20-1-2001

We have come to the end of the Jubilee Year and many of you made valiant efforts to explain it, celebrate it and make it a memorable experience for our people. There were varying degrees of success I realize but I want to thank you for all you did and for the co-operation and participation of so many in the Standard Bank Arena event which was a wonderful moment in spite of the glitches.

So, where do we go from here?

The Holy Father appealed for a New Evangelization and the Jubilee Year was part of that. But the work of evangelization goes on. This new millennium calls for a new energy, a new thrust for evangelization. I remind you of the words of Evangelii Nunciandi, 'the Church exists to evangelize' and as the present Holy Father says 'For the disciple of Christ to evangelize is an obligation of love'.

Looking at our present situation I would have to say, as do many others, that we are more into Church maintenance than into church expansion or outreach or simply direct evangelization. I can you say 'but we have no time'. True but we are in the period of collaborative ministry whereby the laity should have a deeper and more personal involvement in the work of evangelization. They have to be empowered for their share in the mission of Jesus. And many want to.

It is interesting to note that last November the Holy Father presided over a Jubilee Congress in Rome on the Lay Apostolate. 600 delegates from round the world attended and their theme was "THE LAITY WILL BE THE MISSIONARIES OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM". It reinforces the need to help laity to do what the Church expects of them. Remember that one of the roles of the priests is to be a catalyst, to empower people and create for them opportunities for the exercise of their God-given gifts, and not to be an obstacle.

For this reason I encourage as many of you as possible to attend the Alpha Conference which will take place in the Rosebank Union Church on Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week (April 9/10). You may recall I opened such a Conference in Cathedral Place some years ago. This particular programme is spreading rapidly within the Catholic Church worldwide. (I take the liberty of enclosing a copy of an article from the Christmas issue of INTERCOM). I would like you to have first hand experience of the possibilities of this programme and see it in relation to the laity and as an instrument for them to use for evangelization. There should be no difficulty with inculturation as it has been used in practically every county round the globe. Bring with you those in the parish who have a heart and a calling for this work. We know from experience that if the priest in the parish is not supportive the flame of the Spirit gets crushed.

This initiative of course is not the only programme which can be used but it is at this time one which is well developed and easily available.

Yours fraternally

Bishop. R Orsmond
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To download the Alpha Conference Brochure, please visit:- http://www.catholic-jhb.org.za/Ministries/alpha.htm