Sent Forth
Handbook for a Missionary Church
by Ignacio Llorente and Michael Ceragioli
Foreword by Simeon Leiva-Merikakis
Imprint: Cascade Books
Sent Forth is a book for all who wish to proclaim the gospel in the world today. It is the fruit of the missionary work of the Saint John Society, a society of apostolic life dedicated to the New Evangelization in the Catholic Church. Engaged in the concrete work of evangelization in flourishing Christian communities, the authors draw together the mind of the Church and the heart of the missionary. Taking lessons from the four Gospels, the encyclicals of popes, the writings of cardinals, and the accounts of everyday Christians who have sought to communicate their faith through all kinds of joys, sorrows, and questions, this book delivers fundamental theological principles--as well as practical, down-to-earth counsel--for Christians seeking to share Christ with their families, co-workers, and neighbors. What emerges is a picture of evangelization that is eminently personal, emphasizing attunement to the heart of Jesus. Where heart speaks to heart, the word received is to "go forth," share what you have heard, and encourage others to partake in this inmost heartbeat of the world, the New Life in Christ!
Ignacio Llorente is a priest for the Saint John Society, a society of apostolic life dedicated to the New Evangelization, which works in Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, and the United States. Since his ordination in 2009, Fr. Llorente has been serving in the United States leading programs of evangelization for college students, young adults, and Hispanics. Currently, he is pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Portland, Oregon. Learn more about the Saint John Society at www.socsj.org.
Michael Ceragioli is the director of the Certificate in Evangelization program at the St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. He is engaged in doctoral studies in spirituality at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas.
“This luminous book delivers a synthetic vision of evangelization that is both personal and profound, arising from both education and experience. Sent Forth radiates with the new ardor, new methods, and new expressions called for by the New Evangelization, drawing upon recent popes and St. John Henry Newman as guardians and guides. Anyone seeking to enkindle in themselves the fire of the Church’s mission to proclaim the gospel should read this book.”
—Matthew Kuhner, vice president and academic dean, St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry
“The Saint John Society is one of the bright spots in a time of crisis in the world and in the Church. I am grateful that members of the Society have put into writing the ‘secrets’ that have made their life and mission so fruitful. All those interested in moving forward in confidence in response to the call for a new evangelization will find this book of great help.”
—Ralph Martin, author of The Fulfillment of All Desire
“I have for a long time come to believe that the Church must return to her roots, recapture her deepest identity, and recommit herself to the essential mission entrusted to her by the bridegroom, Jesus Christ our Lord. That mission is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of our time, especially in the secularized world in which we live. I am confident that Sent Forth will be an effective and practical resource in that great mission.”
—Alexander Sample, archbishop of Portland, Oregon
“Sent Forth provides an inspirational and in-depth description of what it means to be on mission today. Focusing on proclamation, the kerygma, and the process of conversion, the authors also illuminate the centrality of prayer, spiritual power, and personal influence in the work of evangelization. For those seeking to do mission today—to fulfill the commission to make disciples of all nations—this book is a treasure chest of wisdom and insight.”
—Dan Keating, author of The Adventure of Discipleship
“This slender volume, as its title indicates, is a handbook mirroring one way of living the mission of the Lord Jesus in the world today. The subject of this book, then, is the missionary method of the Saint John Society. A breath of the fervor of the early church and of the Acts of the Apostles generously blows throughout this text. The freshness and vigor of its atmosphere clearly derives from the hands-on practice of the apostolate rather than from theory.”
—Simeon Leiva-Merikakis, OCSO, author of Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word
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