Festival uses Christmas carols to evangelize, reach inactive Catholics
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By David Karas|Correspondent
“Deck(ing) the halls” and “(proclaiming) joy to the world” are not just things for cooler temperatures, and not just a way of celebrating Christmas.
They are also an avenue for evangelization and reaching out to inactive Catholics, which are both goals behind the upcoming Christmas Carol Festival Training Workshop.
This year’s workshop will be held on July 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the education center in St. Justin Parish, Toms River.
Registration is due by July 12, and the workshop cost of $20 per person includes refreshments, beverages and the 2013 revised Christmas Carol Festival Guidebook. Attendees should bring their own lunch.
The workshop is part of the larger Christmas Carol Festival initiative, launched in the diocese in 2007 with just three parishes and roughly 350 participants. To date, it has grown to include 21 parishes and almost 6,000 annual participants across the state.
Through the simple power of personal invitations and networking, Catholics can bring friends and family members together to sing, enjoy food, have fun and meet Jesus again through song.
The program is co-sponsored by the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization, and The Monitor.
The workshop program will cover a variety of topics, including: the basics of the Christmas Carol Festival; reaching out to inactive friends and relatives; starting a festival in a parish; recruiting and organizing a festival team; and using carols to help people meet Jesus, among others.
Goals behind the workshop offering focus on increasing participation in Sunday Mass, equipping Catholics to live as disciples of Jesus in everyday life, stimulating greater participation within parish communities, and finding new ways to bring people back to the Church.
The program is presented by Therese and John Boucher, creators of the Christmas Carol Festival. John is associate director for evangelization of the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization, and Therese is an author, adult faith formation speaker and catechist trainer.
For more information, contact Joy Wright at [email protected], or (609) 403-7153.
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By David Karas|Correspondent
“Deck(ing) the halls” and “(proclaiming) joy to the world” are not just things for cooler temperatures, and not just a way of celebrating Christmas.
They are also an avenue for evangelization and reaching out to inactive Catholics, which are both goals behind the upcoming Christmas Carol Festival Training Workshop.
This year’s workshop will be held on July 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the education center in St. Justin Parish, Toms River.
Registration is due by July 12, and the workshop cost of $20 per person includes refreshments, beverages and the 2013 revised Christmas Carol Festival Guidebook. Attendees should bring their own lunch.
The workshop is part of the larger Christmas Carol Festival initiative, launched in the diocese in 2007 with just three parishes and roughly 350 participants. To date, it has grown to include 21 parishes and almost 6,000 annual participants across the state.
Through the simple power of personal invitations and networking, Catholics can bring friends and family members together to sing, enjoy food, have fun and meet Jesus again through song.
The program is co-sponsored by the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization, and The Monitor.
The workshop program will cover a variety of topics, including: the basics of the Christmas Carol Festival; reaching out to inactive friends and relatives; starting a festival in a parish; recruiting and organizing a festival team; and using carols to help people meet Jesus, among others.
Goals behind the workshop offering focus on increasing participation in Sunday Mass, equipping Catholics to live as disciples of Jesus in everyday life, stimulating greater participation within parish communities, and finding new ways to bring people back to the Church.
The program is presented by Therese and John Boucher, creators of the Christmas Carol Festival. John is associate director for evangelization of the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization, and Therese is an author, adult faith formation speaker and catechist trainer.
For more information, contact Joy Wright at [email protected], or (609) 403-7153.