Brooklyn bishop urges 'radical encounter' with Christ

Published: 2004-11-03

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- "The new evangelization begins with a radical encounter with the person of Jesus Christ," Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio wrote in a pastoral letter marking his first anniversary as head of the Brooklyn Diocese. The pastoral letter, dated Oct. 3 and published as a special eight-page insert in the Oct. 9 edition of the diocesan newspaper, The Tablet, was titled "The New Evangelization in Brooklyn and Queens" -- a reference to the two New York boroughs that form the diocese. Bishop DiMarzio traced the call for a new evangelization in the church back to Pope Paul VI, whose 1975 apostolic exhortation, "Evangelization in the Modern World," declared: "The task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the church. ... She exists in order to evangelize." In the past evangelization was regarded as chiefly the work of priests and religious, he said, but "it is now the laity who have the principal responsibility for the new evangelization."

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .