Evangelizing Wisdoms Born of Tragedy on 9/11/01

Posted on August 6, 2026 by the Bouchers
On the morning of September 11, 2001, I stood at an office window in Plainfield, NJ, with tears in my eyes and fear in my heart. From there, I could see the World Trade Center Towers burning, exploding, collapsing. Eight members of our office staff were on planes departing from NYC. Were any of them on the plane that struck the Twin Towers? We did not know. Was this a single terrorist attack or an act of war? How would this horror touch our families and loved ones? It was a terrible, overwhelming day for us, for our whole country, and a shock to the world. For weeks, the air around the NYC area had a smoldering heaviness. It stank of a caustic mix of jet fuel, vaporized buildings, and even incinerated human flesh.
     This tragedy had a massive effect on the hearts and souls of many. Some people turned to God in prayer. Crowds appeared in parks and intersections, praying the “Our Father,” and singing songs like “Amazing Grace.” Catholic Churches in the Northeast corridor of the USA were packed with people, alone and in groups. My wife was drawn into intercessory prayer: during the attack, for the people trying to escape and for our son-in-law who was in the area; later, for those suffering from PTSD.
     As a speaker, I received a staggering number of requests for a workshop entitled, “Walking with Jesus in Great Suffering.” As someone in ministry, I met with dozens of people drowning in grief. By the Holy Spirit’s power, I was able to share ways that the Gospel message brings meaning, especially as we join ourselves to the grief, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Seven lessons about Catholic evangelization emerged:
     1) Suffering brings us face-to-face with the truth that our lives are not ultimately under our control. It is an illusion for us to imagine that we are the masters of our own reality. God is God, and we are not.
     2) When we suffer, we have the opportunity to grow in compassion and in empathy for those who are weighed down by excruciating pain. Our hard hearts can be pried open by the Holy Spirit. Jesus can heal us, giving us hearts of flesh and gentleness replacing our hearts of stone.
     3) Suffering is an opportunity to turn to God for help, a prompting to deeper intercessory prayer for those who are suffering. A kind of prayer that goes beyond words and into tears, groans, music, or charismatic tongues.
     4) Our prayerful response can be an inspiration to others in agony. A study titled “Faith Development in the Adult Life Cycle” concludes that when someone suffering is supported by friends who believe in God, they move closer to God. If their friends are unbelievers, they tend to move away from God.
     5) Suffering can open our ears to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who from the Cross joins us in our suffering, as the Great Evangelizer.
     6) Offering to pray aloud with someone who is suffering is an act of evangelization. The Holy Spirit can help us put their primary needs and emotions into God’s presence.
     7) Jesus invites us to offer our presence and love to the suffering. It is an act of evangelizing mercy. Jesus can empower us to embrace what Pope Francis calls the “art of accompaniment.” “Someone good at such accompaniment does not give in to frustrations or fears. He or she invites others to let themselves be healed, to take up their mat, embrace the cross, leave all behind and go forth ever anew to proclaim the Gospel” (The Joy of the Gospel, 172)
     The tragedy of 9/11 rocked the world, but in many ways, it was a dress rehearsal for future, worldwide tragedies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions have been traumatized by the more than 1.2 million deaths in the USA alone. Every tragedy and crisis is an opportunity to reach out, walk with, and evangelize those around us who need Jesus Christ, the healer of all suffering hearts, the Savior sent by our Father-God.
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Are Your Departed Loved Ones Angels?

Posted on March 9, 2025 by the Bouchers

There are many sayings that acknowledge a person’s goodness:  One is “You’re an angel.” Another is, “You are a breath of fresh air.” And, from earlier years we have, “You are a lifesaver.” or “You are a peach.”

Some of us also describe deceased friends and family by saying, “Heaven has gained a new angel today.” But is this really true? Do we really think that our loved one has turned into a fat, little, winged cherubim? Or has become an invisible messenger like Gabriel, who visited the Blessed Virgin Mary? No. People are people and angels are angels. These are two different kinds of beings. So, it is important to let go of any romanticized idea that they are angels. And it is even more important. to explore the Christ-centered connections we do have.

