New York City, N.Y., Nov 10, 2013 / 06:02 am
The Fellowship of Catholic University Students – known as FOCUS – will host two "REACH" prayer breakfasts in New York City and Washington, D.C. to help all Catholics learn to evangelize.
"REACH new evangelization prayer breakfasts are opportunities to be equipped with the necessary tools for you to reach your city for Christ," FOCUS said in an announcement.
FOCUS noted Bl. John Paul II's description of the New Evangelization as "new ardor, new methods, and new expression" in sharing "this good news of Christ's love and mercy for the world."
"What does that look like when we are with our family members who may not practice their faith anymore? What does it look like with our friends we meet on the weekends? With our neighbor across the street?" FOCUS asked.
The student missionary organization, which has a presence on 83 college campuses, credited its success to training student evangelizers. Its prayer breakfasts, called REACH, are an effort "to share what we do best with Catholics of all ages." The events focus on prayer, fellowship, and "solid teaching and training in Catholic evangelization."
The New York REACH event will take place Friday, Nov. 15. A Rosary and Mass will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Church of Our Savior at 59 Park Avenue. The breakfast will take place across the street at the Union League Club at 8:30 a.m. Its featured speakers will be Father Robert Spitzer, S.J., of the Magis Center for Faith and Reason and Fr. Jonathan Morris of SiriusXM Catholic Radio.
The REACH D.C. prayer breakfast will be held Dec. 3 at the JW Marriot Hotel at 1331 Pennsylvania Ave NW, beginning at 6:30 a.m. with a rosary and Mass. Featured speakers will be law professor Helen Alvaré of George Mason University and Dr. Jonathan Reyes, head of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the U.S. bishops' conference.
FOCUS said that if Catholics follow Jesus, "we must share God's love and mercy with others." The organization encouraged Catholics to invite others to the events.
More information about the prayer breakfasts is available at the webpage www.focus.org/reach.