The following suggestions are given to help people evangelize themselves, families, friends, coworkers and acquaintances in their daily life. They are designed to raise awareness about the power of simple acts to bring about conversion.

• The 1990s' has been called the "decade of evangelization" by Pope John Paul II. Evangelization is a word which we may not associate with the Catholic Church. It can be defined as a gentle, caring approach to sharing our Catholic faith through kind words, personal witness and positive action.
  
  
• We are all called to evangelize and we can do this in simple ways in our everyday lives. Respect and gentleness are the keys to effective evangelizing.
  
  
• Say: "I will pray for you" to a coworker who has shared some personal concern or difficulty.
  
  
• Respond: "God bless you" when someone sneezes.
  
  
• Make the sign of the cross as you pray before a meal in a restaurant.
  
  
• Display a religious article in your office or home.
  
  
• Share an answered prayer with a friend, coworker or family member. Remember to give thanks for what you have received.
  
  
• Invite someone who has been away from the Church for a while to attend Mass with you.
  
  
• Talk to friends and coworkers about the good experiences you have had with the Church.
  
  
• Marriages and baptisms are wonderful opportunities for evangelizing. Make sure you make those in attendance who are not Catholic feel comfortable by explaining the ritual ahead of time.
  
  
• Take time in your life for those who are suffering or in need. Remember, people are more important than tasks.
  
  
• When you see God working in your life, point it out to others. We are all enriched by the personal witness of others.
  
  
• Refer to scripture passages or Bible stories in casual conversation with others.
  
  
• Witness your faith with your own family and friends by gently stating "I believe …"
  
  
• Introduce yourself to newcomers in the neighborhood and ask if they will be looking for a church to attend. If they are Catholics, offer to accompany them to their first Mass at your parish.
  
  
• Warmly greet others at Mass whom you do not know. Sometimes members of our community fall away from the Church because they feel alienated from others in the congregation.
  
  
• Evangelize your children by sharing a Bible story with them before bedtime.
  
  
• Actively become involved in a social justice or service ministry.
  
  
• Readily offer forgiveness to others who have hurt you. Accept forgiveness when you have wronged another. Do not dwell on the past.
  
  
• Participate in a Bible study or prayer group in your home or neighborhood. Sharing your faith in a small group can help to deepen it.
  
  
• Volunteer your time for visiting shut-ins, elderly, prisoners, etc. Read them a passage from the Bible during your visit.
  
  
• Wear a cross or other religious article. You may be surprised how many times this will start a conversation about your faith.
  
  
• Promise to pray for a person in need and send them a card.
  
  
• Pray a rosary for evangelization in your family, in your parish, and in the world.
  
  
• Ask someone you have hurt for forgiveness. Forgive someone who has wronged you.
  
  
• Evangelize yourself by reading Church teachings and documents of Vatican II. These can be found in any Catholic book store.
  
  
• Continue to comfort a grieving friend or neighbor well after the funeral. The process of dealing with a loss takes a long time. Offer to accompany the person who is grieving to social activities or make yourself available just to talk.
  
  
• Think of a few people that you know who are inactive Catholics. Pray daily for an opportunity to share your faith with one of these people. Watch for opportunities.
  
  
• Read and share the lives of the saints with family, friends, and coworkers.
  
  
• Share a smile and a personal greeting with a stranger. Try to see Christ in everyone you encounter each day.
  
  
• Allow your faith to carry over into your work by insisting on fair prices, good products, and fair treatment for customers and employees.
  
  
• Visit Catholics who may be inactive. Invite them "home." Never pressure them, but listen to them with loving concern. Pray for those who choose not to return.
  
  
• Share your personal faith story of how God has worked in your life with a friend, coworker, or family member.
  
  
• Invite someone to go with you to the parish mission or to a recognized Catholic shrine.
  
  
• Invite a friend for coffee after Mass. Discuss the readings you have proclaimed and what they mean to your life.
  
  
• Learn about current issues in the Church by reading Catholic magazines, books and newspapers such as The Standard and Times and then pass them on to others.
  
  
• Respond: Thank God or God is good when someone tells you an uplifting story.
  
  
• Take time to get to know other members of your parish community. Extend greetings to those who sit close to you in Church. Let's truly make this a community of believers.
  
  
• Make the sign of the cross when asked to pray at public events.