First, the belief that family members have become angels, is only a shadow of our desire to be fully united with God, and also reunited with loved ones in heaven. Our hope rests with a merciful God who will forgive and ultimately grant us a place in heaven, alongside loved ones, and in the company of all the angels, singing God’s praises. This connection that unites heaven and earth is called the communion of saints and encompasses all the faithful in heaven and on earth, throughout all time. For example, when John needed more work, within twenty-four hours of his father’s death, he received four invitations to speak, and the consolation that his father still loves him. Also, when our youngest had been refused much needed help in school, she was granted assistance at an appeals meeting on the feast of St. Francis Cabrini, a family friend.

Second, helping those in need, is what good and holy people can do in heaven, as St Therese of Lisieux promised. So, we can expect prayerful help from those who have loved us. They do not stop caring about our needs. But what does their caring love look like? It means embracing the shared call to intercessory prayer. We pray for them and they pray for us. (For more read: People Don’t Become Angels When They Die. By Jim McDermott, (America Magazine. June 07, 2022. )

Third, it is in keeping with our faith to believe that our loved ones can and do help us, even as we all await the resurrection of our bodies. Every time we pray to an “official” Saint, for example, we hope for a newness of life that encompasses body and soul. This is why the process of canonizing a Saint requires evidence of a saint’s miraculous intercession for a particular person, who has been made whole in some way.

Finally, pray with confidence to your family saint with a little “s.” –Your deceased grandparent, spouse, or friend. This person may not have a big “Saint” attached to his or her name, but we can hope that they are interceding for us, through the mercy of a forgiving God, and through the workings of the Holy Spirt. As the Apostles Creed proclaims, “I believe in the Holy Spirit… the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting”. You might also end your interceding to this saint, with a prayer to Jesus, since he is the focus of our hope on earth and the eternal light of heaven.

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How Can I Pray Without Fear or Cursing?

Posted on February 10, 2025 by the Bouchers

Do you pray for the difficult people and situations in your life? Do you complain? Do you cry? Do you curse? Do you plead for God’s help? Remember, at the root of all your concerns and raw emotions is God’s invitations to prayer and to love. So, seek more fruitful forms of prayer, so you can move across the threshold of prayer and into the depths of God’s love and forgiveness for difficult people.

“Prayer is the holy water that by its flow makes the plants of our good desires grow green and flourish, that cleanses our souls of their imperfections.  St. John Vianney

Jesus, the Spirit, and Intercessory Prayer 

Hebrews 7 describes Jesus as praying, at the right hand of the Father, offering the sacrifice of prayer and praise. And Romans 8 reassures us that the Holy Spirit prays for us when we don’t know how. Remember. So, Jesus is already praying for you and beckoning you to be guided by the Holy Spirit in prayer, for even the most difficult people.

Surrender to the Gift of Intercessory Prayer

The truth behind intercessory prayer is that we can reach out to God who helps us overcome the obstacles to his love for us and for others. Yes. Even for those we think of as enemies. We might use Psalms, readings from daily Mass, a rosary, prayer card, or worship music. The list is endless but the decision is the same. We submit ourselves and others to God.

Answering God’s Invitation to Intercessory Prayer

First: choose a primary relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit. Approach Jesus as the most important person in your life. Resist ‘clock time’ and enter into the ‘fulness of time’. chose God as the source of all time, all goodness, all love and anticipate the presence of Jesus in our midst. Then we are enabled to say, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life… nor present things,* nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)

Second: Voice your difficulties, raw emotions and brokenness to God. But don’t stop there. Too often we get stuck with repeated and unfocused begging. And we conclude that God didn’t listen. Instead, we must imitate Jesus, “who though he was in the form of God… he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave. (Philippians 2:5-7). Simply lay all of your needs before God, then empty yourself of expectations and demands, no matter how overwhelming. Finally, surrender all to God.

Third: Pray for Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Seek the gifts needed during difficulties: forgiveness, discernment, wisdom, compassion… Basilia Schlink, the author of Repentance – The Joy-filled Life, and her congregation needed a small piece of property from a stubborn landowner. So, she instructed her sisters to ask God to show each one something she was holding onto, and then let go. For one it was her mother. For another — a pretty dress. For another – a desire to travel. After several days of this, the man appeared at the door with the deed for his land. Another example, might be the threatening actions of an unscrupulous leader. You might ask God to show you — your own greed, unkindness and meanness… Then your prayer becomes, “Lord, help us both to choose kindness and love.”

