Calling, Forming, and Sending Leaders for the New Evangelization
The Saint John Society (SSJ) is a Catholic apostolic community inspired by the public life of Jesus, dedicated to the New Evangelization. Currently, the SSJ is located in Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, and the US.
The goal of the Saint John Society is to reach out to those who have fallen away from their faith. We do this through programs of evangelization and faith formation directed to youth, young adults, professionals, and the underprivileged.
O U R A P OS T O L I C W O R K I S S U M M A R I Z E D I N A THREE-STAGE PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL G R OW T H : C A L L , FOR M , S E N D .
Call
Form
Send
Reaching those who do not regularly come to church and facilitating an encounter with Christ within the community.
Once they have encountered the living Christ, they are invited to initiate a gradual and progressive process of growth in their Christian life. This process integrates the human, doctrinal, spiritual, and apostolic dimensions.
After they have reached maturity in Christ, they are sent to bear fruit both in the Church and in the world.
This process of spiritual development is accomplished through programs of the New Evangelization, developed for specific age groups and with a specific time frame.
Cenaculo Cenaculo is a program for high school youth who desire to grow in their Christian life. It is a space of prayer, friendship and service in the spirit of the New Evangelization. It is structured around the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
Fragua Fragua is a program for university students who have been transformed by an encounter with the risen Christ. They have set on a path of human and spiritual formation and so become capable of bringing the values of the Gospel to society. Fragua fosters strong ties of friendship, intense prayer moments, and evangelization efforts that allow them to bring the mission to their daily lives.
Academy Academy is for young professionals who are invited to volunteer in programs of evangelization, taking leaderships roles in Cenaculo and Fragua. Through this experience, they learn to use their talents in the service of others and hone their skills to be the light of Christ in their professional life.
Ambassadors
Galilee
This program reaches out to men, seeking to ignite their faith in Christ and to strengthen them in their lay vocation, so that they may transform their environment according to the values of the Gospel. Men are encouraged to infuse every human element of their lives with the light that comes from God through Christ: their careers, their family lives, and their service to others.
Galilee is directed to women who, having encountered the transforming love of Jesus, endeavor to deepen their faith and bear witness to Him through their example and their testimony, both in their family life and their professional life. Like the women from Galilee that followed Jesus in His public life, they also serve Him through apostolic projects and works of mercy.
San Juan Diego San Juan Diego is an evangelization program that reaches out to adults in the Hispanic community who have not yet encountered Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. After the initial outreach, this program becomes a school of Christian life for them, encouraging faith formation, growth in human virtues, and the development of evangelization skills, so that they can contribute as agents of change in their communities.
Our vision for St. John Society Pastoral Centers In tandem with the programs, the SSJ has developed pastoral centers. These centers are physical spaces fully devoted to the New Evangelization. From these centers we develop the programs of New Evangelization, foster the works of mercy, equip lay people to be active protagonists in the New Evangelization, and celebrate a liturgy that leads people to experience the living presence of God. Besides hosting the activities themselves, the pastoral centers are centers of irradiation that call, form, and send Catholics to experience and share the New Life in Christ. The SSJ has already opened a pastoral center in Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina. We are building a second pastoral center in Montevideo, Uruguay.
The 5 pillars of a Pastoral Center 1 2 3 4 5
Evangelization and Entryways: providing regular proclamation of the person of Jesus that awakens people to faith. Formation in Christian Life: offering the “know-how” so that people can live as Christians in the world. Spaces of Prayer: offering spaces of prayer where the presence of God is made palpable and evident. Fraternal, Prayerful, and Missionary Communities: making it easy for people to gather with others who have also experienced new life in Christ so that this life strengthens, grows, and gives to others.
Rendering of the center currently being built in Montevideo, Uruguay
Culture of Volunteering: discovering and developing personal talents and providing the means for putting them into action in service of the mission and of those in need.
