A few hours before it is officially summer! While this is a time when parishes tend to “slow down” on programs because people are often vacationing, and can’t commit to a 5-8 week commitment outside of Mass. (Except for youth ministry. They often ramp up because kids are out of school!)
However, summer is the ideal time to pull together community-welcoming pre-evangelization events. Pre-evangelization is the first step in evangelization that focuses on awareness, trust, and building friendships. And it fits well with summer–people want to be outside? Hold an outdoor event! Is there a big half-marathon in town? Join as a parish in supporting the runners! Is there a festival or county fair? Get a booth and welcome questions, offer prayer!
There are so many options, but we’ll start with 20. (Yes, 20!) See if one or two or three strike your fancy–then get out there and have fun with your neighbors!
- (Gospel of) “Mark in the Park”
- Godspell summer theatre
- Weekly prayer in the park
- Meditative prayer on the lake, shore, community gardens
- Parish street festival
- Summer concert series in the park
- Ask a Catholic Anything at the local coffeehouse
- Blessing of the shoes at the local 5k race
- Table blessings handed out at your local farmer’s market booth
- County fair booth with info and service suggestions
- Sporting events prayer booth
- Sand sculpture/sidewalk chalking contest (with a theme)
…read on for more options and all the details to make any of these fun, fruitful, and proper pre-evangelizing activities!
Download the (free) 20 ways to pre-evangelize this summer here.
These ideas are from Susan Windley-Daoust’s 101 Ways to Evangelize, and that booklet is available for purchase at Gracewatch Media.
