One of the most popular aspects of my book The New Evangelization and You: Be Not Afraid were the many sidebars about New Evangelizers in Action, stories of everyday Catholics doing their best to know, live, and share their faith. The original plan was for an entire bonus chapter of New Evangelizers, but unfortunately the page count exceeded the plan for the printers.
So for the next few weeks, I’m going to share this great bonus content from The New Evangelization and You: Be Not Afraid. Enjoy!
New Evangelizers in Action: Fr. Kyle Sanders
“The biggest challenge I find in knowing my faith is in being able to clearly articulate that which I believe to be true, even after a master’s degree in theology,” says Fr. Kyle Sanders, a 27-year-old priest in Archdiocese of New Orleans. “Clarity aids in communication. When I can speak clearly on what the faith is, then there is less obfuscation within conversations about the faith.”
As a young priest active in his parish as well as online, the need to speak clearly is pivotal.
“Currently I write a blog about books and reading in an attempt to connect the Word of Truth with the words people read in books,” says Fr. Kyle. “Books have such a wealth of knowledge and hidden revelation of the action of God that they are great source to allude to the eternal Truth, Jesus Christ.”
That proclamation of Jesus Christ, Father understands, is the first part of New Evangelization. “One of my personal goals as associate pastor is to initiate a ministry of the new evangelization,” he says. “I plan on starting this by getting our parish website fully redesigned.”
While a website is but one way to engage others in the New Evangelization, Father Kyle knows there are many opportunities awaiting those who long for a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
“There is a stirring in the hearts of many young adults with the fire of the Holy Spirit and a zealous drive to proclaim the gospel to their peers and to their parents,” Father says. “This needs to be tapped more and directed. They want to go out and just don’t know how or where to go.”
You can read Fr. Kyle’s blog at reverencedreading.com.
Some years ago Toby Keith recorded I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then. But igronance is not bliss, in spite of what they’ say. If I could give myself some advice from the past if would go all the way back to 1970 and I would tell myself never, ever leave Holy Mother Church. Thanks to God, He never forgot me, although I did my best to forget Him for a very long time.Pass the carrot cake. Oh, come on! Just a little taste?Cheers from Shanghai (Yep, your podcast travels a lot!)