Pope Benedict XVI declared that a Year of Faith will begin on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013. In this Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to deepen their commitment to Christ, grow in their faith and learn to share their faith with confidence and hope.
Bishop Richard J. Malone gathered with parish leaders from across the Diocese on October 14th at Our Lady of Victory Basilica to celebrate the inauguration of the Year of Faith.
Listen to the Message from Bishop Malone. The Bishop asks all Catholics to grow in faith, give witness to our faith and share our faith throughout the Year of Faith. Bishop Malone invited parish representatives to extend his commission for a New Evangelization with Catholics in all the parishes on October 21st - World Mission Sunday.
Thresholds in time also create special moments in time. The New Year is just such a threshold for assessment and decision - our resolutions. But real, "do-able" resolutions mean personal change. We change because we see something, that makes us feel something, and propels us to change something. What really motivates us is emotion, not information.
Stop and take a look inside yourself. Pull out your calendar and your favorite posts, tweets, pics or blogs on Facebook, Youtube or Pinterest. Look over your timeline, activities and the events of 2012. "feel" through them.
Ask yourself:
- What was most significant in my life over the 365 days that just past?
- What will I continue to consume and what will I allow to consume me?
- What do I need to put aside, so that God can be at the center of my life?
- What change do I want to see in my relationships?
- What must change in me in order to have a hope capable of sustaining me, no matter what lies ahead?
- Am I a Catholic on purpose, or am I a Catholic by default?
- What help do I need from God, in order to make the coming New Year a Year of Faith?
Now pray for it! Congratulations. You just kicked off your New Year of Faith!
Download the Parish Rite of Commission and Instructions for Mission Passports (N.B. Side one is the same on all passports - the Apostles Creed. Side two identifies the particular group. Each file is in .pdf format and formatted 2-up for easy duplication.
Jesus' Mission for YOU!
Download the APOSTLES CREED (in various languages) for use in the Year of Faith
Gospel Procession - View this video for an example of how to highlight the Word of God in the Year of Faith
FOR FEBRUARY: Youth Convention - Adam's Mark Hotel, Buffalo, NY
FOR APRIL: Parish Ministry Conference - On the 19th-20th at Christ the King Seminary
FOR MAY: Blessing of the Unborn - May 5th, St. Joseph Cathedral, Bishop Malone presiding at Mass
FOR NOVEMBER: Focus on Forming Faithful Citizens
Bishops are encouraging Catholics to consider how their faith informs our choices as a nation, in the public forum especially at election time. The theme for the last installment this past year was on "Our Commitment to Faithful Citizenship." You can obtain several valuable resources (also in Spanish), bulletin inserts, and video clips along with the guidelines for non-profit participation in voter registration and education at www.faithfulcitizenship.org.
FOR JANUARY: Join the March for Life
Webinars on New Evangelization are available at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. We join with all Catholics in prayer:
"Heavenly Father, Pour forth your Holy Spirit to inspire me with these words from Holy Scripture. Stir in my soul the desire to renew my faith and deepen my relationship with your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ so that I might truly believe in and live the Good News.
Open my heart to hear the Gospel and grant me the confidence to proclaim the Good News to others.
Pour out your Spirit, so that I might be strengthened to go forth and witness to the Gospel in my everyday life through my words and actions.
In moments of hesitation, remind me: If not me, then who will proclaim the Gospel? If not now, then when will the Gospel be proclaimed? If not the truth of the Gospel, then what shall I proclaim?
God, our Father, I pray that through the Holy Spirit I might hear the call of the New Evangelization to deepen my faith, grow in confidence to proclaim the Gospel and boldly witness to the saving grace of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen." - Prayer for the New Evangelization, U.S.C.C.B.
In this Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to deepen their commitment to Christ, grow in their faith and learn to share their faith with confidence and hope.
Contact Dennis Mahaney or call 716-847-8393 for more information and ideas for what parishes can do in the Year of Faith.