EC THE EVANGELICAL C ATHOLIC
THE EVANGELICAL CATHOLIC MISSION STATEMENT
We equip Catholics to live out the Great Commission.
A message from the
PRESIDENT
In 1999, I became Catholic. I was inspired by the teachings on evangelization from Vatican II, St. Paul VI, and St. John Paul II.
So I was confused when I joined a parish staff in 2000 and discovered that many of my peers working for Catholic churches were still asking questions like:
- Can we really speak of evangelizing people who are already baptized?
- Doesn’t Jesus forbid judging others? Isn’t evangelizing a form of judging others?
- Doesn’t all spiritual seeking lead to heaven? What gives us the right to “proselytize” our belief in Jesus?
I struggled to contain myself when these questions were posed seriously. The Church had already explicitly and brilliantly countered these questions! Why were people still asking them?! But the questions were still in the water. The magisterium’s answers had not yet purified the water.
Today, we face a similar disconnect between Church teaching and on-the-ground mindsets that is holding the Church back from changing the world.
Too often, Church leaders prioritize the parish as the primary means of our mission. They think that in order to evangelize the world, we first need to streamline committee structures, remodel the bathrooms, or launch programs and events to bring people to the parish. With rare exception, the parish is viewed as the engine of evangelization.
But the Catholic Church’s widespread ineffectiveness in evangelization is not due to weak parish engines. It is due to the theological fact that the parish was never intended to be the engine. It was ordained by God to be the fuel of evangelization. Engines and fuel are very different.
Parishes, beginning with their structures and the organization of parish life, are called to think of themselves “primarily as being of service to the mission that the faithful carry out in society, in family life and the workplace, without concentrating exclusively on their own activities and their organizational needs” (8.1). Parish communities increasingly need to become places from which
PARADIGM Changing the
the baptized set out as missionary disciples and to which they return, full of joy, in order to share the wonders worked by the Lord through their witness (cf. Lk 10:17).
May 2024, Letter of the Holy Father Francis to Parish Priests
So if the parish is the fuel, what is the engine of evangelization?
YOU are the engine.
Individual Catholics are the engines of evangelization that will change the world. What will more effectively make my child into a disciple? Me or my parish’s religious education program? What is the best way to lead my friend out of his gambling addiction into deeper discipleship? Me praying with him, teaching him how to pray, and sharing the strength Jesus offers in the Holy Spirit, offering accountability and encouragement, sticking with him in the ups and downs—or my parish’s 4-week mini-series on addiction?
The magisterium is right: the laity are the front lines of the Church’s evangelization. And we desperately need our parishes to fuel us as disciplemaking engines through the sacraments, formation, deeper training, and apostolic community. All of the parish’s activity should be oriented toward being highoctane fuel to ignite the laity’s apostolic potential.
Magisterial teaching throughout history exhorts Catholics to live out the fullness of their baptism by witnessing to Jesus and making disciples of all nations. The parish is perfectly situated to fuel this mission and to provide the point of fulfillment in this mission (communion with God).
There is no shame in being fuel. It is vital to the mission. There is no competition between engines and fuel—they are synergistic. But attempts to build the parish into an engine of evangelization burn up far more resources than are necessary, using them on aspects of parish life that are ancillary to being highoctane fuel. Instead, the Church must start dedicating its resources to building individual Catholics into engines and fashioning its structures to fuel them.
This is how we will change the world.
JASON SIMON
President, The Evangelical Catholic
You’re helping Catholics live a life with Jesus that’s IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO SHARE
Like you, we yearn for a world where faithful lay people understand the call to mission and are actively evangelizing their communities. Last year, your support prepared almost 200 ministry partnerships to form and train 2,625 Catholics for the Great Commission through Reach MoreTM Mission Training.
Imagine what just one of these 2,625 individuals can accomplish when they pray with Scripture daily and participate regularly in the sacraments.
Imagine the possible encounters now that they’re more open and alert to the spiritual needs of their family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.
Imagine how the Holy Spirit will enter their community now that they have the tools and confidence to share their faith joyfully and organically with others.
