I know what you're thinking. Evangelisation. It's really hard. I mean, how do you do it. I've asked priests, lay people, even Bishops. I'm still at a loss. If only there were, oh I don't know, some kind of, um, school of evangelisation...

What? There is?

St. Patrick's School of Evangelisation in London not only exists but they have a blog!

It all sounds a bit hardcore, I mean...

For the students weekly street evangelisation involves spending an hour or two out on the streets of London, sharing their love and zeal for God with those they encounter.

Large-scale Outreaches, which can take weeks of preparation, are done together with various groups, ranging from a local Gospel Choir to professional evangelisation groups and other local groups.

Most importantly, the students learn that the most effective way to Evangelise is to live a life of love centred around Christ.

So.... what happens now. Unfortunately mother and father types like myself can't take a year out to enroll on a residential course. We could send Leona but you have to be at least twenty and she isn't. We'll just have to sponge off their wisdom as best we can.

As it happens, St Patrick's School of Evangelisation are holding an Advent Mission this, um, Advent. We're going to jump in the car and join them on Sunday 16th December to see some real life Street Evangelisation. This is both exciting and the most frightening thing I have ever contemplated. Prayer will be required.

Fortunately, the good folks at St. Patricks's School of Evangelisation have a prayer for this very task...

Almighty God, we ask for Your blessing on the Advent Mission in Soho and on all the preparation by the students and staff of the Schools of Mission. We pray for all the parishioners of St. Patrick's and all those in London who may be helped by this mission. May your Holy Spirit guide the works and message going out to the busy streets of London and bring the true, Christ-centered Christmas spirit to the heart of the city. We make this our prayer through Jesus Christ, the Word sent to save us, and with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen.

You can read a blog entry with more information about the mission here.