Episode 32: Missional Amnesia

Have you ever used a Catholic buzz word like missionary disciple or missional church and received blank looks in return? It’s a surprising experience, but the reality is many Catholics still don’t know what the word missional means. It used to be that missionaries were the people who traveled to Africa, and the Church in America grew because Catholics had big families. Our biggest problem used to be caring for all of the people who came to the Church’s doorstep, but now, we find ourselves trying to proclaim the Gospel to a world that doesn’t know much about who Jesus is or what the Church is really about. Many of us even know a family member or friend who has walked away from the faith, but it’s often difficult for us to believe that this is part of a larger cultural trend. However, the reality is that the city of Omaha is among the top 30 most secular or “post-Christian” cities in the US. Collectively, we have missional amnesia. We’ve forgotten that we are called to go and make disciples. We lack an imagination around what a missional church looks likes because, until recently, we haven’t had to be one. So, what do you say to someone who asks what a missional church is? Tune in to hear Fr. Lorig and Jim Jansen's musings on this topic. [00:57] What Does It Mean to Be a Missional Community? [01:42] The Unstuck Church and Church Lifecycle [03:06] The Importance of Being Missional [04:34] Challenges of Modern Evangelization [06:37] The Call to Evangelize [09:58] The Role of Holiness in Mission [19:48] Strategies for Effective Evangelization [23:38] The Challenge of Missionary Work [24:28] Pope Francis' Perspective on Mission [25:12] Reaching People Outside the Church [26:16] The Problem with RCIA [27:58] Evangelization Programs vs. Strategy [29:13] Empowering Parishioners for Mission [32:37] Creating a Missional Community [36:28] Innovative Ideas for Outreach [41:01] Practical Steps for Parish Staff and Families [47:28] Conclusion and Call to Action