We all understand the urgency of this essential mission. With the help of our ministry partners, fellow apostolates, and you, the Evangelical Catholic has prayerfully conceived a goal that will activate the lay faithful and mobilize the Church to transform the world:
10 years. 100,000 Catholics. Our goal is to ignite over 100,000 Catholics for the mission of evangelization in communities all across the nation by 2032.
How can we get to 100,000? This number comes from knowing that our partnerships can form, equip, and send 20 individuals a year to be agents of change within their scope of influence. We also know that we will be able to fortify this number by investing in a straight-to-consumer model of mission training.
This is possible. Not only is this possible, it’s essential.
We’re ready to break down barriers and change the way that disciples, on fire for Jesus and hungry to evangelize, are equipped, sent, and supported as they go places where the parish staff can’t and share the good news there.
With your help, we are going to dismantle the things that aren’t working, smash through paradigms that are holding the Body of Christ back, and reignite a Church that longs to be fruitful. As a valued donor, thank you for being alongside us on this ride!
Your gift is supporting all these services, as well as the research and development of future resources and services. Scan to help us spread the Gospel!
REACH MORE MISSION TRAINING
FOR A PARISH, CAMPUS, DIOCESE, OR ORGANIZATION
Coaching to form cultures of missionary discipleship in their own communities.
FOR INDIVIDUAL PRIESTS AND LAY PEOPLE
Collaboration with individual priests and lay parish leaders to offer expert guidance and fresh perspectives tailored to fit their specific needs.
RESOURCES AND LIVE EVENTS
WORKBOOKS, STUDY GUIDES, AND BOOKS
We continually develop resources that support pastors, ministry professionals, and regular Catholics like you in your evangelization efforts.
PRIESTS FOR AN APOSTOLIC AGE CONFERENCE
Your support has allowed us to provide a prayerful, inspiring, and practical experience for priests and bishops that gives them vision and tools they need to recharge their ministries and activate apostolic laity in their community.
FOR SEMINARIANS
A way to instill the culture of missionary discipleship and an imagination for lay agency into summer seminarian formation and beyond.
IMPACT EVENTS
With your help, we’ve led Impact Events for partnerships across the country that encourage normal (yet extraordinary) Catholics to take hold of the abundant life of Jesus.
RULE OF LIFE?
A rule of life is a set of rhythms and practices we choose to live out in order to make space for our highest priorities, values, relationships, and callings.
It turns out, this is something Catholics ought to know all about, as it comes from our own tradition. St. Benedict authored the first well-known rule of life for monks in the 6th century, and both religious communities and official church movements have had clearly defined rules of life ever since. Yet, outside of religious communities and official movements like Cursillo or Focolare, etc., just the opposite is the case. At least in my experience, both personally and professionally, few lay Catholics in ordinary parishes know how to write a rule of life for prayer, study, rest, community, mission, and the like.
THE IMAGE OF A TRELLIS
One use of the word “rule” (regula in Latin) is “a straight piece of wood,” like a ruler. But long ago it was sometimes used to denote a trellis for plants, upon which a vine can grow, as in a vineyard. With this in mind, recall Jesus’ metaphor of the vine and the branches found in John 15:4-5 (NRSVCE):
Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
Now put the two images together. What does the structure of a trellis do for a vine? It gives it the spacing and structure it needs to keep growing, to stay protected (from predation, rot, and getting trampled on), and to bear much more fruit than it would otherwise. This is what a prayerfully chosen rule of life does for our relationship with God. When we choose to order our lives around the practices and rhythms that best position us to experience God’s rest, receive his Spirit, tune us into his voice, and share his life with others, we construct a trellis upon which we can continue to grow, be healed, and bear fruit for the Kingdom. A rule of life helps our good intentions to follow Jesus and grow in virtue become a reality, instead of just another hope on a never-ending list of competing demands for our time.
EVERYONE LIVES BY A RULE OF LIFE
And here’s the kicker. If we don’t prayerfully and intentionally create a rule of life, we still live one anyway. It just happens to be one that is chosen for us by the forces of this world: the powerful digital algorithms that compel us to check our phones first thing in the morning and last thing at night, or the rat race of tasks that never seem to get done, or the chasing of popularity, wealth, pleasure, or romance. All humans live a rule of life. Only some have carefully and prayerfully chosen what it is.
