Parish Schools

While courses are conducted with different groups as requested the major focus of the School is on parish evangelisation through the Parish Evangelisation Formation Program (PEFP).

Parish Evangelisation Formation Program

The PEFP is an intense program conducted in a parish over approximately two years with the aim of establishing a Parish Evangelisation Team, which would then form the basis for a Parish School of Evangelisation. This Team would have the aim of helping the parish to develop a mission mentality so that all aspects of parish life, and the life of each parishioner, would have a missionary focus. This does not necessarily involve doing anything new in the parish but of co-ordination what in already happening within this missionary vision.

Establishing a School of Evangelisation

There are four steps to establishing a Parish School.

1. Identify a group of parishioners who are interested in what the School has to offer.
2. A visiting Team comes into the Parish to conduct the basic courses (New Life, Emmaus, Formation of Disciples, Formation of Evangelisers) for this group and any other interested parishioners.
3. As the courses are presented a Parish Evangelisation Team develops from the course participants. This Team consists of a core of parishioners who share a vision for and commitment to active parish evangelisation.
4. This Team is established as a School of Evangelisation. They then continue to conduct evangelisation outreach within the parish and are trained to conduct the courses for other parishioners. The National/Diocesan School provides ongoing support and oversees the integrity of the course content.

To find out more: Contact your nearest School Coordinator or our email:suroyapk@yahoo.com

Evangelisation with the Holy Spirit

These Parish Schools of Evangelisation would, through the power of the Holy Spirit, gradually change the mentality of a parish so that evangelisation would be an integral part of everything a parish does. Every parishioner would live evangelisation as a natural part of being a disciple. The parish would reach out to those who don’t know Jesus as each parishioner uses his/her gifts to evangelise in their own environment, in their own particular style within an evangelising community. These Parish Schools would then reach out to other parishes to help them to establish their own School of Evangelisation.

Cost

Parishes are asked to cover the cost of presenting a course. This varies according to the course but should not be more than $300-$500, especially where parish facilities are used. Parishes usually cover this cost by charging a small fee to participants. As well, with Parish permission, we take up a collection from the course participants to contribute towards the general costs of the School. This system enables us to treat rich/poor, or close/distant parishes the same. There is no charge for the teaching material but an undertaking would be expected to respect the integrity of Pepe Prado’s work.

Current Parish Schools

This vision is already becoming a reality. Since the School of Evangelisation was established in Australia in 1994 seven diocesan Schools have been established. In 2006 our first Parish School was established at St Francis of Assisi Parish in Mill Park (Melbourne). The second School was established at St Brigid’s in Nerang ( Brisbane) in February 2007. Now at the Beginning of 2008 we have eight parish Schools either established or on the way to being established. They are Mill Park (Vic), Nerang (Qld), Para Hills/Modbury (SA), Keilor Downs (Vic), St Marys (NSW), St John’s Park (NSW), Wallsend (NSW), Pymble (NSW).

Where will the next School be?
Maybe your parish?