The vision and aim of the Melbourne School of Evangelisation is to spread the School to the whole of Australia and overseas. The aims include establishing a School in each of the 28 Catholic Dioceses in Australia. A further aim is to leave trained teams of teachers who will be able to multiply the schools in their own regions. The ultimate vision of the school is to see ongoing schools of evangelisation in every parish!

The principle of the school is to multiply evangelisers, skilled in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus, who died, rose and is now glorified. A further principle is to multiply schools of evangelisation by training trainers of evangelisers. Already Australian teams have conducted schools in the Philippines and are open to promote the development of local schools in other countries. New Zealand graduates continue Schools in their own country. The cost of courses is funded by the registration fees paid by participants. Each school is expected to be self-supporting.

Objective of the School

The objective of the school is best summed up in the words of St Paul in his second letter to Timothy:

Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men and women who will be able to teach others also (2 Tim 2:1–2). Pope John Paul II has expressed it in this way in the encyclical Redemptoris Missio: I sense that the moment has come to commit all of the Church energies to a new evangelisation … No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church, can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples (para 3). And with great optimism and encouragement he stated: God is preparing a new springtime for the gospel (para 86).

Nature and Characteristics

The nature of the school is characterised by three key concepts.

First, the school is Kerygmatic. The Kerygma encompasses the essential elements of Christianity. The emphasis of the school is on the core message of the gospel, which is the kerygma, notably God’s love, Jesus, his death and resurrection, his saving plan and his Lordship. The proclamation of the gospel calls for a response of faith and conversion — in the Catholic Church. This distinguishes evangelisation from a catechesis. Communicating the essentials of the kerygma is considered absolutely basic before teaching about doctrines based on the kerygma.

Second, the school is Charismatic. The participants are open to the guidance and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads participants to a new and living relationship with Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Out of this relationship comes the power to witness. The school is conducted in an atmosphere of prayer and praise, including charismatic worship and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In response to the call from Pope John Paul II for a new evangelisation: new in fervour, new in expression and new in method, the school fosters creativity and participation to develop the natural and spiritual gifts and talents of all participants in the service of evangelisation.

Third, the school is Community oriented. Various activities of the school require team or community efforts. The aim of the school is to lead people to a desire for, and a commitment to, some form of small community which forms the basis of Christian living and evangelisation and into which people are evangelised. These small communities, or cell groups, are always fostered in the context of the wider community of the Catholic Church, such as the parish. Part of the vision of the school is that the Church be a community of communities.

Methodology

The methods used in the school foster the knowledge of the Scriptures, the Catholic Catechism and the teachings of the Catholic Church. The courses also give actual demonstrations and practice to the participants to develop the confidence to put what is taught to immediate use. We learn to evangelise by evangelising.

The school is distinguished especially for being: participative — it encourages active participation in presentations, prayer, liturgy and daily tasks. spiritual — the teaching team and participants lead in prayer, conduct their activities in a prayerful atmosphere and spend time in adoration. creative — there is constant encouragement to do things differently and develop the artistic and creative skills. practical — all teachings can be put into practice, either for personal transformation as a disciple of Jesus, or for evangelisation purposes. communitarian — the school aims to develop the willingness and skills to foster forgiving and cooperative Christian relationships.