Edited excerpts from our book  Mending Broken Relationships, Building Strong Ones: Eight Ways to Love as Jesus Loves Us

 

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Marks of an Evangelizing Lifestyle

Posted on November 27, 2024 by the Bouchers

We can consider Jesus Christ as a prophet, because he proclaimed and acted out the prophetic Gospel message through healing, teaching, and sacrificing his life. In all of these ways, Jesus invites people to accept the love of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit. As we follow Jesus, we too are called to be prophetic, to proclaim the gospel in word, deed, and throughout our daily lives. Such a lifestyle is usually marked by these characteristics:

  1. Make no “big deal” about sharing your faith. The call to evangelize is meant to be a normal part of our every word, deed, or action, flowing from the ongoing action of the Holy Spirit within us.
  2. Respect the Spirit’s presence in others. God’s call to evangelize may vary widely from person to person, depending on our natural gifts, skills, and charisms of the Holy Spirit. So will the response of others will also vary when we share. Respect God’s presence in others (seen or unseen).
  3. Share about Jesus after appropriate testing. Our journey needs to be in line with the Gospel of Jesus, the Scriptures, the teaching of the Church, Holy Tradition (Saints, liturgy, prayer, morality, Catechism, Catholic social justice, etc.), and the exhortations of our pastoral leaders.
  4. If others join us in new depths of faith, welcome them into a “shared pilgrimage.” When others discover God’s calling through our evangelizing lifestyle, invite them on a shared journey, the Church’s pilgrimage, working toward serving others and doing God’s will in Jesus Christ.
  5. Move one step at a time, be patiently attentive for the next step. Most often the Holy Spirit only shows us the next step forward in our pilgrimage “Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.” (Ps. 27:14).
  6. Learn from other mature disciples about living this prophet call. Others who have heard the call to everyday evangelizing can guide us. A spiritual director, ministry mentor, small faith sharing group, and the communion of Saints down through the centuries can be models and teachers for us.
  7. Look ahead with hope and planning. When we fail to live as prophetic missionaries we need to pause. “To repent is not to look downward at my own shortcomings, but upwards at God’s love… it is to see not what I have failed to be, but what by the grace of Christ I might yet become.” (St. John Climacus).
  8. Keep ourselves open to God in the present. “If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient; but I only look at the present, I forget the past, and I take good care not to forestall the future.” (St. Therese of Lisieux, patroness of missionaries). Living a prophetic evangelizing lifestyle is meant to be grounded in prayer, so that this calling becomes like a musical score playing in the background of our spiritual lives.

 

 

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What Have You Done with Your Baptism?

Posted on October 23, 2024 by the Bouchers

In his world travels, Pope Saint John Paul II often asked Catholics, “What have you done with your Baptism?” This question has lingered in our lives ever since; along with a further question, “What have you done with the call and gifts of the Holy Spirit, given to us through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist?” The United States Bishops remind us, “Jesus Christ sends that same Spirit upon everyone who is baptized in his name. For we have all gone down into the water with Christ and have all been anointed as disciples to bring Good News. We have all received his Spirit. This is not a Spirit of timidity or fear, but a bold Spirit of life, truth, joy, and grace.” (Go and Make Disciples, 67)

A. Let’s begin with a little digging into the story of your own baptism.

  1. How old were you when you were baptized? Do you know your Baptismal date?
    or the church, city/town, state, and or country where you were baptized?
  2. What are three things you know, or have been told about your Baptismal day by your parents, Godparents, relatives, who were present? Therese’s godparents were Uncle Norman and cousin Lois Champagne. For John, they were his siblings, Norman and Shirley.
  3. Do you have keepsakes of your Baptism (i.e. Baptismal certificate, photos, gown, candle, jewelry, or gifts)? What do these keepsakes mean for you today?

For Therese, her Baptism was both a joyous occasion and a time to ask for God’s healing of a birth defect. And John remembers showing our grandson his white Baptismal gown, which we still have. Nolan’s eyes bugged out and he whispered, “That’s a dress!” Although we have had to do some hunting for Baptismal dates.

