It is not frequently remarked on that the greatest part of Jesus’ ministry took place outdoors. It is worth remembering this when we consider how and where to evangelise

I was approached just after Christmas by someone saying that, for the first time, she had met Jesus in our church car park. Our pastoral area, consisting of six parishes, had been running a “welcome home” campaign and this woman had been personally invited to come to Mass.

Reports of larger numbers at Mass were most encouraging across all six communities. For all our Masses we had planted our most gifted people to welcome others in the car park. All of them used their charismatic charm in welcoming everyone into the car park, especially visitors and newcomers.

The idea of Jesus in the car park is an interesting one. When you take account of the public life of Jesus, most of it took place out in the open, and only a fraction of his ministry took place in the temple or the synagogue. The entire Passion narrative takes place outside and, even today, the Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa are outside and it is only when you come to the Holy Sepulchre that the Passion moves indoors. I maintain that we have lost that important and crucial aspect of the life of Jesus in our time.