In your issue of October 4 I readthat Bishop Worlock of Portsmouth told the Synod of Bishops last Tuesday that insufficient attention had been paid to the development of the laity in the work of evangelisation.
You report him as saying: "Few laymen feel adequately equipped to undertake direct evangelisation themselves it is still regarded as a specialist task of the priest ..." and "even where the layman seeks to play his part in the mission ot the Church, he still needs the means of giving his services and making his voice heard." It is worth mentioning that these needs are catered for at least in those places where the Catholic Evidence Guild is established. The CEG study classes can offer the layman a training that will equip him to undertake direct evangelisation. Its outdoor platform provides him with the means of giving his services and literally making his voice heard.
Not all members of the CEG, of course, are engaged in the work of outdoor speaking. Most people join us with the intention of increasing their knowledge of the truths of Faith and their ahilily to pass on those truths to ot ht.rs.
One of the Guild's principal achievements is that it has trained large numbers of Catholic laymen to know their Faith, to state it lucidly and to answer the objections brought ,against it. The -majority never become speakers but many become evangelists in their own sphere.
The evangelically-minded laymen referred to by Bishop Worlock are invited to get in touch with their local Guild.
(Miss) B. Divane
Master, Westminster Catholic Evidence Flat G, Guild.
16 Garlinge Road, Shoot-up Hill. I.ondon, NW2.