Thank you for your participation in the Vision 20/20 process.  This initiative is crucial in our effort to revitalize the Catholic Church in southeast Iowa.
 
We face many challenges today: Mass attendance is dwindling in many places, people young and old are drifting away from the Church, and at times the very fabric of our faith seems to be unraveling.  Meanwhile, there is a solid core group of believers who are totally committed to their Catholic faith and embrace the joy of the Gospel.
 
We know that we need to do something to foster growth in our communities of faith, and we know that lay people need to be actively involved in attracting others to the Church and in accompanying them on their journey of faith.  This Convocation is one of many steps we are taking to address these challenges together.
 
We are baptized believers, disciples of Jesus Christ. Evangelization is not a new fad. It is the mission Jesus gave us. It is not only what we do, it is who we are.  Pentecost after Pentecost we are reminded of the gifts the Holy Spirit brings to assist us in our ongoing mission – to go and make disciples.

Sincerely in Christ,
Most Rev. Thomas R. Zinkula
Bishop of Davenport

Give these reflections from Pope Francis, Bishop Zinkula, and local leaders a read!

• The first way of evangelization: witness (March 22, 2023)
• The Second Vatican Council. 2. Being apostles in an apostolic Church (March 15, 2023)
• The Second Vatican Council. 1. Evangelization as ecclesial service (March 8, 2023)
• The protagonist of the proclamation: the Holy Spirit (February 22, 2023)
• The first apostolate (February 15, 2023)
• Jesus teacher of proclamation (January 25, 2023)
• Jesus, model of evangelization (January 18, 2023)
• The call to apostolate (Mt 9:9-13) (January 11, 2023)

• We desperately need a new evangelization or re-evangelization (January 2020)
• Five paths to reach out to the ‘nones’ (November 2019)
• Resources will never replace relationships (October 2019)
• An example of thinking outside the box (August 2019)

• One thing about apologetics and evangelization - part two (February 2023)
• One thing about apologetics and evangelization (January 2023)
• Evangelization: getting the word out about Jesus (September 2022)
• What happens when we slow down and listen? (July 2022)
• Two peas in a pod: evangelization and synodality (March 2022)
• The Church of the third millennia: evangelization and the upcoming synod (October 2021)
• Evangelization: a working definition (July 2021)
• Evangelization: an effective starting point for common meaning (June 2021)
• What does evangelization mean to you? (May 2021)

“What If They Don’t Come Back”
A video by Dan Cellucci, CEO of Catholic Leadership Institute
 

“Saving a Dying, Shrinking Church”
A video from Breaking In The Habit

Vision 20/20 Purpose

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and with deep faith in the people of God, Bishop Zinkula calls the Diocese of Davenport to a revitalization of our faith and a renewal of grace in the spirit of Pentecost. The time is now for us to move forward and fill every heart and life with the joy of the Gospel through a fresh encounter with Jesus Christ and His Church. Let us rise up and embrace the glorious future for God’s faithful in southeast Iowa. In recent years, we have weathered storms and navigated through some difficult challenges. We believe it is time now to be proactive about the future and be a light to the world. It is time to read the signs of the times as we name our sorrows and our joys, and look ahead toward a bright future of the Church.

Vision 20/20
Resources