HOW CAN I WRITE A RULE OF LIFE?
If you’re ready to apply this wonderful tradition to your own life, here are three categories to get started with:
1. Prayer and Sacraments: In addition to the bare minimums (the five precepts of the Church), which rhythms and practices of prayer and sacraments do you want to live by?
2. Mission: In what ways and to whom are you called to bring the light of faith, hope, and love offered by Jesus? Who are you called to witness to and accompany closer to Christ? What, concretely, does this look like right now?
3. Christian Community: With whom will you share and discuss your rule of life? Who will you talk to about how it is going? How often will you gather with a few other disciples of Jesus to discuss and pray about life, spiritual growth/challenges, and mission?
Start small and build from there. Avoid getting legalistic or scrupulous about it. Give yourself lots of grace, patience, and room to experiment, adapt, and grow. The goal is not to live your rule of life for its own sake. No one is impressing God here. The whole exercise is simply a means toward putting prayerful thought and attention into living out your highest priorities, callings, and relationships as a disciple of Jesus abiding on the vine.
So grab your hammer and nails (or your journal and a pen) and start working on your trellis today!
Andre talks more about his “Rule of Life” on the Priests for an Apostolic Age podcast! Scan here to watch.
Launching and supporting LAY APOSTOLATES
ACTIVATING LAY LEADERS FOR MISSION
What does it actually look like when a parishioner gets invited deeper into their baptismal call through the Reach More Mission Process?
Meet Tina, a (seemingly) regular parishioner at a typical Catholic parish. On the surface, Tina is like everyone else, but she's living a life on mission. Why? She has been equipped with formation and skills to enrich her relationship with Jesus, interact intentionally with those in her life, and confidently thrive in her baptismal call to be the light of Christ.
SHARES HER STORY OF FAITH IN LOVING, RELEVANT WAYS
IS SUSTAINED BY A DEEPENING PRAYER AND SACRAMENTAL LIFE
FACILITATES PRAYERFUL DISCUSSION OF GOD'S WORD
WORKS AND SERVES HER FAMILY WITH A DESIRE TO HONOR AND GLORIFY GOD
MENTORS OTHERS INTO DISCIPLESHIP HABITS
ASKS GREAT QUESTIONS AND LISTENS ATTENTIVELY
INTERCEDES FOR SPECIFIC PEOPLE IN HER LIFE
DISCERNS THE RIGHT NEXT STEP ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUALS' SPIRITUAL READINESS
LAUNCHING APOSTOLATES
Jesus used the power of intimate relationships to invest in a small group of people who would carry on the mission and build the Church. In the same way, parishes launch people like Tina into disciple-making apostolates in the world with the help of the Evangelical Catholic's consulting and training.
READY FOR MORE
Every parish has parishioners like Tina who are ready for more, who are ready to be equipped for mission. People like Tina have the most potential to reach the lukewarm in the pews and those outside of the Church.
INITIAL MISSION TRAINING
Tina is invited by the point person (PP) into mission. The parish provides twelve weeks of Reach More Mission Training that awakens Tina's apostolic awareness and consciousness, and provides training for her apostolic skills.
SUPPORTING APOSTOLATES
Tina's mission doesn't end with the training group. Disciple makers need continual support from pastors and point people to thrive. Tina and other trained leaders in her parish are provided ongoing spiritual and practical support for long-term fruitfulness.
MONTHLY MISSION SUPPORT GROUP
Tina meets monthly with a group of three or four other leaders. Tina is encouraged, prayed for, and spurred to stay growing in discipleship and committment to mission. She provides the same support for others in her group.
ONGOING MISSION FORMATION
Tina is invited by the parish to gather together with fellow parishioners who are living on mission three to four times a year for ongoing formation and training to support deeper growth and sustained apostolic consciousness.
MISSION TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Reach More Mission Training was developed in 2015, and your support has allowed us to make revisions necessary to accommodate the everchanging cultural landscape. These changes reflect what we understand about how the lay faithful live in a postChristian age.