PILAR PASTORAL CENTER TESTIMONY "When I think of all that this community has witnessed – miracles, conversions, physical healings, spriritual healings – what is even more extraordinary is that I know that I am not exaggerating one single word, it is plain truth. The fact is that the pastoral center's seed was there from the very first day. It is without a doubt the Lord's doing." - Susy Feu
Pastoral Center in Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
A New Need
Mass Attendance 38.4% decrease
In the last decades, the Church has had a growing awareness that business as usual is not enough. The increasing wave of de-christianization and secularization has made the Church realize that we need to develop a missionary mindset, or in the words of St. John Paul II, we need a New Evangelization.
"Formerly Catholic" Adults 840% increase
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Adult Baptism 41.6% decrease
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Catholic Marriages 32.3% decrease 500,000
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Catholic Elementary Schools 53.8% decrease
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Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University
WHILE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR CURRENT MINISTRIES, WE NOW GO FOR MORE!
The Society of Mary is an Institute of Missionary Sisters united to the Saint John Society in its message and mission.
Calling, Forming, and Sending Leaders for the New Evangelization
We are launching an $800,000 campaign to create a pastoral center in West Linn, Oregon dedicated to the work of the New Evangelization. This campaign will be used to:
Cover the remaining purchasing costs of the property Remodel the church building and pastoral center Launch our program for high-school outreach
We intend to open a new pastoral center in the Portland area. As a very secular city, Portland needs an intentional and sustained effort of evangelization. Over the last years, we have seen both the growth of our ministry and the increasing need to reach out to those who are not coming. Consequently, our dream is to create a physical space from which we can devote all of our energies to reaching out through programs of the New Evangelization. With God's providence, this dream is now becoming a reality.
The future Old River Pastoral Center building in West Linn, Oregon
POPE PAUL VI Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14 “We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church. It is a task and mission which the vast and profound changes of present-day society make all the more urgent."
POPE JOHN PAUL II Redemptris Missio, 33 "Entire groups of the baptized have lost a living sense of the faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church, and live a life far removed from Christ and his Gospel. In this case what is needed is a 'new evangelization' or a 're-evangelization'."
POPE BENEDICT XVI Porta Fidei, 7 “Today too, there is a need for stronger ecclesial commitment to new evangelization in order to rediscover the joy of believing and the enthusiasm for communicating the faith.”
POPE FRANCIS Joy of the Gospel, 15 “Today missionary activity still represents the greatest challenge for the Church... We cannot passively and calmly wait in our church buildings; we need to move from a pastoral ministry of mere conservation to a decidedly missionary pastoral ministry.”
February 16, 2021
Dear Friends In Christ, Praised Be Jesus Christ! The St. John Society is an apostolic community inspired by the public life of Jesus. The Society’s specific mission is to encourage outreach programs, and it has embarked on a new project – a pastoral center for the New Evangelization located in West Linn. Today, more than ever, the universal and local Church need to shift away from maintaining what we have and embark upon a new Apostolic mission. I pray that the missionaries of the St. John Society will be able to develop from this place programs of New Evangelization that call, form, and send Catholics into the Church and the world. I am also pleased to hear about the emphasis on high school ministry. We truly need to reach out to our younger population and present the Gospel of Christ to them. The Sisters of the Society of Mary, who presently reside in ministry at St. Mary’s in Corvallis, will live in the pastoral center. It is my hope and prayer that they can also reflect the light of Christ through their hospitality and assistance with the sacred liturgy. I continue to support the missionary work of the St. John Society in our local Church and grant my blessing for this new apostolic initiative. Please join me in prayer and support for their success, hoping that this new initiative will bring movement in our local Church toward a more missionary vision centered on the life and mission of Jesus Christ. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Alexander K. Sample Archbishop of Portland in Oregon
This new initiative does not deter us from our previous apostolic commitments. On the contrary, through this pastoral center, we want to recommit our efforts in the work of the New Evangelization and to root ourselves more deeply in this Archdiocese. We plan to continue serving at St Michael’s parish in Portland and St. Mary’s in Corvallis. The Old River Pastoral Center will particularly compliment the ministries of St. Michael's in Portland.
