By Matthew Greeley | Special Contributor
And Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor

Jodie D’Angiolillo likes to use the example of building a bonfire when describing what it’s like to evangelize others.  Arranging the wood and sticks appropriately in order to get the fire to start and then climb can be an analogy for the preparation one must make in helping people come to know Jesus.

 “We have to get the hearts of people ready before we introduce them to Jesus,” D’Angiolillo stressed.   “Evangelization is the work of setting a bonfire of God’s love ablaze in the hearts of people.”

D’Angiolillo, who is the director of evangelization for the Metuchen Diocese, was one of two keynote speakers for the intense, Scripture-based Kerygma retreat held Oct. 29 in St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck.  Drawing about 180 parishioners from throughout the four counties of the Diocese, the retreat aimed to lead participants to an encounter with the love of Jesus Christ and remind them of their call as disciples to share the Good News.

Kerygma is Greek for proclamation of the Good News, explained Laura Rivas, associate director of the diocesan Department of Evangelization and Family Life which sponsored the retreat.  Noting that it was far from a simple process, Rivas said, “Catholics need to ask the Holy Spirit to open ears and hearts to hear the Good News in new and invigorating ways.”

The retreat was geared toward both the English- and Spanish-speaking communities. D’Angiolillo, , facilitated in English, Josue Arriola, director of the diocesan Department of Evangelization and Family Life, facilitated in Spanish.

A God-centered Day

“God is going to be the one speaking through all of us today,” Arriola told those assembled.

“We are here to grow in the Lord so that we can then help others to know God. We all get stuck on our faith journey and this experience will help us to spiritually get moving again,” he said.

Using Scripture and imagery, D’Angiolillo and Arriola explored the steps of evangelization, emphasizing that trust in the Lord must serve as the foundation in order for evangelization to be fruitful.

Arriola explained the evangelization process by citing the well-known story of the Road to Emmaus in which the two disciples encountered the Risen Jesus and were transformed from being reporters of the Good News to being personal witnesses of the Risen Christ.”

“The road has not changed,” Arriola said. “So the question is ‘Are we on the road going toward Emmaus or coming from Emmaus on our way back to Jerusalem?”

“The steps of evangelization that Jesus embarked upon with those two disciples on the way to Emmaus culminated with their recognizing him in the breaking of the bread,” Arriola said. “With that recognition, the disciples were brought into the most sought-after step of apostleship.”

“And that’s why we are here today, to learn more about following the footsteps of the original apostles,” he said.

The Story of Our Faith

Reflecting on several Scripture passages, D’Angiolillo and Arriola helped participants make connections between God’s Word and their own human experiences.  The presenters began with reflecting on the Creation story in the Old Testament and how it focused on holiness and the complete goodness of God, until human frailties manifested through the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. The discussion  continued on to the New Testament, centering on the life of Jesus including his Birth, earthly journey, public ministry and then his Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, then culminated with the coming of the Holy Spirit at the first Pentecost.

Kevin Berry of St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, pointed to the importance of adult faith formation opportunities, like the Kerygma retreat, and stressed that the Church needs people who are sufficiently formed to be capable of passing on the faith in meaningful ways.  The retreat, he said, was one of many experiences that “help me with how I relate to God and help me see how God relates to me.”

Lucia Merino of St. Anthony Clare Parish, Lakewood, shared that she was looking to learn more about God’s love at the retreat. “I’ve learned a new way to talk about the Bible,” Merino said, noting how heartened she was to be reminded that “God is a God of love. We can always go back to him.”

Greg Cinque, who is active in various ministries in St. Joseph Parish, Millstone Township, shared that the one nugget he took away from the retreat was that “we need to stay open to sense when people are open to hearing God’s message … to evangelize them.”

Nancy D’Angelo, who leads adult faith Bible studies and teaches Confirmation classes in St. David the King Parish, Princeton Junction, was happy to get pointers on how to go about explaining the Catholic faith to others in an understandable fashion, while Georgia Charles, who directs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in Christ the Redeemer Parish, Mount Holly, said she enjoyed learning how the Kerygma retreat is “all about connecting Scripture to our personal testimony.”

“We learn here that we can always find time to pray and ask God to help us along the way,” she said. “Kerygma is a wonderful way for people of faith to go deeper.”

Greeley is associate director of the Office of Communications and Media, and coordinator of Spanish-language communications.