Be Reconciled With God
Each year on Ash Wednesday, the day of fasting and abstinence that begins the season of Lent, people hear one of two liturgical formulas as ashes are placed on their foreheads: “Repent and believe in the Gospel!” (Mk 1:15) or “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gn 3:19).
Although it is not a holy day of obligation, Ash Wednesday often has a larger Mass attendance than Sunday Mass, attracting even non-Catholics and non-Christians. What is it about Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent that draws people? Perhaps part of the answer is that even though the world tends to distract us from and ignore the realities of sin and death, we realize deep down that our sinfulness and mortality must be taken seriously.
The need for deeper and authentic conversion has been a recurring theme of this Year of Faith, which began last October. It was likewise central to the message of the recent Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization and the 1997 Synod of Bishops for America, which was commemorated last December with a Vatican congress co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus (see page 8). In his 1999 apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in America, Blessed John Paul II wrote at length about the necessity of ongoing conversion in the Christian life: “In this life, conversion is a goal which is never fully attained: on the path which the disciple is called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, conversion is a lifelong task” (28).
The grace of a metanoia, or change of heart, involves not only repentance of and turning away from sin, but also a turning toward Jesus Christ. As John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have explained, it is an encounter with the living Christ that ultimately impels us to conversion (see page 3).
How, then, can we seek this encounter? In Ecclesia in America, John Paul II outlined several places where Jesus comes to meet us: the prayerful reading of Scripture; the sacred liturgy, especially in the real presence of the Eucharist; and the service of one’s neighbor, especially the poor (12). Prayer, he said, “holds a preeminent place” in our spiritual lives and is “the duty of every Christian” (29). The sacrament of penance is also essential: “Only those reconciled with God can be prime agents of true reconciliation with and among their brothers and sisters” (32).
All of our Lenten observances, including prayer, fasting and almsgiving, have the same purpose: They are meant to open our hearts to an encounter with Christ, leading to conversion, reconciliation with God and neighbor, and an increase in faith, hope and charity. It is not enough simply to be reminded with the mark of ashes that we are dust and need to seek forgiveness for our sins — though that is a good start. We are invited not only to remember our mortality, but also to welcome a new life in the risen Lord. God desires that we be holy, that we seek a deeper relationship with him and that we make his presence known to a world desperately in need of his love.♦
Alton J. Pelowski
Managing Editor
Year of Faith Resource: The Faith That Transforms Us
Since the early centuries of Christianity, the Nicene Creed has been an important prayer of the Church. To help Catholics reflect more deeply on the articles of faith that we profess each week at Sunday Mass, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, has written a new book titled The Faith That Transforms Us: Reflections on the Creed (The Word Among Us Press, 2013). This timely resource is a user-friendly companion for study, teaching and discussion during the Year of Faith and beyond.
ON THE COVER
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, is depicted alongside a map of the American continent.
PK 8B)E OEBPS/Flow_1.htmlEncountering the Living Christ
Only an encounter with Jesus can inspire authentic Christian witness in a spirit of charity and unity
by Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson
Last December, the Knights of Columbus was privileged to join the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in sponsoring a historic meeting at the Vatican. Held to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops for America, the meeting brought together participants from throughout North and South America to address questions concerning the future of the Catholic Church in our hemisphere.
Blessed Pope John Paul II had called for the 1997 synod to address “the problems of the new evangelization” under the theme “Encounter with the Living Jesus Christ: The Way to Conversion, Communion and Solidarity in America.” Two years later, the pope issued his apostolic exhortation, Ecclesia in America, in order to integrate the work of the synod more fully into his pastoral ministry and magisterial teaching. The document provided a blueprint for the new evangelization as the Church approached the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.
In my address on the opening day of the meeting in December, I stated that to carry out the work of the new evangelization we must acknowledge that we confront a new situation in our hemisphere: Although great majorities of people still consider themselves Christian, many who profess a familiarity with Christ are at the same time ignorant of him. This often results in a mischaracterization of Christ and of the Church’s mission.
In his address to the meeting Dec. 9, Pope Benedict XVI took up this very issue by stressing the continued importance of the synod’s theme — the encounter with the living Jesus Christ — to the variety of problems confronting us today.
