Today, I continue my ongoing series of conversations with awesome storytellers creating fantastic projects as I’m joined by Marcel LeJeune, the founder of Catholic Missionary Disciples. For years, I’ve watched and learned from Marcel as he used innovative strategies and a heart for Jesus to impact us on our faith journeys. I’m glad to welcome Marcel as Catholic Missionary Disciples launches its thoughtful new development program Transformed Catholic. I hope you enjoy this chat and that you’ll head over and see the initiative for yourself. Lisa
Q: Marcel, congratulations on Catholic Missionary Disciples’ recent launch of Transformed Catholic. Would you please briefly introduce yourself and your family to our readers?
I am just a regular guy who fell in love with Jesus, came back to the Church, and decided that my life’s work would be helping others come to love Jesus too. For nearly two decades I have worked in ministry and for the last four years I have been working to train and coach Catholics (primarily Catholic leaders) to evangelize the world, raise up missionary disciples, and renew their Church institutions. My vocation is found in my family, where I am married with 5 kids.
Q: Catholic Missionary Disciples has been serving the Church and her people for a few years now. Please share about this new program and how this takes your work to the next level?
For four years we focused on helping Catholic bishops, priests, and lay staff in dioceses, parishes, schools, and apostolates. Our primary focus is helping them not just understand evangelization and discipleship, but to implement it in their own work and then in their organizations. The old maxim that you can’t give what you don’t have is true. I like to think we can’t hand on what we don’t live out. So, we coach, train, form, and then accompany Catholic leaders through a process of diving deep into what it takes to really renew the Church, evangelize the lost, and raise up missionary disciples. Still, from the start of Catholic Missionary Disciples, we have had individuals ask if we could help them do much of the same work. Until now, we had no way of doing this. TransformedCatholic.com is a response to this request. It is aimed at helping the average Catholic become a great evangelist.
Q: Who is the intended audience for Transformed Catholic and are there any prerequisites to get involved?
The main audience is the Catholic disciple who is already trying to evangelize or who wants to try it out. We don’t take any shortcuts, so it is going to push and test a lot of folks. If we really want to reach the world with the Good News the Jesus came to save us, then we have to get out there. For those that agree, TransformedCatholic.com is for them. The only prerequisite is that you love and follow Jesus.
Q: For the person out there who may be thinking, “I’m not ready for this because I’m not a perfect Catholic…”, how can being a part of Transformed Catholic help us evangelize ourselves before we begin to share our faith with others?
If we wait until we are perfect to share our faith, we will never share our faith. Part of evangelizing is realizing that we aren’t sharing a message about ourselves, but about what God has done. Both for the world and in our own lives. If you are a disciple of Jesus, then he has changed your life in some way. That doesn’t make us perfect. Remember, Jesus came for the sick, not the well. As for how this process can help you, well I believe one missing aspect of many Catholics’ spiritual lives is found in sharing our faith. Think of the reward you get by serving others, giving a gift, initiating in a relationship, etc. We get something back out of it, don’t we? Well, what if you gave the best gift of all (Jesus), served even more selflessly (because of Jesus), and boldly entered into spiritual friendships with others (by evangelizing)? It can change your spiritual life and make your discipleship go to the next level.
Catch @LisaHendey's chat with @MarcelLeJeune of @CMDisciples about the innovative new program #TransformedCatholic – Transformed Catholic: 3 Minutes with Marcel LeJeune Share on XQ: I read terrific testimonials from organizations that have worked with you. How can Transformed Catholic accompany parish and diocesan teams for lasting impact?
Another aspect of what we are trying to create is an ongoing resource for the leadership teams we have already worked with. We do not have all the answers at Catholic Missionary Disciples, but God does. One of the ways that God works to help us see the answers he provides is by bringing together His Body, The Church. So, we want to build a place where we can think through issues, solutions, and situations together. Always applying the principles and doctrines the Church has always taught, but then looking at them with a 21st Century application in practice.
Q: What else would you like to share about Transformed Catholic with our readers?
We ask for your prayers. We want to be of service to the Church, that is why we are a non-profit apostolate. More than anything, the world needs Jesus. The Church was made to proclaim him. So, let’s get out there and do a better job of sharing Jesus with others.