Fr. McCloskey on being a "fisher of men", five steps in evangelizing effectively

Fr. McCloskey on being a "fisher of men", five steps in evangelizing effectively: "

In a piece titled, "Conversion: What's the Key?", National Catholic Register reporter Victor Gaetan writes about the evangelistic efforts of Opus Dei priest Fr. C. John McCloskey, co-author (with Russell Shaw) of Good News, Bad News: Evangelization, Conversion, and The Crisis of Faith (Ignatius Press, 2007; also available as an e-book):

Many Catholics — despite seeing the abundant gifts offered by adult converts — are comfortable letting overburdened priests, RCIA staff and the Holy Spirit serve as frontline “fishers of men.”

Father C. John McCloskey, a priest of the personal prelature of Opus Dei for the past 30 years, is considered one of the Church’s most accomplished “fishers of men.” He has guided dozens of people into full communion with the Catholic Church, including high-profile figures such as federal Judge Robert Bork, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, Gen. Josiah Bunting III, economist Larry Kudlow, former abortionist Bernard Nathanson and columnist Robert Novak.

“People are looking for the truth and the happiness that the truth can give,” observed Father McCloskey. “These people, although successful — many, very successful — still found emptiness in their lives. The answer is a man named Jesus Christ.”

“I just happen to have been the right man at the right time to help guide them,” said the priest.

In his book Good News, Bad News: Evangelization, Conversion, and the Crisis of Faith (Ignatius, 2007), Father McCloskey calls on us all to evangelize with zeal and respect for others. He reminds us that Vatican II assigns the laity two tasks: “seeking holiness and extending the Kingdom of God on earth through family life, friendship, work, study — in a word, through apostolate.”

Although he says he is “just an instrument and God uses me,” such a productive instrument must have some rules of thumb for evangelizing. He does.

The piece goes on to discuss the five direct steps Fr. McCloskey recommends for witnessing to the Faith.

Here is the introduction to Good News, Bad News:

And here is an interview with co-author Russell Shaw:

Related Ignatius Insight Excerpts and Articles

• Evangelization 101: A Short Guide to Sharing the Gospel | Carl E. Olson
• Evangelization & Imperialism | Carl E. Olson
• Evangelizing With Love, Beauty and Reason | Joseph Pearce
• The History and Purpose of Apologetics | An Interview with Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J.
• Love Alone is Believable: Hans Urs von Balthasar's Apologetics | Fr. John R. Cihak
• "Be A Catholic Apologist--Without Apology" | Carl E. Olson
• Objections, Obstacles, Acceptance | An Interview with J. Budziszewski

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