A Blog for the New Evangelization

Hello Everyone,
if you are reading this then you have happened upon the newest blog for the Catholic Youth Evangelization Programs for the City of Montgomery.  As baptized Christians, all are called to a life of holiness and that new found life in the Church calls all to help spread the message of the Gospel whether it be at home or abroad.  As Bl. Pope John Paul II stated in Redemptoris Missio, "Those who are incorporated in the Catholic Church ought to sense their privilege and for that very reason their greater obligation of bearing witness to the faith and to the Christian life as a service to their brothers and sisters and as a fitting response to God" (RM 11)."  Reading this quote and reflecting upon the nature of the Catholic Church in Montgomery, it is my hope that the youth here in Montgomery will become a vehicle for the New Evangelization.  Thus, as you are reading this blog, I ask that you consider this a challenge to live out heaven now.  Don't wait until tomorrow, but be saints for today.  
       As you read throughout the scriptures, you will see that is is the young who were challenged to influence the nations.  One such example of this radical evangelization by the youth would be the prophet Jeremiah.  In the very first chapter of The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, we see the Lord calling Jeremiah to become his prophet and preach his gospel to the people of Israel.  Now some might say man that would be super cool; however, Jeremiah did not feel the same.  In fact, he looks to God and says, "Lord I can't be a prophet for I am too young."  The Lord could have been like okay if you don't want to do this you don't have to; rather, he responded "Say not, 'I am too young.' To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD (Jeremiah 1:7-8)."
      If that wasn't enough, another youth who would eventually change the course of all of history was none other than Mary, the Mother of God.  At the age of 14 she was asked by God to bear a Son and name him Jesus.  As we all know that Son would become our Savior, the Redeemer of all mankind and all it took to change the world was the "yes" of a young girl from Nazareth.  As you can see, it is the youth who have the power to change the world and as Bl. John Paul II said to the youth at World Youth Day in 1989 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, "Do not be afraid to be saints!" Again in 1993 at World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado, Bl. John Paul II elaborated on how the youth are to become saints to effect change in the world by stating, "Offer your youthful energies to building a civilization of Christian love. Be witness of God's love for the innocent and the weak, for the poor and oppressed."  The challenge has been laid out, with the help of this blog and the youth programs in Montgomery, I pray that you will take up the challenge.