Living an evangelical Catholic life takes many forms. We believe that the foundation of this life is proper instruction in prayer and the sacraments and a Jesus-led community of accompaniment and accountability.
The Reach More Mission Training experience includes robust formation in a life of discipleship. Over twelve weeks, disciple-makers-in-training gather weekly for group formation and meet individually with a point person for personalized mentoring. They grow in the heart and habits of daily prayer, Scripture, sacraments, and community. They are equipped as missionary disciples with the Father’s heart for the world.
What does this look like in real life? Let’s take a look at one of our partnerships, St. Michael the Archangel parish in Cary, North Carolina, and delve into how a Mission Training group operates in a practical setting.
Finding People who are Ready to Grow
“Matt Sebastian (point person): The process of discernment was quite a task. I’m used to putting out ads in the church bulletin. But this was much more intentional—offering up Masses for them, interceding in prayer. I had to let go of the notion that I knew the people who would be the right fit, and I had to surrender my own judgment. I asked the Holy Spirit in humility, ‘Are these the right people? Do I have your permission to approach these people?’ It was a two-way process: me asking the Holy Spirit about them, and the Holy Spirit preparing them on their end.
“Building a Community of Missionary Disciples
Joanna Yoder: Reach More Mission Training came just at the perfect time in my life. I was thankful to be able to meet regularly with like minded people, be able to share my love and appreciation for our Catholic faith and get to know one another, learn how to share that faith and how to grow in my relationship with Christ.
“ “
Sharing your Faith Story
“Lisa Wilson: What I’m grateful for through Reach More Mission Training is what I’ve learned about sharing my faith. That’s something that was difficult for me before. It was easy to share my faith within the context of a Bible study or a Catholic women’s book group. It hasn’t been easy for me to share my faith with friends and family who aren’t Catholic, or who have gone away from the Church. That was something that troubled me. Now I really feel like I have the confidence to do that. I think it’s very important that we learn to do that, because the world right now needs to hear how much Jesus loves them.
“
Cary, North Carolina
ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PARISH
Learning Intercessory Prayer
“
Suja Mariadoss: I always had this fear of praying in my own words. My non-Catholic Christian friends and colleagues were all super good at praying. It comes naturally for them. They could pray for one intention for 10 or 15 minutes. And when they discuss Scripture, they’re so good at it. I thought, ‘Why am I not able to do that?’ But this training has helped me to overcome that fear, and especially with this praying on your own words. Now I have the confidence.
Discerning a Personal Apostolate
““
“ Erik Rodriguez: You might be someone who wants to impact others close to you, or you might be someone who is thinking bigger. Reach More Mission Training teaches you to do that in a loving, caring way. It’s easy to fall into a mindset of not doing things the right way, but Reach More gives you that guidance. It gives you the tools and resources, you’ll find people to accompany you in the journey, and it will make an impact on you, your family, your friends, and the entire world!
Being Sent out in your Mission Field “
Bill Burns: I didn’t really know what to expect, but what I came away with after Mission Training was that it was a gift from the parish. It was so that I could better understand what my personal apostolate was. A personal apostolate is [an apostolic activity] you can do for the Church that nobody else can do, and I didn’t know that. Mission Training helps you define that because part of it is really developing a habit of connection with God on a daily basis, which allows you to unfold what that personal apostolate is.
2024
Reach More Highlights
After Mission Training, 69% of trained leaders indicate they plan to lead a small group as part of their personal apostolate. Within small groups, we have seen the following over time:
9 out of 10
small group participants consider Jesus to be a friend, companion, Lord, and Savior
9 out of 10 now pray a few times a week or more
8 out of 10 now pray every day
3 out of 10 increased their participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation
3 out of 10 increased how frequently they spend 15 minutes in prayer
2 out of 10 now pray 15 minutes every day or almost every day
1 out of 10 increased their Mass attendance (going more often weekly or daily)
1 out of 10 increased how often they pray before the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration
After completing a training group, leaders have discerned to reach out to the following: Trained leaders consider these as part of their personal apostolate:
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO BE A DISCIPLE IN THE MIDST OF THE WORLD?
