The dictionary gives us several definitions of the word evangelist. An evangelist is a preacher of the Gospel, a preacher who first brought the Gospel to a city or region, or a person marked by evangelical enthusiasm for or support of any cause.

Pope Benedict XVI declared this to be the year of Saint Paul—one of the Catholic Church’s most effective and important evangelists. During his visit to the United States last year, the Holy Father addressed a group of youth at Saint Joseph Seminary in New York. He started his remarks with a quote from Saint Paul’s first epistle, “Proclaim the Lord Christ and always have your answer ready for people who ask the reason for the hope that lies within you.”

The work of youth ministry is challenging. We all know that. In order for a youth ministry program to be successful, it should contain certain elements. These include catechesis, prayer, service, and social activities. But we can not forget about evangelization. We must endeavor to impress upon the youth we serve how important it is they learn how to share what they are learning, feeling, and experiencing with others. This is so vital in the world our youth have inherited. While we are overjoyed young people come to our youth ministry meetings and activities, we also realize there are many more that do not. That is where your youth ministry leaders come in! We must find ways to get the youth who do attend youth ministry activities excited enough about their faith so they are prepared to share Christ with others if and when given the opportunity.

This can be challenging. With the enormous peer pressure that exists, even the teenagers who do come to youth ministry meetings are somewhat apprehensive about talking about Jesus, faith, or religion with their friends and peers. It is not the cool thing to do. So what can we do to change that? We can encourage the youth to read about the lives of the saints—especially, in this year of celebration in honor of Saint Paul. Paul was thrown out of more places than he was accepted. He was persecuted, ridiculed, and eventually executed for trying to spread the Gospel. Despite the hardships he faced and the way he was treated, he carried on. He persevered. He kept going. He did not give up or give in. He loved Jesus too much to simply quit. Jesus told his followers their work would not be easy. He warned them they would be persecuted for his sake, but he also promised them they would be blessed as a result of the persecution they encountered.

So the answers are there. They are contained in the lives of the saints and they are contained in Christ’s own words as recorded by the Gospel writers.

Pope Benedict started his address to the youth with words from Holy Scripture. He ended his address with these words, “You are Christ’s disciples today. Shine his light upon this great city and beyond. Show the world the reason for the hope that resonates within you. Tell others about the truth that sets you free.”

Friends, that is what evangelization is all about!