B. Pray about the Baptism of Jesus by St. John in Lk. 3:3-6 and 3:21-22. What would it be like to go back in time and enter into this event? Who would you be? What would you see, hear and feel? and

John [said], “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire…

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (NRSV)

C. What does  your Baptism mean today?  What does your encounter with Father, Son and Holy Spirit look like now? Is it growing or in need of resuscitation? Your answer can become the underpinnings of a witness about your spiritual journey no matter how bumpy. Parents might also look at your memories of the Baptism(s) of your children. What did the sacramental encounter mean to you? Then consider sharing your experience in an open, non-judgmental way.

For example, when our grandchild, Elizabeth, was baptized on the Feast of the Holy Cross, the priest lifted her chin and anointed her as he prayed, “Receive the sign of the Cross on your lips”. She responded with a smile and a full-bodied baby sound. When the moment is right, Therese hopes to share the possible meanings of this exchange, with our now adult Elizabeth. Perhaps it is a hint of her/our call to bring the Good News of Jesus into the world of our everyday lives.

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The Nuts and Bolts of Evangelizing Your Young Adult

Posted on September 17, 2024 by the Bouchers

Author, Sherry Weddell, has noted a common concern among older adult believers. She says, “I’ve had a number of conversations with the very serious disciple parents (Catholic and evangelical) of young adults and am seeing a pattern:

Many (not all) of their now grown children, who were very carefully raised, home-schooled, little or no television, active as leaders in youth groups, etc., are walking away from the Church and the faith, now that they are on their own as post-college, independent young adults. De-Churched.

Their parents are handling it as graciously and lovingly as they can, but all are wondering: Were my children just going along with the family norm? Did they ever really believe? Were they ever genuine disciples?” “Forming Intentional Disciples Forum,” Facebook, June 1, 2024).

As authors of a book addressed to these parents, we would add these observations, as well.

  1. Keep in mind that the world of your grown child is dramatically different, than when you were his or her age. Many support systems are gone, invisible, or have taken on a new form. For example, successful youth ministries are in the rearview mirror. And the parish church is not usually seen as viable place to get support as an adult… So, when your young person faces a new marriage, a new job, a death, a divorce or a long-distance move, who does your young adult reach out to (often instead of you)?
  2. And under a parent’s concern is the call to evangelize young adults! But it is equally important to reach out to those who encounter them on a regular basis: their extended families, work teams, peer groups, neighbors. Ask yourself, what parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, might be willing to accompany your young person into an adult spiritual life? Who might be their ‘godparent,’ or companion, as they seek the next step in a life-long journey of faith?

Here are two articles that offer beginning points:
“When Someone You Love Stops Going to Church”
https://www.catholicdigest.com/faith/spirituality/when-someone-you-love-stops-going-to-church/.
“Praying for Our Adult Sons and Daughters”
https://www.catholicdigest.com/family/relationships/praying-for-our-adult-sons-and-daughters/

Here are two books: Praying for Our Adult Sons and Daughters: Placing Them in the Heart to God. And a second small group guide available on Amazon.

Mending Broken Relationships, Building Strong Ones: Eight Ways to Love as Jesus Loves Us. This book acknowledges relationship problems in some families that bring pain, hurt, fear, and rejection. It also guides the reader into becoming more like Jesus through respect, gratitude, patience, being present, speaking truth with compassion, and forgiveness.

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Behind the Cabrini Film

Posted on June 25, 2024 by the Bouchers

Therese enjoyed the recent film about St. Francis Cabrini, who has been a life-long friend, a remarkable healer and a companion through Cabrini’s diaries. Therese has also been inspired during dozens of pilgrimages to Cabrini’s shrine in New York City. Here are some of Therese’s favorite stories, that provide an essential background for a budding relationship with this Saint.

For example, the story of Mother Cabrini’s overwhelming fear of water (which was hinted at through underwater scenes). This began with a near drowning at the age of seven, which left Cabrini with a severe and persistent dread of water. When she realized her call to be a traveling missionary, St. Frances took her fears before God in prayer. Jesus responded with a promise, “I (will) protect and guide you with my hands from one sea to the other.”  So, she put her faith in God during twenty-three missionary ocean voyages. During one such crossing Mother Cabrini was even given the nickname, “sea-lion” by passengers who noticed her immunity to most bouts of seasickness and her practice of sitting on the deck to pray and to add to her diary, “written between one wave and another.”

God’s protection In 1912 St. Frances Cabrini, had a ticket for an ocean voyage from Europe to New York, but because of administrative problems at Columbus Hospital in New York City, she canceled her trip and took another ship a month earlier. The ship she would have traveled on was the Titanic. And knowing her zeal for service to others, she would have stayed in steerage to pray with her beloved immigrants.