Small groups have always been a powerful vehicle for renewal and evangelization in the world, yet small groups are just one of many missions (apostolates) that the people of God might be called to. We do not merely provide “small group leader training.” Instead, we equip the laity to live out their baptismal calling to spread the fragrance of Christ everywhere they go and to make disciples.
With your help, we are encouraging new levels of missionary imagination and fruit among the laity! We are called and accompanied by Christ into every nook and cranny of the world, because that’s where we already are! More than ever, we are helping the Church to form the laity with apostolic consciousness, attitudes, and skills to truly reach more.
REAL LIFE APOSTOLATES:
- A woman from Austin, Texas is reaching fallen-away Catholics: the parents of Little League teammates.
- A man in Sammamish, Washington saw a need to reach out and connect with men in his community, and was inspired to walk with other fathers from his child’s school.
- A mother in Reedsburg, Wisconsin brought other mothers together to pray intentionally and intercede for their children.
- In Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, a man and his wife reach out to people on the fringes and accompany them on their journey of recovery that is founded on Scripture, prayer, and Christian fellowship.
- A Bradley University student in Peoria, Illinois is inviting the Holy Spirit into her sorority by praying for her sisters and nurturing more intentional relationships.
- A woman in Keller, Texas, felt called to grow deeper in her friendship with one individual. She invited that woman to dinner and simply listened. Later, that woman began attending her small group and eventually invited a friend herself.
- A Spanish-language men’s group in Winder, Georgia is encouraging fathers to lead their families back to Jesus.
- Two young professionals started a choir in their parish for twentyand-thirty-somethings, and it transformed into a group of peers who worship together, share in fellowship, and begin all their social gatherings in prayer.
- At Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, a male student is using a book club to bring Jesus into his fraternity house. He and his fraternity brothers are reading and discussing The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.
You’re helping others live an
EVANGELICAL CATHOLIC LIFE
Because of you, we are able to research, develop, and publish content that serves Catholics on every step of their discipleship journey. These resources are tailored to serve an individual’s continual commitment to be a disciple of Jesus. With your help, we are proud to be continually improving our content library, which includes digital articles, podcasts, published resources, and more!
Claim your issue:
THE REACH MORE PODCAST
Each episode of the Reach More Podcast features a regular Catholic who is living their mission to share Jesus with the world and make disciples. These stories are meant to inspire Catholics who desire to bring the Gospel to others but may not know how by highlighting real examples of apostolic activity. The Reach More Podcast is a perfect introduction for people who are curious about relational ministry.
IN DEVELOPMENT: THE EC MAGAZINE
We will launch a monthly print magazine through a partnership with Decided Excellence. This magazine will be sent leaders who have been trained through Reach More. The EC Magazine will support Catholics on mission by giving them monthly inspiration, formation, spiritual reflections, and practical advice and applications for their personal apostolates.
Listen to our catalog of episodes.
IN DEVELOPMENT: REACH MORE DIRECT
There are many Catholics who desire access to our Mission Training, but lack institutional support. With your help, we are developing a direct-to-consumer model of Reach More Mission Training that would allow individuals to participate outside of a traditional parish or organizational partnership.
Get a copy for you and a friend today:
THE 10:10 CHALLENGE
Have you ever wanted to help a friend grow as a disciple, but didn’t have the right tools? The 10:10 Challenge is our answer to that dilemma. More than a guide, The 10:10 Challenge is a framework for inviting and accompanying a friend into the abundant life that Jesus promises. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to strengthen their friendship with Jesus and help someone else do the same.
Bundle discipleship resources and save! Mission-Ready Friendship and The 10:10 Challenge are available for purchase together for $29.99 +S&H.
MISSION-READY FRIENDSHIP
Catholics can set the world on fire if they are inspired and equipped to help their friends grow closer to God in natural, organic ways. MissionReady Friendship from our president Jason Simon is a roadmap for how to truly befriend your friends, not by solving their problems for them but by going deeper to become the friend Jesus created you to be.
