Evangelization has been the mission for all Christians since the time Jesus sent out His Apostles to spread the Good News – “For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Those who believe in Jesus, receive God’s Holy Spirit to equip them with His gifts, such as wisdom, knowledge, fortitude to help them in this mission.  In the past few years, both Pope Francis in his Encyclical titled “Joy of the Gospel” and Archbishop of Detroit’s Allen Vigneron’s “Unleash the Gospel” have put this mission as a top priority for everyone in the Catholic Church and these documents give guidance as to how the New Evangelization is to be accomplished in today’s world.
            St. Anne’s developed an Evangelization Committee in 1998 to assist parishioners in understanding and implementing the New Evangelization in their lives. The Committee is still updating and assisting parishioners in this primary mission by how we witness to our faith and be of service to all who we encounter.  As Jesus told us, the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our hearts, minds and souls and to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Love is truly at the center of the New Evangelization.