Evangelization Outreach / Mike Krokos

Revival continues with ‘Year of Mission’ and the ‘Walk with One’ initiative

Everyone can evangelize.

That headline greets those who visit the National Eucharistic Revival’s “Walk with One” initiative on its website at www.eucharisticrevival.org/walk-with-one.

It’s been nearly three months since more than 50,000 Catholics convened in Indianapolis for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress, and those in attendance and beyond were encouraged to leave the July 17-21 pilgrimage of faith to share Christ in the Eucharist with others.

Before we fully put the congress in our rearview mirror, we would do well to reflect on the charge given to us as we move forward into the third year of the revival, known as the “Year of Mission.” In the process, please visit eucharisticrevivalindy.org to take what is there to heart.

“A eucharistic people is a missionary and evangelizing people,” said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle during a homily at the closing Mass of the National Eucharistic Congress on July 21 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. “Go, go, go. … Let us proclaim Jesus joyfully and zealously for the life of the world!”

The Filipino cardinal, who serves as the pro-prefect of the Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, encouraged Catholics across the U.S. to go forth and proclaim the Gospel anew to all they encounter in their lives. He encouraged all to embrace the charge to go out on a mission of renewal.

Cardinal Tagle said that renewal will occur if people become eucharistic missionaries, connecting “eucharistic conversion” with “missionary conversion.”

Pilgrims attending the congress and all those participating in the three-year National Eucharistic Revival were encouraged to take part in the “Walk with One” initiative as part of the “Year of Mission.”

“We are all called to evangelize, and thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are well-equipped for this mission,” notes the introduction for “Walk with One” on the National Eucharistic Revival website. “It may not mean spreading the Gospel in a foreign land or going door-to-door with the good news—and it may require overcoming some fears—but the Lord is asking each of us to step out of our comfort zone and evangelize one-on-one.”

The introduction continues, “There is someone in your life right now whom Jesus longs to call to himself. He wants to spark a relationship with them and bless them with his sacraments.

“In this Year of Mission, Catholics across the U.S. are saying ‘yes’ to a special form of heart-to-heart accompaniment called the ‘Walk With One’ initiative. This is your opportunity to be God’s instrument in the life of another person. Imagine how our families, neighborhoods and country will be transformed if every active Catholic answers this call!”

For some, the thought of walking with another on a journey of faith may seem daunting. But the revival website offers a blueprint on the stages of spiritual companionship of “Walk with One” to help with the effort:

Identify: “Don’t just pick someone. Ask God whom he wants you to accompany on their journey home to the Church. He will point you to the person he has in mind and open doors for the conversations that need to happen.”

Intercede: “As soon as the Lord lays someone on your heart, begin to pray for them! Ask God to remove whatever obstacles are making it difficult for this person to draw closer to Christ and his Church. Pray for the grace to be able to accompany them well.”

Connect: “Look for ways to build a deeper relationship with this person. Get together with them for coffee or lunch. Listen deeply for promptings from the Holy Spirit as you get to know your friend’s joys and struggles. Share with them some of your own.”

Invite: “Follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. When the time is right, invite your friend to take a concrete next step in fostering a personal relationship with Jesus and the Church. This might mean joining you for a small group or Mass on Sunday.”

Most, if not all of us, have a family member, neighbor or friend who God is calling us to accompany.

It will not be easy, but let us pray that we each find the courage to develop a new sense of mission that allows us to recommit ourselves to the Lord Jesus and his good news—a recommitment to encouraging our brothers and sisters to join us on our missionary journey and call to discipleship.

(Mike Krokos is editor of The Criterion, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.) †