Visual Depiction of the Cycle and Stages of Evangelization

I’m back from a brief hiatus on blogging last week due to preparing for a talk on evangelistic preaching in Catholic parishes–basically what it means to preach for initial proclamation, some strategies for preparing sermons of this genre, and ways to integrate this preaching into parish life in support of the New (and old) Evangelization. I’ll be posting parts of the talk in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, I’d like to share an attempt to visually depict the complexity of evangelization as described in Pope Paul VI’s Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975), Pope John Paul II’s Redemptoris Missio (1990), Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue’s Dialogue and Proclamation (1991), the Second Vatican Council’s Ad Gentes (1965), and Pope John Paul II’s Catechesi Tradendae (1979).

I offer this with the recognition, as Paul VI writes, that “any partial and fragmentary definition which attempts to render the reality of evangelization in all its richness, complexity and dynamism does so only at the risk of impoverishing it and even of distorting it” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, no. 17). However, attempting to capture and integrate all of the aspects of evangelization present in our Catholic faith shows how rich and deep our understanding is, as well as illuminating the many ways we as Church evangelize.

What do you think of the visual depiction? What would you add or change? 

Update! I received the excellent question from a colleague and classmate, Matt Flynn, what about Confirmation? I think the simple answer, is that the word, Baptism, inside the purple oval should be replaced with Initiation–encompassing baptism, confirmation, and eucharist. Thanks Matt 🙂