Episode #221 "Sharing Words of Hope" 1:1 Conversation with Susan Windley-Daoust, Executive Director, Mark 5:19 Project

In this Say Yes to Holiness podcast conversation, Christina has a conversation with Susan Windley-Daoust, Executive Director, of the Mark 5:19 Project.  Susan discusses her journey and the launch of the Mark 5:19 project, a nonprofit apostolate aimed at helping parishes become evangelizing communities. In their conversation, Susan emphasizes the importance of prayer and courage in sharing the Gospel and encourages individuals to step out of their comfort zones and engage with others in conversations about faith. She also highlights the need for a culture change in the Church, where evangelization becomes a natural part of our lives and relationships. Finally, she suggests practical steps, such as forming small groups and fostering meaningful conversations within families, to help foster parish renewal. Takeaways Prayer and discernment are essential in the process of parish renewal and evangelization. Every Catholic, regardless of their role in the Church, can share the Gospel and be a witness to God's love. Parish renewal requires a culture change, where evangelization becomes a natural part of our lives and relationships. Creating spaces for meaningful conversations and fostering small groups can help facilitate the sharing of faith. We need to be willing to step out of our comfort zones and engage with others in conversations about faith and hope. The purpose of the Mark 5:19 project is to support parishes in their journey towards becoming evangelizing communities. Sound Bites" "The first thing I would recommend, whether you're average person in the pew or the pastor of the church, is to pray." "We need to be converted to God's people and be the bearers of the good news." "The first time is hard, the second time is uncomfortable, and the third time you're there." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Susan's Journey 08:29 The Genesis of the Mark 519 Project 14:16 The Role of the Average Person in Parish Renewal 17:04 Creating a Culture of Evangelization 22:13 Fostering Meaningful Conversations and Small Groups 25:01 Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zones 34:27 The Mark 5:19 Project: Supporting Parishes in Evangelization   To learn more about the Mark 5:19 Project, go to: https://mark519project.org/