What is evangelisation about?
Through our Baptism, all of us - clergy, religious and Lay members of the Church - are commissioned to be part of an evangelising community, proclaiming the love of Jesus for all.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Evangelisation is the way the Church spreads the gospel. It is characterised by the love of Jesus, encounter with the living Jesus and formation as a disciple for mission.
There are three tenets of evangelisation:
ENCOUNTER: At the heart of Christian life is an encounter with the living Jesus, an invitation to be in relationship with him, to participate in the Church and carry his love into the world. This relationship is sustained by the Holy Spirit through the intimacy of the Eucharist, sacraments, scripture, prayer and mercy.
DISCIPLESHIP: Through Baptism, we are called to be missionary disciples, called to listen to God’s Word and the impulse of the Holy Spirit, responding to a deeply intimate invitation to follow Jesus to live in love as people who are committed to service and witness.
MISSION: The whole Church is called to evangelise according to the vocation and role each of us have in daily life. Bishops, priests, deacons, religious, single, young and married lay members are sought to carry the Gospel into the world, seeking to transforming it through witness, word, action, holiness and charity. We all share in this co-responsibility for the Church mission
THE CALL TO EVANGELISATION IN THE MILITARY - WHERE FAITH AND DUTY UNITE
“Those who devote themselves to the military service of their country should regard themselves as the agents of security and freedoms of peoples. As long as they fulfil this role properly, they are making a genuine contribution to the establishment of peace”
(Gaudium et Spes – Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 7 December 1965, Section 79.)
The call to serve in the military as baptised persons is a vocation within a vocation. This service offers members, particularly imbued with the love of Jesus and his mission, the opportunity to be leaven in the midst. Not only in the witness of unselfish service, commitment and loyalty but in their relationship with their mates and comrades in arms.
The vocational mix of faith and duty provide very real opportunities for evangelisation, not in preaching and proselytising but in strong witness, action and conversation about faith when appropriate.
Evangelisation through action
“Many soldiers return from war, operations or peace keeping missions with inner wounds. War can leave an indelible mark on them. War in fact, always leaves an indelible mark. These uniformed members and their families require special pastoral attention and the presence of those who best understand. This is a vital vocation undertaken by members of the Church in uniform. The role of both the chaplain and serving members is to accompany them and support them in their journey, providing fraternal and comforting presence.”
(Pope Francis, address to military personnel, 26 October 2015).
Witness to the beauty of God’s love
Pope Francis said that “the Church does not proselytize, but rather she grows by attraction to the beauty of God’s love. Evangelisation does not seek to convince others but to bear witness each day to the love by which he watches over us and lifts us back up.” 11 Jan 2023.
Ways of evangelising
- By the way we witness to God’s love practically in both personal and military life.
- Accepting that we are wounded but have experienced firsthand the healing presence in Jesus. His mercy propels us in action of witnessing to his presence.
- Generosity of spirit towards others through service.
- By the example and support we offer to one another.
- Taking the opportunity, when appropriate, to speak about faith and its meaning in the workplace and other military settings.
- Conversation about faith and life within our family and friendship cycles.
- Parent witnessing to and passing on the faith to their children by example, through family prayer, Mass attendance and witness.
- Taking the opportunities whilst on exercise and on deployments to attend Mass in the field, gaining nourishment for service and witnessing to where faith and service meet.
- The way we converse with one another, the language we use, the charity we speak. Our words are often potent bearing a significant message.
- Standing up for what is right and just within our workplaces and social settings.
- Offering to pray and intercede in prayer for those in need of comfort and support.
- Authentically practising our faith through attendance at the Eucharist and sacraments.
- Being active members of the Church community, seeking to be agents of healing within the sexual abuse scandal and other forms requiring reconciliation.
- Through regular personal prayer and use of the Scriptures for faith nourishment and actively seeking growth in holiness of life.
- As members of the Church community, we are not only strengthened in faith but through witness, we strengthen one another or mission, we journey together in a shared faith.
- Involvement in local parish life, supporting military chapel life and through social action.
- Through involvement within Christian and humanitarian action groups.
The proclamation of Jesus Christ, the only hope and peace for humanity
“The work of evangelisation in the world of the military, calls for a growing assumption of responsibility, so that, in this sphere, there may always be a new, convinced and joyful proclamation of Jesus Christ the only hope of life and peace for humanity.”
(Pope Benedict XV1, address to Military Bishops, 22 October 2011)
Catholics are being urged to “preach all the Gospel, to all the world, all the time” and to consider encounter, discipleship and mission from their Catholic foundations in a new document from the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry.
The bishops of Australia have established a National Centre for Evangelisation.
Think of evangelism in light of life's journeys. Please visit the links below to find out more about what you can do in sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others. It is showing and telling — with both word and deed — who Jesus is and how it's possible to have a relationship with Him.
Evangelisation Document
Examples to guide us: 
- Let us consider John 4:5-30 – the Samaritan woman at the well.
Let us also consider concurrently Luke 24:13-35 – the Emmaus disciples.
Taking the path to evangelising your life
'A New Commandant I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.'
John 12.34
Related topics
A process to deepen. our relationship with God.
Synodality denotes the particular style that qualifies the life and mission of the Church.
Support end of life
Jubilee Year 2025
This celebration occurs every 25 years. The theme for the 2025 year will be “Pilgrims of Hope”.