potluck” dinner to hear a teaching, therefore evangelizing one another
•We gather with our Spiritual Director, Father J. Olguin, on a quarterly basis for a Mini Retreat. He continues to guide us in the way of the community and towards God
•Prayer Community information in the parish bulletin, pulpit announcements on the parish website.
From the very foundation of our parish community, St. Patrick Church has maintained a tradition of gathering small groups of people for the purpose of sharing faith and life.
Evangelization Communities have evolved from the experience of when the neighborhoods of the early Christians gathered in small groups. Today we have been active since 1997. These Evangelization Communities help to transform the parish into a stronger community of faith. This vision is consistent with the New Testament Scriptures and the traditions of the early church. Within these communities of faith, individuals are able to experience the love, support and sense of community, which fosters the living of the Gospel in our contemporary society.
“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers . . . All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s needs.”
- Acts of the Apostles 2:42-44.
All members of St. Patrick Catholic Church have the opportunity and are encouraged to become active members of the Evangelization Communities. An Evangelization Community is a vital part of the greater parish community and provides encouragement to many Catholics to live out their call.
Call our office for more information at 956-722-6215.