Our Mission: Evangelization

Modern Apostle
Jun 8
3 min read

When we think of the Catholic Church, the Holy Eucharist often comes to mind as the most sacred and central act of the Church. Indeed, the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of the Christian life (cf. Lumen Gentium, 11). But as crucial and holy as the Eucharist is, it exists not for our personal comfort, but to strengthen us for mission. The most important thing Catholics are called to do is evangelization.

Today, the Catholic Church celebrate Pentecost. From the moment of Pentecost, the Church was born into mission. Pentecost is not merely a historical event; it is the moment when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, filling them with courage, wisdom, and the ability to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. The Catechism teaches, “On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is revealed, given, and communicated as a divine person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord, pours out the Spirit in abundance” (CCC 731). This event marks the beginning of the Church’s public ministry — and every Catholic, by baptism and confirmation, is invited into this mission.

How do we evangelize? First and foremost, we do not go alone. We call upon the Holy Spirit — the Advocate, the Comforter, the Paraclete — whom Jesus promised us:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16–17).

The Holy Spirit bestows upon us seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Each of these is given for the building up of the Church and the sanctification of her members. While the Spirit distributes them differently, no gift is meant to lie dormant. Evangelization is not the task of the clergy alone — it is the vocation of every baptized Catholic. We must pray daily to recognize, develop, and use these gifts in our families, our workplaces, our parishes, and even in the public square.

Like the apostles at Pentecost, we are called to confess Jesus boldly. St. Paul reminds us:

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

This is not a private confession — it is public, unashamed, and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Evangelization often requires courage. We are all called to be martyrs.

The word martyr comes from the Greek word martys, meaning "witness." A martyr is someone who bears witness to Christ, even at great personal cost. Jesus Himself set the example:

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

Martyrdom, in its fullest sense, means imitating Christ’s total gift of self, including the willingness to suffer — and even die — for the sake of the Gospel. In a world increasingly hostile to faith, we must be ready to bear witness, even to the point of suffering. Jesus told us:

“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first” (John 15:18).

To be a Catholic is to be a missionary disciple. We are not called to comfort, but to courage. We are not called to be hidden, but to be light. Pentecost reminds us that the Church exists not to preserve herself, but to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

May we, filled with the Spirit, go forth like the apostles, unafraid and on fire. Let us speak Jesus’ name with conviction, love the Church with all our hearts, and never shrink from the call to give our lives — spiritually or even physically — for the sake of the Gospel. For Christ gave His life for us; what less can we offer in return?

Come, Holy Spirit, breath of divine fire,

Overflow our hearts with heavenly desire.

Make us wise with heaven’s light,

Enlighten us to choose the good and right.

Help us understand Your sacred way,

Open our minds when we go astray.

Lead us with counsel firm and true,

Yielding strength to do what You call us to.

Send us fortitude when trials appear,

Plant in our souls a holy fear.

Infuse in us a deep, true piety,

Reveal Your knowledge and mystery quietly.