Her missions beyond New York included offering religion lessons for  underground coal miners, visiting yellow fever infested neighborhoods, riding a donkey down the side of a steep precipice, and surviving decades of poor health. But none of these things mattered. She trusted God and would often remind her sisters of St. Paul’s words. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

 Finally, the driving force behind every scene in Cabrini’s life is only hinted at, or perhaps portrayed symbolically, when Mother Cabrini put on her veil. This Saint’s every action was grounded in faith. Behind every act of charity, every attempt to bring justice, is Cabrini’s greatest motive, in her own words: “To love Jesus, to seek Jesus, to speak of Jesus, to make Jesus known… This will be my main interest, the purpose of my steps, my comings and goings, all my preoccupations, of all that comes my way as work.” And finally, how can we imitate her? She encourages us to rely on “the [Holy] Spirit working within us, and comforting us with abundant light, and granting the Spirit’s promptings for every small and large holy action.” So, let us pray… Jesus, help us “devote ourselves to the Holy Spirit with our whole hearts,” like Mother Cabrini… “that we too might see the face of the earth renewed”. Amen.

 

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Look with the Eyes of Jesus

Posted on May 23, 2024 by the Bouchers

How many of us look at others with the eyes of Jesus? How many ask God’s Spirit to increase our capacity for respect (which literally means to look twice)? How many look beyond the surface, like Jesus did?  According to religious leaders, he was blind to who was clean and unclean, who was touchable and untouchable. Jesus ate with sinners! He touched lepers! He paid attention to annoying children! He consorted with tax collectors, notorious for extortion.

Was he blind? Of course not! Jesus saw every person through the lens of his Father love. Jesus loved everyone who approached him for help. His response to the rich young man was to look on him with love (Mark 17:21). And his encounter with the Samaritan women was based in respectful compassion.

Another example of his compassionant vision is seen in his relationship with Peter. Even after Peter’s denial, Jesus forgives Peter and singles him out for ministry. “Feed my lambs… Tend my sheep… Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17) Once again Jesus invites Peter to walk on the waters of humility and confidence based in the Father’s vision.

In the Acts of the Apostles, the disciples are also challenged to have a new respect for other, especially as they reach out to Gentiles. They must see with new eyes, like Jesus did. In Acts 9 Ananias objects to seeking out St. Paul, a known persecutor of Christians. God addresses these fears with, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name to the Gentiles.” (9:15) So Ananias surrenders to God’s vision of Paul.

Another example centers around Peter’s vision of ‘profane or unclean’ animals that he is instructed to eat. While he is still puzzled about this, he is invited to the home of a centurion named Cornelius, where God’s invitation to respectful vision of Gentiles becomes apparent. Peter says, “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him… he is Lord of all.” (9:34-36)

Jesus, may we see with your eyes and look beyond any prejudice or dislike. Jesus, help us take that first steps of respecting others. Give us new freedom to reach out the “unlikely” and offer the gift of faith. Amen.

Excerpt from our book, Mending Broken Relationships, Building Strong Ones.

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‘Is This Your Dream Job?’

Posted on April 1, 2024 by the Bouchers

John recently experienced the power of asking questions that have evangelizing potential. It happened during a conversation with a young EMT, named Josh, during John’s ambulance ride. John asked Josh how he became an EMT. Josh explained that his parents were from both the United States and Syria. So, he is in pain about many relatives who are in serious danger.  Then, at one point, he realized that he could act on his concerns, by helping others where he lives.  So, he became an EMT.

John put his own medical needs aside and asked, “So is this your dream job?” John’s question propelled them into a deeper conversation about life, love, and loss, until Josh became choked up. “I want more out of life! I am exhausted from being an EMT during the pandemic. And now, I barely make enough to live on”. John also learned that Josh is searching for a new job, where he can continue to help others. And he wants a relationship with a woman who shares his values and spirituality. He was raised Christian but stopped believing in God, after his parents’ divorce and when faced with all the suffering in the world.

John’s response was to ask Josh if he ever prays. He said yes. Then John admitted, “I am a Christian and I believe that Jesus can fulfill our deepest longings. Would you pray with me?” Then they prayed together for a few moments, just before their trip ended. If John had more time, he might have shared about how Jesus had fulfilled one of his deepest longings. But it was a short ride, so all John could do was to pray that Jesus will help Josh through another believer. Through someone willing to continue the same kind of conversation.

