HISTORY OF PARISH EVANGELIZING CELLS

PARISH EVANGELIZING CELLS BEGAN IN THE SPRING OF 1983 AT ST. BONIFACE CHURCH IN PEMBROKE PINES, FLORIDA, WITH 8 SMALL GROUPS MEETING IN THE HOMES OF PARISHIONERS.  SOME WERE ESTABLISHED BASED ON NEIGHBORHOODS AND OTHERS BY SPECIAL INTEREST, SUCH AS WIDOWS, SINGLES, YOUNG ADULTS, AND YOUNG MOTHERS IN OCTOBER OF THAT YEAR, FR. MICHAEL EIVERS, THE PASTOR OF ST. BONIFACE AT THAT TIME, TRAVELED TO SEOUL, KOREA TO ATTEND A SEMINAR HOSTED BY PASTOR YONGGI CHO.  THE SEOUL MODEL WAS BUILT AROUND PRAYER, FASTING, BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT, AND EVANGELIZATION.  FR. EIVERS ADAPTED MUCH OF THE SEOUL MODEL OF CELLS TO A CATHOLIC POST-VATICAN II MODEL THAT INCORPORATES A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH COMMUNITY BASED ON LAY COMMITMENT.

 A WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR TIME

PARISH EVANGELIZING CELLS (PEC) USING THE SAME MODEL AS ST. EDWARD’S, EXIST IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES: ITALY, FRANCE, BELGIUM, SLOVAKIA, AUSTRALIA, SINGAPORE, IRELAND, POLAND.

FIRST DIOCESAN  CELL WORKSHOP HOSTED BY ST. EDWARD

 ST. EDWARD CELLS TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH ON JANUARY 26, 2002 WHEN WE HOSTED A WORKSHOP SHARING OUR EXPERIENCE WITH LOCAL PARISHES.

 St. Edward, Pembroke Pines, Florida hosted its first Cell Workshop on Jan 26th.  Representatives from 6 parishes attended a one-day session.  The choir and music ministry added a dimension of praise and worship to the presentations. 

The introductory session was given by the Pastor, Msgr. Michael Eivers on: "Parish Evangelizing Cells - A Worldwide Instrument of the Holy Spirit in Our Time."  In his presentation, Msgr. Eivers gave statistics on Catholic and Evangelical Churches around the world and particularly in Central and South America where evangelizing cells have phenomenal success in bringing people into the church and in deepening spiritual growth of church members.

 "What Is The Purpose of Cell Groups?" - a question posed by Bernie Joyce, Coordinator of cells at St. Boniface Church.  "The answer is simple", he said, "We are responding to the Great Commission given us by Jesus: 'Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation'."

 In her presentation, Claudia Sailsman, Secretary for Cells at St. Edward, presented "The Agenda for a Cell Meeting" with particular emphasis on the importance of an evangelizing mind-set, the group always focuses on outreach to the point of multiplication.

 Larry and Lynn Puccio, Parish Cell Coordinators, took a practical approach presenting advice on :"How To Start Cells in a Parish".  The Workshop concluded with a Model Cell meeting, and lunch prepared and served by Cell members.

 The Workshop was attended by over 200 of St. Edward's cell members who mingled with visitors to share their experiences and answer questions.  At the moment St. Edward has 75 cells with a vision for 100 cells within 2 years.