New Evangelization confab calls for reaching out to ‘lapsed Catholics’

MANILA, June 8, 2014 – Thousands of Filipino Catholics on Saturday gathered at the New Evangelization Conference (NEC 2014) held in response to heed the Church’s call to spread the Good News and reach out to “lapsed Catholics.”

In his talk, Live Christ Share Christ (LCSC) moderator Frank Padilla stressed the need to spread the Good News, noting that it is through reaching out to more people that the mission of New Evangelization is accomplished.

“We have to work towards bringing our distant brothers and sisters back to Christ. We were all like them before, but by the grace of God we were able to overcome. That is what we should also do—bring them back to Christ,” Padilla said in Filipino.

Catholic individuals—young and old alike—participated in this convention that drew together religious groups and organizations all working towards New Evangelization.

Working towards evangelization, LCSC members have vowed to work, guided by its four pillars in bringing the Good News to others—through “living pure” (living the vow of chastity), “living the Word” (studying Scripture), “living life” (promoting the pro-life advocacy), and “living full” (living in solidarity with the poor).

Padilla also noted that the fight of the present millennium will be a battle between the culture of death and the culture of life—the reason why Catholics must be guided on issues like contraception, divorce, and abortion, among others.

“The Philippines will be the favorite target of diabolical forces because compared to other nations, we remain pro-family and pro-life,” he said.

Full-time missionary Grant Javier also called on the Catholic faithful to seize the opportunity to share the word of God, noting that this Year of the Laity is perfect timing for them to fulfill this mission.

“The Year of the Laity is our year. Let us all seize it. Let us tell ourselves that this is our year,” he said, noting that 2014 is a special year as it has been dedicated by the Philippine Church to the non-ordained members of the church.

The NEC 2014 also featured the National Catholic Expo, which showcased booths from different religious groups and organizations.

Among those featured in the exposition were the Eternal World Television Network, Word and Life Publications, Radyo Veritas 846, Pauline Books and Media, Caritas Manila, and many other Catholic organizations and sponsors. (Jennifer M. Orillaza)