After John’s arrival, he thanked God for the opportunity to stop thinking about himself and to listen carefully.And he thanked the Holy Spirit for the courage and compassion to ask questions with evangelizing potential. Questions that touch upon the meaning of a person’s life. Questions that uncover the desire to live a happier, fuller, and better life. Questions that allow another person to voice what is most important. Examples include: “What is it like to….?”, “What do you hope will happen next in your life?”, “How is life treating you?”, “Is this your dream job?… your dream relationship?… your dream family life?”, and for some in trouble, “What gives you strength during this difficulty?”

Pope Francis describes this kind of evangelization as springing from paying careful attention to others, which he calls “the art of accompaniment.” (The Joy of Evangelization, 169) It is meant to be a life-long approach to people around us through: praying and caring for them, sharing our own faith with them, and daring to invite them to take the next step in their spiritual growth.

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800 Years of Evangelizing through the Christmas Creche

Posted on November 20, 2023 by the Bouchers

Vatican City (CNS) “On the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s first Nativity scene, the creche in St. Peter’s Square in 2023 will come from the Diocese of Rieti, Italy, where in Greccio this event took place… The scene still will be very simple: Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus, some shepherds and figures representing a nobleman… and three Franciscan friars who… put a hay-filled manger, an ox and a donkey in a grotto where the local faithful could come to pray and to imagine the poverty and simplicity into which Jesus was born… The unveiling of the creche in the square is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 9. It will remain up through the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Jan. 7, 2024.” For more information go here 

While I was growing up, my family displayed a nativity scene near our Christmas tree and  opposite a miniature winter village. It was a warm and welcoming place for visitors; as well as, a place to share stories, and gifts. I often wondered how Jesus could be so humble, and yet fully divine. This is exactly what St. Francis of Assisi wanted the creche to portray. Since then, my wife, Therese, and I have embraced this practice and expanded our Nativity scene for ourselves and for our children. Now there are more trees, animals and a larger stable, that Mary and Joseph travel toward throughout Advent. We also sing and pray carols together in our home during Advent. To download free pages of Christ-centered Christmas carols visit here.

For 2 to 3 minute sample meditations about key images in Christ centered carols visit here   Any group that you belong to can sing a few carols, then share favorite lines from carols and their personal significance. For instructions  visit here.

Our excitement about St. Francis’ creche has also inspired us to create a seasonal evangelizing outreach to Catholics and the unchurched called, “Christmas Carol Festival: A New Way to Reach Inactive Catholics.” A guidebook is available for this process, which offers 1. an explanation of several months of community preparations. 2. Instructions for offering the centerpiece of the process –a gathering to sing Christ-centered carols, visit a simple crèche and share stories of faith, and finally 3. ways to offer visitors overlapping and ongoing invitations to embrace the Gospel of Jesus. For a brief description of the Festival visit here

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5 Marks of Missionary Evangelizing Saints

Posted on October 5, 2023 by the Bouchers

The Saints are universal models of heroic virtue and cooperation with the Holy Spirit in the mission of evangelization. We too are challenged to embrace the following five marks of their missionary evangelizing lifestyles: passion for Jesus, humility, reliance on God’s grace, embracing hard work, and perseverance.

1. Passion for Jesus

“It is better for me to die in Christ Jesus than to reign over the ends of the earth.” (St. Ignatius of Antioch)

“Jesus is a fire in the very center of our souls ever burning. Yet, we are cold because we do not stay by it.” (St. Elizabeth Seton)

  1. Humility

“How many let themselves be deceived, for, even though their pride may reach the skies and their heads touch the clouds, in the end, they are as forgotten!” (St. Clare of Assisi)

“Humility must accompany all our actions, must be with us everywhere; for as soon as we glory in our good works they are of no further value to our advancement in virtue.” (St. Augustine of Hippo)

  1. Reliance on God’s Grace

“We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.” (St. Frances Xavier Cabrini)

“Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow his grace to mold them accordingly.” (St. Ignatius Loyola)

