Evangelizing shaped to fit audience

Tom Morrison evangelizes a captive audience. Literally.

The parishioner of Christ the King Church in Westmere has worked in Residents Encounter Christ, a prison ministry, for eight years. He volunteers in three separate retreat programs at different prisons around the state and is director of REC at Hudson Correctional Facility.

"There are a wide variety of faith denominations in the prisons -- Christian, Muslim and Jewish," he said. "Some of the conversations that are generated are profound. In fact, the prisoners minister to us."

Come, join us

Mr. Morrison also evangelizes in another way: encouraging men to volunteer for REC.

"We are always searching for volunteers," he noted. "It's not an easy ministry and not too popular. People don't want to become involved. We are always reaching out through talks, presentations and word of mouth to find those individuals that we feel are called to work in this ministry.

"This ministry also helps me in my own faith. When I hear and see the inmates express their faith, it enriches and strengthens my own."

Good News to share

Deacon Ed Solomon, a member of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany and of Pax Christi of the Capital District, said, "We're all called to ministry and evangelization. That is a basic part of our faith, but we Catholics tend to be shy about responding to our baptismal call to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel."

He volunteers in the Mother Teresa community in Albany in the afterschool program "with the goal of spreading the joy of discipleship to the children and parents.

"It's really by sharing the Good News that the light of evangelization touches the darkness in other people's lives."

He termed his work with Pax Christi, a peace fellowship, "a central way to evangelize others because it builds bridges between those with bias or differences."

Working with aged

Linda Banker is pastoral care associate at St. Joseph and St. John's parishes in Rensselaer, where she directs a program that serves about 65 elderly, homebound, ill and needy individuals.

"We do everything from Christian service to support groups for caregivers and working with those who have lost a loved one," she said. "Learning to evangelize others enabled me to be the face of Christ in my work and in my life."

She believes that evangelization, which she describes as "being present for others by living the life you're called by God to live," is the key component in working with others.

"When the Church provides the support and caring that people need," she explained, "we are exercising our baptismal call to serve others, to be Christ to them, often in their deepest needs and during their darkest times."

(The three people interviewed in this article are graduates of the Albany Diocese's two-year Formation for Ministry Program, which is designed for the formation of the laity in preparation for pastoral ministry. For information, call 453-6670.)

(1/20/05)