Te Kupenga — Catholic Theological College lecturer Brendan Bergin said that Catholics need to embed our evangelising initiatives within a process of transformation, both our own and that of others.
In an online seminar titled “Transformation and Our Missionary Impulse”, hosted by theologian Dr Rocio Figueroa on behalf of the theological college, Mr Bergin based his talk on paragraph 27 of Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium.
In that paragraph, Pope Francis stated, “I dream of a ‘missionary option’ that is a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures, can be suitably channelled for the evangelisation of today’s world, rather than her (the Church’s) self-preservation”.
Mr Bergin said that he was drawn to these words because of the way they put evangelisation in the context of transformation.
“Pope Francis seems to be suggesting that there is, in fact, a precursor for evangelising practices that announce good news . . . that evangelisation is not some romantic or nostalgic exercise that’s aimed at self-preservation or preserving the Church and her structure, but as a requirement for us to transform pastoral realities and the needs of those on the margins,” Mr Bergin said.
Mr Bergin said that a recent statement made by Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge also challenged him (Mr Bergin) to think about his (Mr Bergin’s) contribution to the Church.
“Archbishop Coleridge . . . mentioned this challenge recently, that the Church is hovering between life and death. That’s quite a confronting statement,” he said.
“That challenges us to think about the health of the Church, and how I am contributing in terms of my ministry, my work toward that evangelising imperative.”
Mr Bergin also drew on the thoughts of different Catholic theologians to look at different synodal approaches to evangelisation.
He said that Fr Jos Moons, SJ, a systematic theology professor at Tilburg University, explained synodality in three simple points.
“[The points] really crystallise for me our missionary impulse: we are church together, we are on the way, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jos reminds us of the need for collaboration, a focus beyond ourselves linked to a common purpose in the hands of the Holy Spirit,” he said.
Fr Moons also referred to three attitudes that are important, he said. These attitudes are a spiritual attitude of boldness, an attitude of intentional listening, and discernment.
“He refers to an attitude of listening, but very intentional listening, because it’s clear that we’re able to arrange meetings and say that we’re listening to people, but are we genuinely curious about what other people think, or are we more reactive?,” Mr Bergin continued.
He went on to call the participants to go back to the “idea of transformation, which is really at the heart of how we channel our ideas and our resources to proclaim God’s Word”.
“I think that’s what we’re seeking in this synodal process as well. It takes us deeper and deeper into our personal depths,” he said.
“If we are open to conversion, it aligns us with the Paschal mystery of Christ, the death and Resurrection of Jesus. We have to face our own limitations, our personal sinfulness. Yes, I am sinful, but I am loved by God. It also involves a letting go of what I am not able to do, a surrender, in effect being able to surrender.”
Mr Bergin said that there is hope and excitement, as well as fear, associated with change when surrendering to God to be transformed.
“Joan Chittister, a religious sister from the (United) States, described conversion as a surrender when we realise that it’s time to become something new,” he said. “But surrender is not about giving up. It’s all about moving on.”
40,000,000 plus pilgrims to
Medjugorje, has to be a LARGE
following in the Catholic
church.
This is a part of church
which is VERY MUCH ALIVE.
What ELSE is there in a
Catholic church which is ALSO
very much alive?