079: What Did Pope Francis Say? The Inspiration Behind Proclaim

In this episode, Proclaim Director Eric Chow a foundational inspiration behind the Proclaim movement in Vancouver: Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). Discover how the Holy Father's powerful call to evangelization sparked a local movement dedicated to awakening disciples to proclaim Jesus.

A Lasting Legacy:

Following the passing of Pope Francis, Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver reflected on his profound impact, stating:

""The most significant legacy left to the Archdiocese of Vancouver by Pope Francis is undoubtedly his heart for evangelization. Inspired by his declaration of an Extraordinary Missionary Month in October 2019, we launched Proclaim, a movement that awakens disciples to proclaim Jesus. The Pope’s challenge to embrace missionary discipleship continues to guide our evangelization efforts today.""

Eric reads and highlights several key paragraphs from Evangelii Gaudium that have deeply influenced the Proclaim movement:

Paragraph 3: On the urgent need for a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, emphasizing that this relationship is the foundation of evangelization.
Paragraph 14: Discussing the three principal settings for the new evangelization: the ordinary pastoral ministry, the evangelization of the unchurched, and the evangelization of those who have abandoned the practice of the faith.
Paragraph 28: Underscoring the transformative power of a genuine missionary impulse, capable of shaping all of the Church’s activities.
Paragraph 169: Calling the Church to initiate everyone into the ""art of accompaniment,"" emphasizing the importance of walking alongside others on their faith journey with compassion and understanding.

To delve deeper into Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation, you can read the full text of Evangelii Gaudium on the Vatican website: Link to The Joy of the Gospel on the Vatican Website (https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html)