Primary Documents on Evangelization since Vatican II
Joy of the Gospel, Evangelii Gaudium – Pope Francis
Mission of the Redeemer, Redemptoris Missio – St. John Paul II
On Catechesis in our Time, Catechesis Tradendae – St. John Paul II
On Evangelization in the Modern World, Evangelii Nuntiandi – St. Paul VI
On the Mission Activity of the Church, Ad Gentes – St. John XXIII
From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Living as Missionary Disciples – In Part 1, the elements of encounter, accompany, community and send, teach us each how to live as a missionary disciple. Part II assists parish leaders with six dimensions (prayer, fruitfulness, inspiration, ministries, engagement, and stewardship) to consider during a pastoral planning process.
Go and Make Disciples – Presents 3 goals for evangelization:
Goal 1: To bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others.
Goal 2: To invite all people in the United States, whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith
Goal 3: To foster gospel values in our society, promoting the dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good of our society, so that our nation may continue to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ.
Disciples Called to Witness – A document that assists parish leaders in creating programs and process for a new evangelization. As called for by St. John Paul II, who described in 1983, addressing the Catholic bishops of Latin America in Haiti: “The commemoration of the half millennium of evangelization will gain its full energy if it is a commitment, not to re-evangelize but to a New Evangelization, new in its ardor, methods and expression.” This marked the first time St. John Paul II used the term “New Evangelization” as the theological concept of proclaiming the Gospel anew to those already evangelized. He called for new “ardor, methods and expression” of evangelization, ones that engage the present-day culture and modern man.