St Michael the Archangel Parish, Portland OR
What activities would take place at the Old River Pastoral Center? 1
2 3 4 5 6
Programs of New Evangelization: The pastoral center will focus on outreach both to high school students through the Cenaculo program, and the parents of those students (and other adults) through the Ambassadors and Galilee programs. Leadership training for the New Evangelization Spirituality events such as Mass, Adoration, or other celebrations Works of Mercy Services to families It would also serve as a residence for the sisters of the Society of Mary who will help care for the center.
Our first mission: High school outreach Our first mission with the Old River Pastoral Center will be to start high school outreach. This is an urgent ministry needing to be addressed by the Church, and we wish to be a part of building this foundation of faith in coming generations. Learning from experiences in other pastoral centers we have established, the culture of faith can work in reverse as these youth that catch spiritual fire can work to bring their parents back to the faith. Our high school program is called Cenaculo, named after the upper room where Jesus gathered with His friends in the most important moments of His life.
What is Cenaculo? Cenaculo is a program of New Evangelization devoted to calling and forming high school students as disciples of Christ. Once these young men and women experience the living presence of Jesus, we offer them the tools to solidify their commitment to the Lord through an invitation to be a part of a Christian community. Cenaculo provides personalized accompaniment of young leaders as they navigate this challenging and transitional stage in life. Through spiritual and corporal works of mercy, these young disciples have the opportunity to share Christ with joy and freedom of the heart. The participants learn to make Christ the center of their daily and spiritual lives, vocational decisions, study, and family life.
How does it work? Each month we explore a new work of mercy so that, by faith in action, Jesus can teach us how to love Him and others more authentically. In the first week, we present that month’s work of mercy and the students receive a relevant formation talk to discuss in their small groups. The second week is devoted to the spiritual and material preparation of the work of mercy. The third week, the students go out to bring Christ to others, and at the same time, encounter Him in others according to the Gospel: “you did it to me” (Matthew 25:18). Lastly, we devote the fourth week of each month to celebration and prayer as we learn in adoration how to intercede, and give thanks to and praise the Lord.
The two-story pastoral center building will host programs of the New Evangelization and house the sisters of the Society of Mary.
The 9,799 SF buildings sit on one acre of property with new landscaping and a recently redesigned parking lot.
The single story, vaulted-ceiling gymnasium will be renovated into a new church building.
The current gymnasium that will be remodeled into the church.
Render of the future Old River Pastoral Center church
A NEW SACRED SPACE FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION
Become a mission partner in our work of evangelization We are overjoyed by the enthusiasm and desire of the community to support this vision. Any way you would like to join this team of mission partners is welcomed. All sizes and types of gifts make a difference in reaching this vision and taking one step closer to reaching souls for Christ.
To help reach our goal of $800,000, we accept pledges over a three-year (36 month) period. Pledges can be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or as an annual gift. We have included a pledge schedule that provides examples of pledge levels and what this commitment could look like over three years.
Campaign Goal Our goal is to raise $800,000 needed to: Cover the remaining purchasing costs of the property Remodel the church building and pastoral center
Monthly
Quarterly
Semi-Annually
Annually
Total Pledge (for 3 years)
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$150
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$1,800
$100
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$3,600
$150
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$900
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Launch our program for high-school outreach
Avenues to Give
1
Donate online at aheartforthemission.socsj.org
2
Send a check to P.O. Box 1004 Corvallis, OR 97339-1004
3
Transfer stock or other securities from both taxable or IRA accounts
To make a pledge, please complete a pledge card.
Calling, Forming, and Sending Leaders for the New Evangelization
A Heart for the Mission is your chance to be a part of this new project for calling, forming, and sending leaders for the New Evangelization. Through your support, you will acquire a heart for the mission of the St. John Society: to announce afresh that there is new life in Christ.
Join us – and be part of the next exciting chapter in our story.
Contact Information aheartforthemission@socsj.org www.aheartforthemission.socsj.org Saint John Society P.O. Box 1004 Corvallis, OR 97339-1004