“WE CAN ONLY MOVE FORWARD IF WE TURN OUR GAZE TOGETHER TO CHRIST! "

Pope Benedict XVI 

In 2008, Bishop Baker established the Office of the New Evangelization and Stewardship  in order to guide the Diocese of Birmingham in the areas of:

1. Conversion
The Diocese of Birmingham ever seeks to offer the faithful the experience of "a personal encounter with Jesus Christ." It does so by preaching the Gospel, presenting the Eucharistic Lord to all, and witnessing His presence by calling everyone to total conversion (metanoia) and redirection of one's life to Christ. "Immediately they left their nets and followed him," (Mt. 4:20).

2. Communion
This personal relationship with Jesus Christ includes following His commands as related in Sacred Scripture and revealed in the Sacred Tradition of the Church which Christ established on earth to continue His mission. The Diocese seeks to provide an environment marked by God's love, where the unity of the Body of Christ is a lived reality. Each member of the Body of Christ is valued and welcomed from the moment of conception to natural death. We rely on the Holy Spirit to foster this communion and to make us better stewards of the gifts that God has given us and to empower us to be more self-giving and Christ like to one another and to those looking to the Church to encounter Jesus Christ.  "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love," (John 15:9).

3. Biblical and Doctrinal Formation

 The Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Birmingham need to deepen their understanding of the faith in order to bring their religious experience to maturity.  The practical implications for our beliefs need to be better understood by those of us professing to follow Jesus Christ. Sound biblical and doctrinal formation will lead to personal, spiritual growth, as well as making our parishes places where the encounter with Jesus is fostered and nurtured.  "Go and learn what this means," (Mt.9:13).

4. Missionary Commitment of the all the Faithful

We have been given a gift-we are witnesses to a great miracle-the Presence of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the altar-we must share this message, telling all we meet that we have "seen the Lord" (John 20:18).  We all have a mission to evangelize-to share the Good News! 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you," (Mt.28:19,20).

The Office of the New Evangelization and Stewardship assists the Bishop in this mission by oversight of certain key areas within the Diocese of Birmingham including:

•  Evangelization

•  Stewardship
•  Respect Life
•  Family Life
•  Young Adult and Campus Ministry