24
May
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:19-20
Pope Francis has often used the phrase “missionary disciples.” In his first apostolic exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium), he states: “Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: We no longer say that we are ‘disciples’ and ‘missionaries’ but rather that we are always ‘missionary disciples.’”
The pope is continuing to call us back to Christ in the form of ongoing discipleship and then impelling us to mission, to take what we have been given out to a world that badly needs this witness and message of love. The Holy Father picked up this theme again at his Jan. 15, 2014 general audience: “The people of God is a people of disciples because we receive the faith and a missionary people because we pass on the faith.”
Encountering and continually re-encountering Christ, daily deepening our relationship with Him, we grow as disciples. And from that discipleship, we emerge as missionaries, unable to contain within ourselves that love which we have experienced (Acts 4:20).
Browse resources for being a missionary disciple of the New Evangelization.
The Diocese seeks to inspire and equip “missionary disciples” to share the Good News of the Gospel.
Religious Education
Help your children grow in relationship with Jesus and knowledge of their faith by signing them up for religious education classes at the local Catholic parish. During the summer months, sign them up for Totus Tuus: Catechetical Summer Camp. Become a parish catechetical leader to assist with religious education at your parish.
Becoming Catholic & Adult Confirmation
Are you interested in becoming Catholic or learning more about the Catholic faith? Learn about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or Adult Confirmation opportunities in the Diocese of Burlington. Talk to your local pastor about participating in one of these programs.
Lay Formation
The Lay Formation Program, as part of the Institute for Missionary Discipleship, seeks to form lay persons to assist in leadership roles in their parishes. These include serving as RCIA leaders and directors of religious education, facilitating marriage preparation, leading evangelization efforts and facilitating the Church’s charitable outreach. Key to this formation is inspiring and equipping the laity to serve and evangelize their parishes and communities as missionary disciples.
Liturgy & Worship
Liturgy and Worship fosters the full, conscious and active participation of the faithful in the celebration of liturgy. Talk to your pastor about becoming a liturgical minister in your parish. Browse guidelines, resources and more on the Liturgy and Worship page.
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
The Diocese of Burlington Youth and Young Adult Ministry organizes various rallies, retreats, trips and workshops throughout the year. Regional Young Adult Ministry groups plan local events, including Theology on Tap gatherings.
