Social Media Resources

"For by the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed." CCC 1285

We all have a responsibility to evangelize, and thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are well-equipped for this mission!
.
Walk With One is the primary ask from our bishops for the Year of Mission.
.
Each of us are invited to respond to the Eucharistic Revival and the missionary call of our baptism by going out into the world and inviting someone else back to Jesus Christ. 
.
There is someone in your life right now whom Jesus longs to call to himself. He longs for them to experience the abundance of a Eucharistic life!
.
Here are some very practical "steps" to walking with someone. This week on our social media, we will be unpacking each of these steps in more depth. Make sure to share with your family, friends, and church communities!

.
Identify who the Lord wants you to walk with.
Intercede for that person.
Connect with them by building a friendship.
Invite them into a personal relationship with Christ and His Church.

In the Scriptures, we hear over and over how Jesus intentionally invited people to follow him. He has personally invited you to follow him as well.
.
If you have accepted this invitation to become a follower of Jesus, then you are called to become like him and do what he did. And what did he do?
.
He identified someone (12 someones in particular) to invite into a deep, personal friendship. And through these friendships, he walked people into a transformative experience of God’s love. As his followers, we are called to do likewise with at least one other person. This is "Walk With One."
.
Evangelization, or “bringing the Good News,” is typically most fruitful within the context of friendship, in one-on-one moments that are not planned or scripted. These moments arise at a coffee shop, over dinner, a birthday party, etc. 
.
As Pope Francis has noted, “Anyone who has truly experienced God's saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love” (Evangelii Gaudium, no. 120).
.
But where do we start with inviting someone to take a step closer to Jesus? How might we invite them forward in their faith? The first step is to prayerfully discern whom God is calling you to accompany.
.
Before you begin the process of inviting someone into a deeper relationship with Jesus and His Church, spend time in prayer. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this process, and ask the Holy Spirit to identify the person that he wants you to accompany. Consider going to Eucharistic adoration or committing to a period of silent prayer in a church to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
.
If you do this and someone (or someones) keep coming to mind, that might be the Holy Spirit identifying someone for you! Move in trust! Dare to be bold!
.
And if you do this and you're still confused about who to invite, just choose someone. Sometimes the Lord moves when we move -- he gives us freedom and simply wants us to move in faith!

Once you have prayed and moved in trust to identify a person(s) whom you know, commit to praying for them for a specific period of time.
.
Intercede for them: 

Pray for any struggles they might be facing with brokenness or sin.
Pray for the removal of any obstacles that might impede them from drawing closer to Jesus.
Pray that they may explore the Catholic faith more deeply.

And as you intercede for them, ask God to create opportunities for you to build deeper friendship with them and to bring enriching spiritual conversations into that friendship. 
.
Another beautiful way to pray for people you spiritually accompany is by offering a holy hour or a rosary for them! Consider doing this for those you walk with!

After you've identified the person the Lord is calling you to walk with and prayed for this person, look for ways to build a deeper friendship with them.
.
"Eucharistic friendship" builds upon the dynamic that Jesus revealed in his relationships with the apostles and, above all, at the Last Supper—he TOOK bread, BLESSED it, BROKE it, and GAVE it.
.
As you spend time with the person you've identified, it's important to TAKE and receive what they share, BLESS and lift it up in prayer, allow the Holy Spirit to BREAK open opportunities to connect, and then GIVE of yourself in response. 
.
Practically speaking, listen to your friend as they share their joys and struggles. Be interested in their life.
.
Share your own joys and struggles when it's appropriate.
.
Listen respectfully when the conversation turns to spiritual matters, including their relationship with God and any questions about the Church.
.
Share your faith confidently and joyfully.
.
Note: Some people might be ready to discuss the spiritual life after only a conversation or two, while others might need more time. Therefore, stay connected to the Holy Spirit first and foremost!

Follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and when the time is right, invite your friend to take a concrete step in fostering a personal relationship with Jesus and the Church. 
.
It's important to remember that it's not always easy inviting a person to Mass, particularly someone who has been away for a while or someone who has had no religious formation.
.
It may be better to begin with an invitation to a parish small group experience, a service opportunity, a social event, etc.
.
For those who need healing or an experience of God’s merciful love, an invitation to accompany them to the Sacrament of Reconciliation could also be appropriate.
.
Evangelization is not a science but an art -- so it's important to stay in tune to the Holy Spirit for discerning the right step to take!
.
If you discern that inviting the person to Mass is the best next step, encourage the person you've been walking with to join you, your family, or a group of friends. It's super important to make them feel welcome!
.
If the person shuts down the conversation, fear not. Don't take it personally. Maybe they're just not ready yet. Follow up with a statement that keeps the door open: “I understand. Thank you for talking with me about this. If you ever want to talk about your faith, I'm always here for you!” 
.
No matter what the outcome is, keep persevering in your friendship and continue asking the Lord to continue guiding you. After every encounter, thank God for the conversations that happen, and remember to keep this person in your prayers.