Introduction 1. From the Church’s earliest days, followers of Jesus Christ have not ceased to go forth to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). For the first disciples, just as for us Christians today, this mission arises from an uncontainable joy and passion that comes from encountering the Lord. As the two disciples who had met the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus eloquently expressed, “Were not our hearts burning within us?” (Luke 24:32).
Throughout history, Christians with hearts ablaze have brought the Good News of Jesus Christ to peoples across the world. This is true also here in Canada, as this fire spread by the living witness of fervent believers like Saints François de Laval, Jean de Brébeuf, Marie of the Incarnation, and Kateri Tekakwitha.
2. Although nearly two thirds of Canadians continue to identify themselves as Christians, the active practice of the faith has been declining in recent years.
1 Today, almost one quarter of Canadians indicate that they have no religious affiliation whatsoever.
2 In his second letter to Timothy, Saint Paul urges him to “proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable” (2 Tim. 4:2). In viewing the social and religious landscape of Canada today – in particular, among young people – it would be difficult to describe the situation as “favourable” to evangelization. The decrease in religious practice has been particularly acute among the younger generations of Canadians. Our present situation corresponds to one described by Saint John Paul II over 30 years ago when he spoke of a situation “in countries with ancient Christian roots, and occasionally in the younger Churches as well”: entire groups of the baptized have lost a living sense of the faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church, and live a life far removed from Christ and his Gospel. In this case what is needed is a “new evangelization” or a “re-evangelization.”
3. Yet, there is reason for hope. Evangelization of the young is still happening today in Canada. As Pope Francis points out, “The rise and growth of associations and movements mostly made up of young people can be seen as the work of the Holy Spirit, who blazes new trails to meet their expectations and their search for a deep spirituality and a more real sense of belonging.”
4 To obtain an updated, practical, and realistic perspective on the evangelization of young people in Canada today, the Doctrine Commission of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops received information from several of these movements.
5 Specifically, we asked them about two areas: (1) What message do you proclaim? (2) How do you proclaim it, i.e., what methods have you found to be effective?
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