Canadian Bishops Issue “Praedica Verbum” on the Evangelization of Young People

On Sunday November 26, 2023, on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, and World Youth Day, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), with the approval of the Permanent Council, published Praedica Verbum: Template for Pastors on the Evangelization of Young People in Canada Today. 

The Commission for Doctrine developed the resource after consultation with several Catholic organizations involved in youth evangelization.

Praedica Verbum contains a synthesis of the central themes in the evangelization of young people in the light of the Canadian context today, along with a development of the scriptural and magisterial underpinnings of each of these themes.  Four of these themes concern the content of the message proclaimed (or the what of evangelization), whereas 3 themes relate to method (or the how of evangelization).

The themes are as follows:

The what:

• the recognition of God’s love;
• the proclamation of Christ as having died and risen for our salvation;
• an invitation to a relationship; and
• repentance and conversion.

The how:

• the action of the Holy Spirit;
• person-to-person relationships; and
• joy

 Praedica Verbum: Template for Pastors on Youth Evangelization in Canada Today is available in English and French.