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Ecclesial Movements As Agents of a New Evangelization by H Ecclesial Movements as Agents of a New Evangelization by H. Richard McCord A new evangelization is synonymous Conversion, Communion, and Solidarity with mission, requiring the capacity to in America [Ecclesia in America], no. 6, set out anew, go beyond boundaries and www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_i broaden horizons. The new i/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp- evangelization is the opposite of self- ii_exh_22011999_ecclesia-in- sufficiency, a withdrawal into oneself, a america_en.html). status quo mentality and an idea that This essay examines one such pastoral programs are simply to example of a new approach to proceed as they did in the past. (Synod evangelization, namely, the of Bishops, XIII Ordinary General phenomenon of ecclesial movements. Assembly, The New Evangelization for “Ecclesial movements” is a collective the Transmission of the Christian Faith, term for many volunteer groups and Lineamenta, no. 10) associations that have arisen within the In recent years the Holy Father and Church, mostly in the twentieth century. the bishops have called the Catholic They offer the possibility of going faithful to undertake a “New beyond boundaries to broaden the Evangelization.” This call has been horizons of mission and ministry. This given special prominence by the Holy essay will describe the movements in Father’s decision to convene the next general terms, provide some historical international Synod of Bishops on The perspective on their emergence, and New Evangelization for the Transmission then reflect on their potential role in of the Christian Faith. the New Evangelization and The preparatory document transmission of faith in a changing (Lineamenta) for this synod reminds us social milieu and a culturally diverse that the newness of the New ecclesial environment. Evangelization is more than rhetorical “Movement” is a contemporary term flourish. It has significance and applied to ecclesial groups and consequences. It must be, in the words associations of the Christian faithful and of Blessed John Paul II, “new in ardor, used to accentuate their newness, methods and expression” (apostolic dynamism, spontaneity, and a certain exhortation On the Encounter with the charismatic quality in how they were Living Jesus Christ: The Way to founded and in how they carry out their work. To say that something is a Actuositatem], nos. 18-20, in Vatican movement calls attention to the Council II: Volume 1). initiative of the Holy Spirit who Ecclesial movements follow in a long distributes gifts and graces by which all tradition of groups, associations, and the faithful can contribute to the communities that have arisen building up of the Church (see Second throughout the history of the Church. Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution To meet specific needs of the time and on the Church [Lumen Gentium], no. 12, to pursue mission-oriented purposes, in Vatican Council II: Volume 1: The the Holy Spirit has raised up from the Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, lay faithful various monastic and ed. Austin Flannery [Northport, NY: mendicant orders, confraternities, Costello Publishing, 1996]). sodalities, charitable and educational Some examples of contemporary societies, social welfare organizations, ecclesial movements that exist to a and Catholic Action groups. In the greater or lesser extent in the United modern period, and due largely to the States are Catholic Charismatic Renewal, encouragement of the Second Vatican Cursillo, Christian Life Communities, Council, the ecclesial movements Christian Family Movement, represent “a new era of group endeavors Movimiento Familiar Cristiano, Focolare, of the lay faithful” (John Paul II, Neocatechumenal Way, Marriage apostolic exhortation On the Vocation Encounter, Communion and Liberation, and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the and L’Arche. Church and in the World [Christifideles These diverse groups have certain Laici], no. 29, common characteristics that could www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_i constitute a summary description of an i/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp- ecclesial movement. With some ii_exh_30121988_christifideles- exceptions, all movements have laici_en.html). • A founder whose particular Many of the movements that operate charism gave birth to the movement in the United States today were • Predominantly, but not established first in Europe or Latin exclusively, lay membership America. Over the course of time, • Some ecclesial structure and particularly through the influence of communal expression immigration, they have made their way • A set of teachings and methods to this country. Sometimes the social that flesh out the movement’s charism conditions in another country that • An explicit commitment to an facilitated the emergence of a given evangelizing mission movement are not replicated in our • A relationship with ecclesiastical own nation. Consequently, some authorities movements have had difficulty being Ecclesial movements are examples understood and accepted here. The of the necessarily diverse forms of existence of a strong system of parishes participation in the life of the Church— in the United States—a situation that is something that the Second Vatican not the case in other countries—has Council commended as the group form also modified, or perhaps impeded, the of the apostolate (Paul VI, On the growth of ecclesial movements. Apostolate of Lay People [Apostolicam 2 Within the unity of the Church’s Christian life. John Paul II even raised communion and mission, all the faithful the possibility that some large parishes have, by reason of their Baptism, both might become “a community of the freedom and the right to form communities and movements” in order associations (see Apostolicam to renew themselves (Ecclesia in Actuositatem, no. 19; Paul VI, On the America, no. 41). Ministry and Life of Priests Because movements tend to be [Presbyterorum Ordinis], no. 8, in keenly aware of their mission, more Vatican Council II: Volume 1; and Code of intentional about their methods and Canon Law: Latin-English Edition: New audiences, and possibly more willing English Translation [Codex Iuris and able to innovate, they seem well Canonici (CIC)] [Washington, DC: Canon positioned to be leaders in the New Law Society of America, 1998], c. 215). Evangelization. Ecclesial movements, This is exercised within a broader insofar as their membership is mainly understanding of the Church as an or exclusively lay, provide valuable organic communion of vocations, formation for laity and give them the ministries, services, charisms, and chance to exercise leadership, often on responsibilities. No specific a large scale. authorization by the hierarchy is Movements can appeal to people needed to form or join an association, who are searching for a deeper although the hierarchy can give it experience of discipleship and who recognition and even grant it juridical often want “more” than the average status (see CIC, cc. 298-301). An parish can provide. They can also offer a association or movement cannot use the way of belonging for cultural minorities name “Catholic” without consent from who had the prior experience of competent ecclesiastical authority (see membership in a movement in their CIC, c. 300). countries of origin. Certain movements Ecclesial movements enjoy a are culturally based and often promote measure of flexibility, fluidity, and the devotional practices and customs that ability to appeal to people who want to help immigrants make a bridge from engage in a particular apostolic activity, their homeland to a new country. use a certain style of prayer, or follow a The flip side of the strength of set of spiritual practices. Movements ecclesial movements reveals their can function in a much more weaknesses. They can be elitist and homogeneous and focused manner than absolutist about their particular parishes. mission or spirituality. They can Recent trends show that U.S. demand excessive allegiance. They can parishes are growing larger as mergers exalt the teachings of their founder and consolidations take place and as the above the Gospel and the Magisterium Catholic population increases. As a of the Church. Particularly in the United result, parishioners can feel lost and States, they can position themselves in a nameless. By contrast, movements can competing relationship with the parish. be more relational and communal. They This has been a source of tension and can give members more opportunities misunderstanding, especially between to connect with others, share their gifts, the bishops of the United States and and receive support for living a some of the movements. 3 However, conflict is neither must exist in any ecclesial movement inevitable nor unresolvable. If a that wishes to take part in the New diocesan bishop and his collaborators Evangelization. are able to develop a comprehensive 1. Accountability: Does the pastoral plan, then a legitimate space movement hold itself accountable to can be made in it for ecclesial ecclesiastical authority? movements. Parishes are indeed the 2. Implantation: Is the movement mainstay of a diocesan church, but they involved in the parish and some aspect are not the only ways of gathering of its mission? people into community and equipping 3. Authentic doctrine: Is the them for mission. Movements can exist movement faithful to the teachings of within parishes and alongside of the Church? parishes. Dialogue and discernment are 4. Complementarity: Does the keys to a collaborative relationship. For movement have some
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