A New Pentecost
Catholics from recent Popes all the way down to some new grassroots organizations are advocating for a “New Pentecost” in our Church, in the Year of Faith. Why? Imagine it for yourself… the early Church gathered at Pentecost - Close your eyes and picture it. Can you see them united and in a circle with tongues of flame over each? Now look closer... In which direction do you see them facing – inward or outward? It matters you know.
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Catholic Bucket List
Parish Bucket List
Blessing for Bicycles
What Else Can Catholics Do in the Year of Faith?
Grow in faith, give witness to faith, share faith and be transformed in faith...
Explore the Spiritual Riches of Lent
Use your Mission Passport in 2013
Bless the Home
Bendiciòn de Hogar
Read the Daily Scripture Passage
Pray as You Go (Podcast)
Pray the New York Prayer for New Evangelization by Rev. James Vacco, OFM
View a Daily Video Reflection
Read a Daily Inspiration for Greater Faith
Learn About the Saint of the Month
Pray the Morning Office (video)
Visit the Vatican Year of Faith site
Digest Church Teaching in Daily Doses
Follow the Blog of Bishop Richard J. Malone
Purchase inspiring and informative cd's from Lighthouse Catholic Media
What Can a Parish Do in the Year of Faith?
Parish Bucket List
Bless the Bicycles
Easter - an Ancient Opportunity for a New Evangelization
Connect, Welcome and Engage Catholics
Publish Your Own Parish Lent Prayer Booklet
Re-post Bishop Richard J. Malone's Blog for parishioners
Conduct a Parish Vitality Assessment
Develop Parish Vitality
Open Doors, Minds, and Hearts for People with Disabilities
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What does the Year of Faith have to do with New Evangelization?
View the Bishop's Message and Prayerful Invitation- given at the diocesan inaugural Mass on October 14, 2012:
There are profound changes occurring in American culture which create new challenges and new opportunities for the Church. We live in a missionary moment where belonging leads to believing more than believing leads to belonging. The family is still the most important institution for passing on faith but many parents lack confidence in their ability to do so. The dominance of consumerism, relativism and secularism combine with advances in technology to isolate generations and inhibit community..
The good news is that people are just as receptive to their Creator and open to the urging of the Spirit as ever. In his apostolic letter, Porta Fidei, the Holy Father states, "The people of today can still experience the need to go to the well, like the Samaritan woman, in order to hear Jesus... Indeed, the teaching of Jesus still resounds in our day with the same power.” The bad news is that due to significant changes in culture and technology, we can no longer presume that people will walk up to the parish on a given Sunday to know the abundance of life that is offered by Jesus Christ. We must also reach out to them.
This new moment has created an incentive for us to reach out to a growing number of inactive Catholics. Some were once baptized but never really evangelized. Many are 'Occasional Catholics' who are insufficiently catechized. Some are open to the invitation of faith but lack the opportunity to reconnect with a parish community. To thrive and not merely survive in the years ahead, parishes will be strategic in purpose, entrepreneurial in methods, Eucharistic in spirit, missionary in outlook and active online. These parishes will find ways to be true to their Catholic identity and responsive to emerging pastoral needs. In short, we are called upon to be new in ardor, new in commitment and new in our approaches while remaining faithful to the uncompromising truth of the Gospel. Read more...