Commission on Evangelization

Reclaim the Fire: A Parish Guide to Evangelization, by Martin W. Pable, OFM Cap. Ave Maria Press (2002) $12.95

This book urges ordinary Catholics to “reclaim the fire” of the Church’s mission to evangelize the world. He contends that the larger US church and, consequently, most parishes have become focused on internal issues and squabbles. The energy and vitality that could be used in promoting the mission of the Church has been dissipated.

The author quotes William Portier who concluded that, in the 1990s, American Catholics accepted religious pluralism as a kind of ideal state in which people are best left alone with their beliefs (p. 35). For those who have accepted the motto of "live and let live." talking about one’s faith with others—even family members—is pushy at best and unAmerican at worst.

Father Pable has created one resource which synthesizes other key sources that Catholic evangelizers ought to know. I recommend using this book with parishioners because It gives a solid grounding in the history, spirituality, and biblical roots of Catholic evangelization. It lays out both a one-on-one training in evangelizing skills and a means of examining whether one’s parish, regardless of siz,e is functioning as an evangelizing parish.

Father Pable also explains churchy words used in evangelization in clear, everyday language.

In the final analysis, Catholic evangelization is about us. Is the Good News of Jesus REALLY “good news” in our lives? In our everyday lives, how has Jesus met our need for a sense of self worth? Our need for belonging? Our need for purpose and meaning? And our need for hope in the midst of life’s pain? Can we speak about those times in everyday language to new generations? Can we Catholics shoulder our part of passing on the FIRE to others?

Reviewed by Lorraine Vancamp, Glenmary’s evangelization consultant.

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