A New Project for Reaching Inactive Catholics

               www.christmascarolfestival.com

                 The Christmas Carol Festival project assumes the following goals:

1. Invites people to faith and deeper conversion through the singing of
Christ-centered carols

2. Promotes faith sharing in one-to-one, small group and large group
settings

3. Promotes faith sharing and intercessory prayer as normal parts of
parish life and as the foundation for all other forms of evangelization

4. Uses a seasonal approach that can supplement what is happening in
groups and ministries

5. Reaches out to unchurched, and marginal or inactive Catholics
(This the majority of people who identify themselves as Catholic)

6. Implements the goals of Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan
& Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States
(paraphrased below) http://www.usccb.org/evangelization/goandmake/index.shtml

Goal I:    To encourage an active faith & faith sharing among Catholics.

Goal II:   To invite believers and nonbelievers to join us in a personal & communal love for Jesus Christ,
    Savior and Lord

Goal III:  To foster the transformation of our culture, and all of its institution, in the light of the Good
     News, especially by promoting the dignity of the person, the common good & stewardship of
                           the creation.

              The Christmas Carol Festival itself is part of an evangelization project
with three phases over six months


Preparation      Proclamation     Preservation

  Training for ministriesChristmas Carol Festival      Follow-up faith sharing event
  Use of a steering committee     Gospel message thru carols (Jesus in January event)
  Parish-wide prayer   Faith sharing witnessesE-mail & postal contacts
  One-to-one invitations       Invitate to follow-up & parish Ongoing sharing groups
  Evangelization workshop   Act out the Christmas story         Catholic outreach programs                                                                                     
ADDITIONAL documents available on companion CD

    For parish leaders' experiences carol festivals  

For training exercise one or for witness training
Christmas Carol Festival                                                        The Tree Story
Join the angels in song
Sample invitation. For a larger file with blank spaces for your information
contact us by email.
                                                        an endorsement

"The work that John and Therese Boucher are doing is essential to meeting people where they are for Christ.  Christmas Carols are a common link between the believer and the seeker.  What better way to build community than to sing together and testify to the greatness of God.  I know we will see much fruit for God's kingdom with this labor."
                                                                           Bob Talmage-Co-Director, One Way UP Ministries



               More Advent and Christmas suggestions from the Bishop of Tyler, Texas