Courtney McGrailEngland’s Portsmouth diocese has announced a radical new evangelisation plan in line with Pope Francis’ call in Evangelii Gaudium to consider the renewal of structures demanded by pastoral conversion. Speaking in a video message, Bishop Philip Egan said the challenge for the diocese was to “move from maintenance to mission”, and as such it would be establishing evangelisation teams in each of the 22 pastoral areas in which the diocese’s 89 parishes are grouped.
Explaining how evangelisation teams will replace the diocese’s pastoral councils, Dr Egan said he wants the 12-member teams, each of which should include three priests and a religious, to represent Catholics of all ages and types. Their role, he said, would be “to sponsor mission-projects across the area” and “to direct the work of mission at the local parish level”.
10,000 leaflets advertising the teams are currently being distributed, with a view to recruiting people so the first round of team meetings can take place after Easter.