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Walk With One

Everyone can Evangelize

We are all called to evangelize, and thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are well-equipped for this mission. It may not mean spreading the Gospel in a foreign land or going door-to-door with the Good News—and it may require overcoming some fears—but the Lord is asking each of us to step out of our comfort zone and evangelize one-on-one.

There is someone in your life right now whom Jesus longs to call to himself. He wants to spark a relationship with them and bless them with his sacraments. In this Year of Mission, Catholics across the U.S. are saying “yes” to a special form of heart-to-heart accompaniment called the Walk With One initiative. This is your opportunity to be God’s instrument in the life of another person. Imagine how our families, neighborhoods, and country will be transformed if every active Catholic answers this call!

The Stages of Spiritual Accompaniment

1. Identify

Though this particular step might seem obvious and not worthy of deeper reflection (given the reality that all of us likely have family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers who don’t yet know Jesus well enough) it’s important to stop and truly invite the Holy Spirit to reveal who he is inviting us to intentionally walk with. Only the Holy Spirit knows the timing, “behind the scenes” work that is being done spiritually, and who is truly receptive to our loving attention right now. If you give the Holy Spirit the opportunity he may lead you clearly to someone who has already been on your heart, or, you might find him encouraging you to invest in walking with someone you wouldn’t have considered. The foundation of all effective evangelization is docility to the Holy Spirit. We invite you to begin with docility, even in the selection of who you choose to walk with.

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2. Intercede

It is the Holy Spirit who, today just as at the beginning of the Church, acts in every evangelizer who allows himself to be possessed and led by Him. The Holy Spirit places on his lips the words which he could not find by himself, and at the same time the Holy Spirit predisposes the soul of the hearer to be open and receptive to the Good News and to the kingdom being proclaimed. Techniques of evangelization are good, but even the most advanced ones could not replace the gentle action of the Spirit. It must be said that the Holy Spirit is the principal agent of evangelization: it is He who impels each individual to proclaim the Gospel, and it is He who in the depths of consciences causes the word of salvation to be accepted and understood

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The Archdiocese has created an additional resource to help give additional examples for how to intercede for the one you are walking with.

3. Connect in Eucharistic Friendship

Look for ways to accompany the person you have prayed for, to build a deeper relationship, and to practice the art of empathetic listening. Listen respectfully when the conversation turns to spiritual matters, including their relationship with God and questions or concerns about the Church, and reserve judgment about their opinions. Some people might be ready to discuss the spiritual life after only a conversation or two, while for others it might take more time. Our goal in listening well to the one we are walking with is to come to learn 1) where they are in their journey towards conversion and 2) what grace the Holy Spirit is offering them in this present moment. These two go hand in hand, as God’s grace is always perfected delivered and suited to our current “spiritual location”. If we can help the one we are walking with come to see, accept and act upon the grace the Holy Spirit is offering them at each moment – God will do all the work to lead them to conversion.

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4. Invite the person on a path most suitable for him or her

Our invitations and support should be suited to the stage someone is at in their journey towards a conversion. Knowing the basic of the journey of conversion is critical in 1) helping us identify where our friend is at in their specific journey and 2) what we can do to help them in that specific stage. The Archdiocese has created a one page overview of the “Thresholds of Conversion” which could serve as a great resource in helping you continue to grow in your ability to recognize where others are in their spiritual journey and what kind of support is most impactful. This is a summary of the research done by Doug Schaupp and Don Everts in their book “I Once Was Lost” and Sherry Weddell’s description of their research in her book “Forming Intentional Disciples”.

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