A Summary Report
This last August we started our first Evangelism Center with three lay evangelists who organized three “Systematic One-Brings-One Evangelical Projects” which resulted in 33 baptisms. Later in the year they also organized four other pre-RCIA programs and are presently serving 53 catechumens. Given this is the first year and that the historical average is 10 baptism per lay evangelist, we are very satisfied with the fruits of this first year. Our three evangelists in Taipei have also started cooperating with the campus minister of Fu Jen University to promote evangelism among university students. In February we started a second Evangelism Center in Kaoshuing with one evangelist; he has been working hard by himself and has organized one successful Systematic One-Brings-One Project: currently there are about 18 catechumens attending this RICA program. Next February a newly graduated lay evangelist will join him. Soon we will starts systematic projects in three new parishes.
The Success of the Two Types of Evangelism
St. Joseph Parish is located at Lu-Chou in Taipei County. There are about 200 active parishioners which is about 50% of the registered parishioners. In September 2007, St. Joseph Parish and Evangelism Center jointly started the [1-0-1 Systematic Evangelical Program]. 1-0-1 means One Invites One in Chinese, so parishioners started with inviting and accompanying their loved ones to attend the “Church Tour” activity, which is the first session for pre-catechumens. Parishioners also try their best to accompany their loved ones who are attending RCIA classes. Because the parents who attend RCIA need babysitters during the session, we provide Sunday School for their children too. By the end of July this year, we baptized eight adults and five children.
On December 15, 2007, we started a new[1-0-1 Prayer Group] at St. Joseph Parish. This is also our first attempt to evangelize in this new method. The Prayer Group meets for 90 minutes every week. The meeting includes singing, verbal prayer, theme sharing, intercessory prayer, and personal sharing. The mission is to create a prayer community in which non-Catholics feel welcomed and can easily participate. If they like this community, they are welcomed to stay and invited to join RCIA at the right time. In the past nine months, the Prayer Group peaked at sixteen parishioners. Though the prayer group, twelve non-Catholics joined a RCIA program. Because of the hard work of the pastor, lay leaders, and our evangelist, this first attempt exceeded our anticipated level of success.
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