treestory

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 ministries

Christmas 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 witnesses

E-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