(The Caffeine series continues.  Catch it all here.)

“Evangel” means “good news” or “gospel.” To evangelize means to share, or proclaim the good news of the gospel.

In Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States, the US Bishops say that:

The simplest way to say what evangelization means is to follow Pope Paul VI, whose message Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization in the Modern World) has inspired so much recent thought and activity in the Church. We can rephrase his words to say that evangelizing means bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation and seeking to convert individuals and society by the divine power of the Gospel itself. At its essence are the proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ and the response of a person in faith, which are both works of the Spirit of God.

Evangelization must always be directly connected to the Lord Jesus Christ. “There is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the Kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed.”

Let’s review:  Evangelization. Catechesis.   It’s all about Jesus.