Joy of the Gospel #1

Foreword: Pope Francis' Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium in Latin) is, as one might expect, a profound and joy-filled document. This is the first of a new series of posts, to appear twice each month, which will help people gain a window into this inspiring document--a document that cuts to the very heart of the Catholic Biblical School's own mission.

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION EVANGELII GAUDIUM
OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL
IN TODAY’S WORLD

28. The parish is not an outdated institution…. This presumes that it really is in contact with the homes and the lives of its people, and does not become a useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few.

29. Other Church institutions ... are a source of enrichment for the Church, raised up by the Spirit.... Frequently they bring a new evangelizing fervour and a new capacity for dialogue with the world whereby the Church is renewed.

But it will prove beneficial for them not to lose contact with the rich reality of the local parish .... This kind of integration will prevent them from concentrating only on part of the Gospel or the Church, or becoming nomads without roots.

Afterword: The Hartford Catholic Biblical School perpetually seeks ways to be "a source of enrichment for parishes," bringing a "new evangelizing fervour and a new capacity for dialogue" to parishes. Our structure, our faculty, and most of our students are intimately connected to "the rich reality of the local parish," being, as it is, authorized by Archbishop Leonard Blair and propagated with the assistance of pastors and parishes.

Paragraph numbers are provided to help you find the quotes for further study and to place these ideas in their original context, should you wish to do so. To read the text in full, click here: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html#II.%E2%80%82Mary,_mother_of_evangelization