Nick Alexander https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Wouldn’t you know it, Reddit is turning out to be the best place to build community and get tough questions–about the Catholic faith–answered. https://detroitcatholic.com/news/daniel-meloy/the-modern-biblical-scroll-reddit-offers-catholics-community-chance-to-ask-hard-questions For Those Who Missed It… My Journey Home Appearance Parents can send their children to public schools and have them end up on fire for the faith. Six stumbling blocks to evangelization, not faced by earlier ages, that Catholic evangelists “must confront if we are going to teach all nations.” http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2018/06/rummelsburg-six-obstacles-evangelization/ It’s not the time for spiritual apathy. Step up our faith walk. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/armstrong/no-mass?fbclid=IwAR3uvxHtmEjYGay-7owxrW7O_Ds7OUUnCFXepsvUerPV2ozcuMquS_Wlp88#When%3A2020-03-17+20%3A00%3A01 To evangelize, “always [be] on the lookout for what is beautiful, good and true [in popular culture, secular conversations, and/or non Christian religions], explaining how these are fulfilled within Catholicism.” – Fr. Longenecker https://dwightlongenecker.com/evangelization-and-the-genius-of-the-early-church/ Smartphones and TV have irreversibly changed society; neither has come close to what liturgy does. https://aleteia.org/2019/04/15/why-liturgy-is-the-greatest-mass-media/ I could not agree with this article more. If my diocese wishes to enact a revival, they need to implement some of these suggestions. https://aleteia.org/2019/04/29/catholic-parish-dos-and-donts-from-millennials/ Understand the Arguments in Favor of Staying in the Church, Despite Recent Scandals. As much as I like Matthew Kelly, I cannot disagree with the criticisms made in regards to this program. https://www.firstthings.com/article/2018/06/failing-in-formation New book details the conversion story of a secular rock journalist. https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2019/03/18/a-rock-and-roll-journalist-opens-her-ears-to-god/ How Chris Pratt Evangelizes: “When giving a dog medicine, put the medicine in a little piece of hamburger and they won’t even know they’re eating medicine.” The Journey Home (EWTN): Why I Became Catholic “I asked seven Catholics involved in full-time evangelization apostolates for tips on how one may best share his Catholic faith with others.” http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimgraves/7-catholic-evangelists-share-tips-on-spreading-the-faith If you are interested in apologetics, I highly recommend Brandon Vogt’s “Why I Am Catholic.” “[I]n this day and age, if you’re not able to self-motivate in the spiritual life and you don’t find yourself spiritually fed by your parish priest, there are tons of resources out there to fill up the gap.” http://wdtprs.com/blog/2019/04/ask-father-im-angry-fathers-sermons-are-boring-lack-joy/ #7: “The people in the pew don’t take ownership and don’t feel it is their job to evangelize.” George Weigel gets it. https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-crisisbut-not-of-faith-1535641698?mod=hp_lead_pos10 http://thesonsofthunderblog.blogspot.com/2018/04/three-keys-to-evangelization.html “The good news: there is a proven way to evangelize.” – Catholic Answers https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/the-five-circles-of-evangelization “Let’s put Christ at the center of our evangelical mission, ahead of the beautiful moral teachings, so that the world can hear the Good News.” https://catholicexchange.com/culture-wars-dont-evangelize-souls My Catholic Testimony I am passionate about evangelism, but these numbers are not encouraging. Apparently, “The Francis Effect” was a misnomer. And it’s not just Catholics, but all Christian denominations are affected. One cannot jump to a solution without looking lucidly at the problem. http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/francis-effect-us-catholicism-decline/ [Outside The Box]How Would You Improve the Catholic Church? [Survey] “[A]nyone who desires to effectively bear witness to the faith can learn from Jordan Peterson’s approach. Here are seven lessons in evangelization that we can learn…” https://www.catholicgentleman.net/2018/05/lessons-in-evangelization-jordan-peterson/ “There is a reasonable way forward, both in terms of rooting out corruption in the Church and restoring a measure of harmony.” – Fr. Raymond de Souza. http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/its-time-to-turn-down-the-temperature “The internet is ‘a double-edged sword, [but] in large part’ [some new Catholic converts] owe [their] faith to it.” http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/issues/march-2nd-2018/how-social-media-is-leading-millennials-to-rome/ Where I’m At: January 17, 2021 at 09:57AM Called to Glory (NCYC 2011) This blogpost may contain my very favorite advice for Catholic evangelization. https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/the-secret-weapon-of-evangelization Here’s a nice short list of small to-dos for one’s daily faith walk. A great reminder for all of us. Here’s an interesting take/[read:warning] about Sunday School and youth ministry as to why there’s a severe drop off of church attendance afterward. https://www.ucatholic.com/holdsworth/why-youth-leave-the-church/ “Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Aloysius Gonzaga are excellent examples of what [an adventurous faith] can look like for young people today.” I particularly like #3 “It’s Hard.” (as in, “Anything worth doing is hard.”) Listen to My Testimony as a Catholic Convert Being active in the effort to support Catholic evangelization, sometimes a little clarity is needed. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/throughcatholiclenses/2019/04/pope-evangelize-1st-by-example-not-dont-convert-others/ Booking Who Nick Is What Nick Can Do For You Nick Alexander Bio Links How it All Started Contact Eight Ways to “Open Doors to the Gospel” by using the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” This is a challenging article for faith-filled parents of teens. What do you think? https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/february-web-only/doubt-parenting-biggest-hindrance-kids-faith-is-silence.html Where I’m At: August 10, 2018 at 10:13AM We are all called to evangelize. Here’s an excellent blog post for those who aren’t comfortable with that notion. http://www.catholiclane.com/easy-solutions-for-reluctant-evangelizers/ http://www.catholiclane.com/easy-solutions-for-reluctant-evangelizers/ I suspect that as the “nones” issue because more prominent across the board, that more ecumenical partnerships of this sort are bound to happen. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/why-catholic-dioceses-are-teaming-up-with-young-life-17460 Where I’m At: November 01, 2019 at 04:59AM