Evangelization

A Few Foundational Principles

The goal of St. Martin of Tours Parish, and the Catholic Church as a whole, is to make each and every individual a saint. While keeping this ultimate goal in mind, we also recognize the state of the average Catholic today. A few foundational principles for Catholic Renewal (as set forth by the Archdiocese of St. Louis):

• "The number of indiviudals attending Mass on Sundays is the most important metric. If you are not currently attending Mass, we encourage you to do so this week. There are 168 hours in a week, which means that Sunday Mass takes up less than one-half of one percent of the week. If you have a conflict, there are Masses throughout the day, as well as Saturday vigil Masses. Click HERE for St. Martin of Tours Mass schedule or HERE for Mass times throughout the Archdiocese.
   
• Once an individual is going to Mass every Sunday, it is important to embrace the remaining Precepts of the Church: observing days of fasting and abstinence, going to confession at least once a year, partaking of the Eucharist at least once a year, contributing to the support of the Church, obeying and defending the Church's teachings on matrimony, and participating in evangelization.
   
• All Catholics should strive to make 1 degree of spiritual progress this week. If not currently embracing all of the Precepts, progress should be ordered to this end. If all of the Precepts are embraced, then this is a prudential decision made in the heart. Examples of 1 degree of progress include memorizing the Mass responses, remaining to pray for a few minutes after Mass, or picking up a spiritual or theological book. You're either moving forward in the spiritual life, or you're moving backwards. Make a conscious effort to MOVE FORWARD this week!
   
• The laity will be essential to the New Evangelization since 99% of the Church's members are lay persons. All Catholics have both a right and a duty to build up the Church. The laity are called to bring the light of the Gospel to the secular spheres, while always thinking and acting with the heart and mind of the Church. We encourage you to read the following documents: Vatican II's Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity and Blessed John Paul II's Christifideles Laici.
   
• Finally, this may be the simplest concept, but it may make the biggest difference: we have to be assured of the fact that it is okay to be Catholic. Not only is it okay, but we should make the faith central to our lives and strive to share it with others." (archstl.org/evangelization - italicized text added)