PRIESTS FOR AN APOSTOLIC AGE PODCAST
Scan to listen now!
The Priests for an Apostolic Age podcast is specifically meant to inspire, support, and empower priests in navigating the challenges and opportunities of our time. Senior Consultant Peter Andrastek and Fr. Keith O’Hare delve into topics such as pastoral care, spiritual resilience, apostolic formation and accompaniment, community outreach, and the evolving role of priests in the post-Christian era.
IN DEVELOPMENT: APOSTOLATE SUPPORT RESOURCES
Scan for an exclusive discount on your copy of Mission-Ready Friendship!
Your generous support is helping us develop robust resources for Catholics on mission. This apostolate support will provide lifelong support for leaders through videos, articles, mini courses and webinars, live events, digital communication, and much more.
LEADERSHIP
Jason Simon President
Andrew Ochalek VP of Operations
Bryan Fegley, CFRE
Senior Director of Mission Advancement
Julie Rose Consultant Manager
CONSULTING OPERATIONS
Peter Andrastek
Senior Consultant
Josh Dart
Lead Consultant
Kendra de Ramos
Lead Consultant
Mark Rose
Lead Consultant
Mari Pablo Ministry Consultant
John Barrientes Ministry Consultant
CONTENT
Andre Lesperance
Senior Content Creator
Andrea Jackson Senior Content Creator
Adriana Rivera
Associate Content Creator
MISSION ADVANCEMENT
James Carrano
Senior Mission Advancement Officer
Sarah Pandl
Mission Advancement Officer
Caitlin Heath
Marketing and Communications Manager
$1,418,376 CONTRIBUTIONS $1,093,509
$10,624
$62,675 ROYALTIES
$1,872,932
$413,582
$359,138
$13,294
GIVE Ways you can
Learn how to make a gift to the Evangelical Catholic!
Your thoughtful generosity transforms lives! When you support the Evangelical Catholic, you are helping individuals across the country receive training, resources, and community support to reach others with God’s love and live out the Great Commission in their daily lives! The Evangelical Catholic’s ongoing fundraising priorities are:
- General Evangelization Support
- Scholarships for Low-Income Communities
- Campus Ministry Support
- Apostolate Support
- Development of Training and Shepherding Resources
REACH MORE SUPPORTERS:
We especially thank our Reach More Supporters monthly donors who this year responded generously to an urgent need for an underprivileged community. Because of your swift action and thoughtful gifts, you were able to raise $14,832 for Fr. Eduardo Montemayor and his parish in San Pedro, Belize. Your charitable giving made it possible for Fr. Eduardo to provide Mission Training to his parishioners and equip them to share the Gospel in their community. Thank you!
Our generous monthly givers provide support for the greatest need in any given year. This year, they supported a need-based scholarship for Fr. Eduardo in San Pedro, Belize. Scan to become a monthly Reach More Supporter today to help a parish in need!
The Evangelical Catholic Staff
MISSION EXPANSION
Cody LeClaire
Mission Expansion Officer
Dcn. John Green
Mission Success Officer
Bob Schrimpf
Director of Western Expansion
Caitlin Sturm
Marketing Intern
OPERATIONS & SUPPORT
Krista Ewing
Operations Administrator
Beth Anne Heneghan Business Specialist
Kelly Czajka Conference and Events Planner
Joan Runyon
Executive Project Manager
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ben Buss
Chair
Ed Van Pelt Vice-Chair
Dan Zellner
Treasurer
Geoff Gasperini
Trustee
Lyle Landowski
Trustee
Scott Hackl
Trustee
Rob Marsland
Trustee
Msgr. Steve Callahan
Trustee
Kate Sell
Trustee
Mike Stabolepszy
Trustee
The Evangelical Catholic
6602 Normandy Lane FL 2
Madison, WI 53719
(608) 820-1288
ec@evangelicalcatholic.org evangelicalcatholic.org
For Helping Us Reach More
Your faithfulness, prayers, and generosity mean thousands of Catholics across the nation are growing deeper as discples of Jesus and spreading his love in their communities. You are making a life-long impact for people around the world!