I was just listening to Catholic Answers Live again on a show about evangelization (June 18th) and I got an idea. They pointed out the fundamental principal of evangelization and that is that the most effective form of evangelism is relational evangelism, that is, forming friendships with people and slowly drawing them to the faith that way, rather than, say, streetcorner preaching or handing out tracts or inventing some new program.
That might help solve the problem in my church. Not to get into it, but my impression is I'd get stalled if I proposed any ideas. Perhaps one solution might be to work through my relationships there and invite people to informal get-togethers, like a bible study. Work outside of the parish bounds within the confines of existing relationships. Invite people one by one to join us. I'm not entirely sure what the pastor would think if he knew we were gathering for a bible study outside of church, but there is not a lot he can do about it.
This also helps because Evangelicals have an advantage in that they typically have a congregation to be proud of: they can invite newcomers to church and be confident that the parishioners will make a very positive impression on the newcomer. Alas, we have no such advantage. If, however, you had a small group of fervent believers and invited them to a gathering with them, that might work better.
This reminds me of the fact that this is how the early church worked. The liturgy was off-limits to non-believers, at least the liturgy of the Eucharist was. (Note the rite of dismissal of catechumens that was restored after Vatican II.) Contact with non-believers was made outside the liturgy. So maybe it must be today.
