Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association

In 1977, the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (the Paulist Fathers) established the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association (PNCEA). Its mission then and now is to equip Catholics to evangelize, that is, to witness to and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

PNCEA carries out its mission by:
*Raising awareness and educating clergy, religious and laity for the evangelizing mission of the Church.
*Producing contemporary publications and programs for sharing the Gospel.
*Offering training programs and resources to equip Catholics for effective evangelization.
*Providing evangelization consulting services to dioceses and parishes.infobox Organization
name = Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association


caption = PNCEA Logo
abbreviation = PNCEA
motto =
formation = July 1, 1977 Washington, DC, USA
type =
purpose = Equip Catholics to share the Good News
headquarters = Washington, DC
region_served =
membership =
leader_title = President
leader_name = Reverend Kenneth Boyack, CSP
main_organ =
parent_organization = Paulist Fathers
num_staff =
website = http://www.pncea.org/

Founder

Fr. Alvin A. Illig, CSP, established the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association as an apostolate of the Paulist Fathers. Fr. Illig served as the director from 1977 to 1991 as well as the first Executive Director of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization from 1977 to 1982. In 1983 Pope John Paul II awarded Fr. Alvin Illig with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontiface medal for his excellent service to the Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization. During his time at PNCEA, Fr. Illig focused on evangelization to inactive Catholics and the unchurched Americans. At the funeral of Fr. Illig in 1991, Roger Cardinal Mahoney stated: “Father Alvin Illig is surely this country’s modern apostle of evangelization. No one has done more than him to revitalize a spirit of evangelization among Catholics in these United States."

Resources Programs

*BEST PRACTICES for Parishes: A Self-Study and Action Planning ToolBPP is a ready-to-use tool to assess the quality of seven dimensions of parish life using best practices statements from church documents, pastoral experiences, and ministry experts. The assessment results become the basis for action planning. The seven workbooks are Prayer and Worship, Catechesis, Evangelization, Justice and Charity, Stewardship, Family/Pastoral Care, and Community Building. [http://www.bestpracticesforparishes.org BPP website]

*Catholic Faith InventoryCFI is an online survey instrument to assist individuals in understanding their experience of the Catholic faith. CFI is a questionnaire in which participants respond to a little more than 100 questions. Each of the questions in the Inventory pertains to a certain aspect of the Catholic Faith. Answers to these questions will produce a "picture" of their faith. [http://www.catholicfaithinventory.org/ CFI website]

* Disciples in Mission: An Evangelization Experience "Disciples in Mission" is a three-year process that integrates Sunday liturgies, small faith-sharing groups, catechesis, family activities, teen groups, planning, and follow –up activities into a coordinated parish wide experience of Evangelization. Since 1996 over 4,500,000 Catholics in over 3,600 parishes across the United States have benefited from "Disciples in Mission". [http://www.disciplesinmission.org Disciples in Mission website]

*ENVISON: Planning our Parish Future"ENVISION" is a comprehensive, results-driven parish planning process that fully engages parishioners in developing and implementing a faith-based vision for their parish. [http://www.parishplanning.org/ EVISION website]

*Paulist Evangelization Training InstitutePETI is learning program that uses an online classroom where students view narrated presentations by the instructor, answer weekly discussion questions, and engage in insightful conversations with fellow classmates. PETI offers several different topics including: The Evangelizing Catholic, Go and Make Disciples, Outreach to Inactive Catholics, Forming Teen Disciples, Faithful Celebration of Mass, Good News and Religious Pluralism, Faithful Citizenship, From Maintenance to Mission, and Spiritual Grandparenting. Courses range in length from 4 to 12 weeks. [http://www.pncea.org/store/index.asp?DEPARTMENT_ID=68 PETI page]

*Evangelization ExchangeE-Exchange is a free electronic newsletter that is published 10 times per year. The newsletter provides evengelization leaders information on new opportunities and resources as well as emerging trends. [http://www.pncea.org/members/signup.asp E-Exchange page]

PNCEA Prison Ministries

PNCEA Prison Ministries provides chaplains and volunteers ministering in correctional facilities with Bibles, newsletters ("Let's Talk!" and "¡Hablemos!"), prayer cards, and other Catholic religious materials. Our material is available at no cost in both English and Spanish. PNCEA Prison Ministries is entirely supported by donors who share concern for the spiritual needs of prisoners. Visit [http://www.prison-ministry.org PNCEA Prison Ministries]

References

*"Tenth Anniversary of “Go and Make Disciples.”"Bishop William Houk. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Committee on Evangelization. 13 Sept. 2002 Oakland, CA [http://www.usccb.org/evangelization/history.shtml Document]

*"National Catholic Evangelization – Programs". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Committee on Evangelization. Washington, DC. [http://www.usccb.org/evangelization/programs.shtml Site]

*"National Catholic Evangelization & Reconciliation Organizations". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Committee on Evangelization. Washington, DC. [http://www.usccb.org/evangelization/organization.shtml Site]

*"Meeting people where they are: PNCEA’s E-Exchange keeps Catholics up-to-date on evangelization". Paulist Today Newsletter, Spring 2008. Paulist Fathers Office of Media Relations. Washington, DC.

*"Proclaims, Invites, Trains, & Equips". PNCEA Archives, 3031 Fourth Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017

*"The Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association Information". PNCEA Archives, 3031 Fourth Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017

*"About PNCEA". Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association. Washington, DC. [http://www.pncea.org/about/ site]

*"EVANGELII NUNTIANDI". Pope Paul VI. 8 Dec. 1975 [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi_en.html Document]

*"Hecker Award: The Joseph and Katherina Illig Family". Rev. Kenneth Boyack, CSP. 19 Jun 2008, Washington, DC.

*"What We Do: Evangelization". Paulist Fathers. Washington, DC. [http://www.paulist.org/namerica/evangelization.htm site]