Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a further understanding of what factors influence the evangelistic behavior of Catholic parishioners. A parish survey designed to generate quantitative data was administered to 444 parishioners attending a Catholic Church located in central Canada. Evangelistic behavior was measured by asking participants how often during the six months preceding their participation in the study did they invite a non-Catholic or an inactive Catholic to church. The study’s eight independent variables pertained to specific participant attitudes, beliefs and practices which relate to the Catholic Faith. Results indicate that agreement with Church teaching in the areas of abortion and sexual morality increased the likelihood of engaging in evangelistic behavior. Also, practices positively associated with evangelistic behavior were regular Mass attendance and regularly engaging in liturgical and/or devotional prayer. The findings suggest that Church leaders can implement various initiatives at the parish level that will increase the evangelistic behaviors of parishioners. More research is necessary to infer causal relationships between the study’s independent and dependent variables, as well as to ascertain the means by which personal evangelism results in church growth.