  1. Welcome hard work

“We are at Jesus’ disposal. If he wants you to be sick in bed, if he wants you to proclaim His work in the street, if he wants you to clean the toilets all day, that’s all right, everything is all right. We must say, ‘I belong to you. You can do whatever you like.’ And this is our strength. This is the joy of the Lord.” (St. Teresa of Calcutta)

“Always try to have success in your work but remember God is often glorified in your failure.” (St. Mary MacKillop)

  1. Perseverance

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus… proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching… But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. (St. Paul, 2 Timothy 4:1-

…The presentation of the Gospel message is not an optional contribution for the Church… It merits have the apostle consecrate to it all of one’s time and all one’s energies, and to sacrifice for it, if necessary, one’s own life.” (St. Paul VI, On Evangelization in the Modern World, 5, adapted)

For encouraging posts about the mission of Catholic evangelizing—See more quotes from the Saints, both canonized and living among us,  join us at “Holy Spirit Calling”

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New Help for People who Want to Share Faith

Posted on March 2, 2023 by the Bouchers

A Facebook group called Keys to Reaching Inactive Catholics has been established. Contact John Boucher for a possible invitation.

Check out a recent course about Keys to Evangelizing. First go to Therese Boucher on YouTube. Second go to Spiritual: Workshop playlist. There are seven videos of a current zoom course to choose from.

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The DANGEROUS! Final ‘Commandment’ of Jesus!

Posted on July 5, 2022 by the Bouchers

The Old Testament offers us 10 Commandments that spell out crucial guidelines for embracing a covenant with God.  The Gospels focus on “The Great Commandment,” which spells out, or summarizes the importance of loving God, ourselves, and others. Then there are the “Beatitudes” describing the many blessings for those who imitate Jesus.

We can also count Matthew 28:18-20 as final ‘Commandment” of Jesus Christ, spoken just before he ascended into heaven. This important directive is also called the “Great Commission.’ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. But how do you and I “make disciples” or baptize, or teach? Isn’t this somebody else’s job? Yes and No!

Yes! All of the baptized are called to receive the life of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in deeper, ongoing and more personal ways throughout our whole lifetimes. This means seeking the presence, power, and joy of God-with-us in everyday life, by drawing upon the gift of new life given to us through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. But to fulfil this final commandment also means to support others in faith. “[Jesus] said, ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 1:4-9) Here are three things that his commandment to ‘witness’ means:

1) The Spirit calls us and sends us to be witnesses (Greek: martyrs) for Jesus Christ through words and deeds. All we are, and all we have, are meant to be used to bring Jesus to others in our personal slice of the world: our homes, families, neighborhoods, churches, workplaces, and communities.

2) Embrace the “danger” and the risk of demonstrating and speaking about the often quiet, but also electric presence of Jesus. It means, gently, but confidently stepping out of our comfort zones, no matter the consequences or failures.

“At no point in the Gospel does Jesus tell us that following him… will be filled with success or that people will like us for it… The road of discipleship is filled with failure; if we demand that our lives be successful, we won’t make it very far.” (Fr. Casey Cole, OFM, “Let Go: Stumbling Blocks to Christian Discipleship,” p. 28)

3) Like Jesus, we are meant to grow in sensitivity to the many people around us who are experiencing spiritual malnutrition. Like Jesus, we are meant to welcome the alienated and the indifferent who have left parishes and faith communities. Indeed, we are called to let go of negative assumptions about the multitudes of Catholics who are dehydrated, as they sit around a single dripping, rusted pipe. We can sit with them and point out that all of us, active or inactive, possess an overflowing, baptismal source of water, that will never leave us thirsting.

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Obstacles to Reaching Out to Inactive Catholics

Posted on May 10, 2022 by the Bouchers

The desire to share the presence of Jesus with friends, family, or those in need is a good thing. It is a gift from the same Holy Spirit who guided Jesus and the Saints to embrace a deeper compassion, especially for those with spiritual malnutrition. But too often, obstacles put a damper on this calling from God. When this happens, we can imitate the many Saints who embraced such roadblocks, as occasions to ask for more of the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, mercy, zeal and patience.

Here are some common obstacles to evangelizing. Consider watching this video as a step towards making progress in this area. Then ask, “Which one or two obstacles might I experience?

