Download PDF version of this page07/11/2008
Press release
Issued by the CASE
‘Fanning The Flames’: Strategic parish evangelisation training on the largest scale ever
Parish Evangelisation Training 2009
Are you passionate about your faith but feel you need some support in knowing how to share it? Does the word ‘Evangelisation’ conjure up feelings of fear or confusion? Maybe you and your parish would like to take a concrete step and explore starting up an outreach team? Perhaps you’re already doing it and are in need of resources? Wherever you are on your journey, a unique training opportunity is being offered to Catholic parishes during 2009.
The initiative is called ‘Fanning the Flames’ and is being offered by the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE), which is working in partnership with Catholic Evangelisation Services (the creators of the CaFE resources). A full list of training dates will be published in the New Year, and fliers and posters will also be made available.
Mgr Keith Barltrop, Director of CASE, said: “This is a first for England and Wales. Never before has evangelisation training been offered on such a large scale and in such a strategic way. Everyone is welcome to attend an event. Come and be supported in playing your part in home mission, and if you can’t come, please pray for its success. We all have a role in fanning the flames of faith.”
During this Jubilee Year of St Paul which ends in June 2009, the theme of the tour is sourced from one of his letters to Timothy. We read: "That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God's gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord ..." (2 Timothy 1: 6-8). In the same vein, it is hoped that the training days will enable people to make active their gifts and give them the practical tools to go out and bear fruit.
Every region in both countries will host an event. The hope is that the venues offered will include a good geographical spread so as to enable as many Catholics as possible to attend an event. Many ‘tour dates’ have already been confirmed and include Gateshead, Nottingham, London, Hull and Portsmouth. In 2010, Leeds and Liverpool have now been added.
Liesel Detemple, who is the Resources Manager at Catholic Evangelisation Services, said: “What better response could we make to the year that the Church has dedicated to St Paul, than by taking the call to evangelise more seriously. We don’t have to look very far to see that now is the time for mission, and the training days and resources are here to build on what parishes are already doing, as well as enable them to reach out in new and creative ways.”
It is hoped that every parish will send at least four representatives to receive training. A suggested donation to help cover costs is £10 per person. To find out more and to register the names of participants from your parish please see: www.caseresources.org.uk; e-mail: info@caseresources.org.uk; tel: 0207 901 4863. Also see: www.faithcafe.org.
ENDS
Editors
For interviews and more information please e-mail info@caseresources.org.uk; tel: 0207 901 4863. Alternatively ring Clare Ward on mobile tel: 0770 939 1998.
‘Fanning The Flame’ is also the name of a mission to foster the Catholic faith which was initiated in the Diocese of Portsmouth. Please see: http://www.ftfcm.com/dk/?action=frontpage