What is evangelization?
What do you think of when you hear the word “evangelization”? Missionaries in far-off countries? A preacher standing on the corner of a busy street? Perhaps the famous proverb often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times; use words when necessary.”
What do you think of when you hear the word “evangelization”? Missionaries in far-off countries? A preacher standing on the corner of a busy street? Perhaps the famous proverb often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times; use words when necessary.”
The word reminds me of all the ways in which others have evangelized me over the years: my mother inviting me to a Lutheran church with her when I was in middle school; hearing that God has forgiven me for all of my sins and realizing that I had needed to know that for a long time; being exposed to Catholicism through my sister and taking a class on the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas in college; sitting in the beautiful Basilica of St. Adalbert in Grand Rapids, beginning to experience what J.R.R. Tolkien describes as “the never-ceasing silent appeal of Tabernacle, and the sense of starving hunger” for the Lord.
“Evangelization” describes my previous work as a high school theology teacher as well. And it applies to the bedtime conversations about death, forgiveness, and a million other topics that my children bring up when they are supposed to be going to sleep. It includes answering questions that my non-Catholic friends and family members have about what the Church believes and practices. And it is embodied in the cross and the saint medallions that I wear around my neck every day.
All of these proclaim, in some way, the Good News about Jesus Christ, which is the core meaning of evangelization. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has noted that “every activity of the Church has an essential evangelizing dimension.” What is true of the whole Church is true of us as individual Catholics: if we do things right, everything we do and say will proclaim the Gospel.
As I step into my new role as the Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Lansing, my goal is to help all of us — including me — become more intentional about how we evangelize in everyday life. Having been born, raised, and first evangelized in Lansing myself, I am tremendously blessed and grateful to start serving the Church in this way. Please pray for my ministry as I will be praying for all of you.
Casey Vandenberg is the new Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Lansing. For the past 9 years, Casey has been a Theology teacher at Lansing Catholic High School. An adult convert to Catholicism, Casey is a married father of 3 and is a parishioner at Saint Mary Cathedral in Lansing.