Fear of Failure and Rejection

  1. Failure—embarrassment, ignorance, previous mistakes
  2. Rejection—don’t want to be unpopular, insignificant, ridiculous

Stereotypes and Attitudes toward the Stranger

  1. Assuming he/she would not have anything in common with us
  2. Not interested in knowing strangers, different ethnic groups

Ambivalence

  1. Conflicting motives and beliefs about welcoming others
  2. Ministry groups centered only on mutual support

Relativism (Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelization, sections 4, 5)

  1. Wondering if one religion is as “good” as another
  2. Lack of confidence in objective truth
  3. Spiritual isolation, lack of meaning, broken moral compass

Stuck in the Past

  1. We have always done it this way
  2. Lack of assessment about the good that is being done AND left undone

Lack of Support for Evangelizers

  1. Lack of ongoing support and feedback discourages efforts to reach out
  2. Need to recover from failures and rejoice about successes

Lack of personal growth through Prayer, Spiritual Study, Community, and a Sense of Mission

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Understanding Why Catholics Become Inactive

Posted on March 11, 2022 by the Bouchers

Inactive Catholics can be family: parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces; as well as friends, neighbors, fellow workers. Though they may not be regular Sunday church-goers “YET,” they are still God’s children and our brothers and sisters in Jesus. And we  still share the same Baptismal call: to know the everlasting covenant love of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Even though they have vacated our pews, we cannot assume what their reasons are. But rather respect their spiritual lives.

[WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE DECREASE AMONG CHURCHGOERS]

This means we are called to have a “deep” compassion for all who have decided to be absent from Sunday worship with us. This compassion is a crucial first step when reaching out to inactive Catholics. This concern is built upon living a missionary, evangelizing life-style. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops teaches that, “Every Catholic can be a minister of welcome, reconciliation, and understanding to those who have stopped practicing the faith.” (Go and Make Disciples, Section 40).

First of all, compassion means not using derogatory words to describe those who are not regular Mass-goers, such as: back-sliding, lapsed, fallen-away, baptized pagans, home-Baptists, lost souls, etc. Instead  we are called to approach inactive Catholics in respectful ways and offer Jesus-centered invitations to consider the active practice of Catholicism, when the time is right.

Secondly, we need to have humility. The simple truth is that all of us are both active and inactive in some parts of our Catholic Faith: conversion, prayer, study, sacraments, community, service, works of mercy, social justice, and evangelizing others. We are all converted and unconverted, saints and sinners in some parts of our lives. So, we can assume that we may have faced some of the same struggles with faith.

Extensive surveys and studies about Catholic beliefs and practices have been conducted over the past 25 years. These studies indicate that only 15-23% of Catholics in the United States are regulars at Sunday Mass (at least in our part of the country). Studies indicate that many Catholics are not regular churchgoers for one or more of the eighteen reasons listed below.

Individual Activity (3-5 mins.):

  1. Circle the top three reasons why people in your parish seem to have become inactive.
  2. Check issues below that you have struggled with in your own faith, even though you have remained active or returned to being active in your faith.

Reasons for Becoming Inactive:

  • Do not experience God’s presence in the Catholic community
  • Do not experience caring relationships in encounter with Catholics in a parish
  • Difficulty bonding with people who do not share the same culture
  • See Catholicism as complex and unrelated to their lives
  • Only had a weak Catholic identity in the first place
  • Catholic Faith and creed seem unrelated to daily life
  • “Spiritual, but not religious.” Turned off by organized religion
  • See self as on a private, not communal, quest for personal meaning
  • Experienced hurt from clergy or lay Catholics
  • Came into conflict with Church teachings
  • Misled by people who attack the Church
  • Are in marriages not recognized by the Church
  • Married outside of the Catholic faith (other Christian group or world religion)
  • Do not come due to chronic sickness or advanced age
  • Got busy and did not take the time to get involved
  • Relocated (new college, job, or home) and never reconnected with a Catholic parish
  • Unaware of a nearby Catholic community
  • Home parish closed/merged when diocese reconfigured parishes

Share with an active Catholic family member, friend, or in a small parish/neighborhood group (10-20 min.):

  • Invite three (3) active Catholic friends, family members, or acquaintances (individually or together) to read this article with you and share their top three reasons why they think some people in their parish seem to have become inactive.
  • Just listen. After the other person(s) give their answers, share what your top three reasons are.
  • Then share: “What has kept you living as an active Catholic or brought you back to being an active Catholic?” After they answer, give your own answer.
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