The prophet Ezekiel places before us an image of fruit trees that are ever fresh and fruit-bearing because they are fed from the life-giving water that flows from the Temple.  In this image, the roots of the tree are key.  Sunk into the earth and planted near the river, they are able to draw from the river all that the tree needs to flourish.

If we consider our parish in light of this metaphor, we see that the most important element in the life of the parish is that it has deep roots.  For a tree to survive in extreme heat or cold, in drought or in flood, its roots must have developed long and deep into the heart of the earth where water and the soil’s nutrients are plentiful.  So, too, with the parish.  A parish will thrive and continually bear fresh fruit when its roots are well-grounded in the very source of life in the Church:  the Heart of Jesus Christ.  It is from Christ’s Heart that the water of the Holy Spirit pours forth “welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). When a parish is consistently watered by this “river,” she continues to bear the fruit of spiritual nourishment and healing for its flock. 

Deep spiritual roots, then, are the heart of parish evangelization.  Without them, our evangelization efforts become weak and wither.  It is for this reason that this year we take up the theme of “plunging our roots into Christ” (cf. Col 2:7; Eph 3:17). We, ministers in the work of evangelization, must spend time tending and cultivating our life in Jesus Christ, both individually and communally.  We want to intensify our gaze upon the countless wellsprings of life in the Church that give us access to the Heart of Jesus Christ, the Sacraments, the Deposit of Faith, and the Scriptures, to name a few.  In doing so, we hope to develop strong and deep roots, so that our parishes may bear the immense fruit of drawing more and more people into a life of intimacy with the Lord.  Here are offered a few simple, but very powerful ways for a parish to plunge its roots into the heart of the Church, the heart of Christ, and to ask Him to bring about life and renewal in the parish.

LIVE LINKS

The Eucharist, Source of the New Evangelization .

Office for Divine Worship

Holy Hour for Evangelization

The Healing Power of Confession

Resources for the Renewal of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation

Intercessory Prayer Partnership

For more Information: Intercessory Prayer Partnership webpage

For Evangelization Coordinators:Starting an Intercessory Prayer Partnership in your Parish

Marian Consecration for the New Evangelization

A simple program for Marian Consecation in your parish

For a larger program of Marian Consecration in your parish

Evangelization Formation Series

Formation for teams and individuals

Adult Faith Formation

Adult Faith Formation webpage

Evangelization Newsletter

This month's newsletter and archives

Meghan Cokeley, Assistant Director
Office of Life, Family and Laity
215-587-5630   •  mcokeley@adphila.org