“All these important questions require careful study,” he said. “Yet in addition to their technical evaluation, the Catholic Church is convinced that the light for an adequate solution can only come from the encounter with the living Christ, which gives rise to attitudes and ways of acting based on love and truth. This is the decisive force which will transform the American continent.”
In Christifideles Laici, the 1988 apostolic exhortation on the mission of the laity, Blessed John Paul II wrote that the laity has an “essential and irreplaceable role” (7) in the work of the new evangelization.
As members of the Knights of Columbus — a Catholic fraternal organization whose first two principles are charity and unity — we must ask what this means for us.
In Ecclesia in America, Blessed John Paul II recalled the words of his predecessor, Pope Paul VI, at the close of the Second Vatican Council: “On the face of every human being, especially when marked by tears and sufferings, we can and we must see the face of Christ” (12, cf. Mt 25:40). We should add that every human being, especially when marked by suffering, must be able to see the caring face of Christ in his followers. This Gospel mandate of charity is the inescapable prerequisite of the new evangelization. It is our challenge today as Knights of Columbus.
In his recent document On the Service of Charity, Pope Benedict reminded us that charity is “a constitutive element of the Church’s mission and an indispensable expression of her very being.” All believers, he said, have a duty to devote themselves to charity. And as the pope has so often said, the method that speaks strongest of Christ is love. As Knights, we should be prepared to let charity be our measure of the new evangelization. In this way we can truly promote “a charity that evangelizes.”
As Catholics we are well positioned, because of the leadership of our popes and our bishops, to offer concrete solutions to the problems of our hemisphere. No other institution has proposed a single vision that can transcend cultures and languages. This vision is not a political vision, but a vision of humanity encountering Christ.
Achieving this unity, though, can only be done by a hopeful, loving Christian witness. Such an authentic Catholic identity must be formed and strengthened by the sacraments and lived in total faithfulness to the Church and in commitment to Jesus Christ.
If we are able to do all this in the work of the new evangelization, then as Knights of Columbus we may truly say,
Vivat Jesus!
PK 8Bcت OEBPS/Flow_10.htmlHurricane Sandy Relief Pours in from Near and Far
When Hurricane Sandy devastated the Eastern United States in October 2012, the major effects were felt in New York and New Jersey, with damage reported throughout New England and the Middle Atlantic. From as far north as Maine and as far south as the Carolinas, residents lost power and braced for flooding. Damage is being calculated in the billions.
Still, the brunt of the storm impacted the Garden State and the Empire State, where entire communities were swept away by the ocean and transit infrastructure was brutalized. Four months later, recovery is still ongoing — and is expected to continue for some time.
To this end, Knights near and far are pitching in to help. Including the support offered by councils in New York and New Jersey, the following councils have also sent assistance:
1.) Holy Family Parish Council 11909 in Lawton, Okla., provided support to a hurricane relief drive sponsored by St. Mary’s School. The drive netted toiletries such as toothpaste, soap, deodorant and hand sanitizer for those affected by the storm.
2.) Stuart (Iowa) Council 1961 set up a collection box at All Saints Church to solicit donations for hurricane victims. Knights collected blankets, gloves, shoes and other clothing items that were sent to Des Moines for transportation to the East Coast.
3.) By working with local schools, organizations and residents, Msgr. Joseph F. Dooley Council 4361 in Mingo Junction, Ohio, collected canned goods, bottled water, nonperishable food, used clothing and more than $2,600 in cash donations for hurricane victims. Knights filled a 53-foot truck with the goods, which a council member and the truck owner drove personally to New York and New Jersey.
4.) St. Matthew Council 14360 in Norwalk, Conn., hosted a pasta dinner that raised $1,100. The funds were divided between Hurricane Sandy relief efforts and the technology fund at All Saints School.
PK 8BWrvr OEBPS/Flow_11.htmlColumbianism by Degrees
Unity
Dennis Kelsch of San Felipe Council 11812 in Wendover, Utah, Joe Vrazel of St. Peter and Paul Council 8350 in West Valley City and Mike Avila of Catholic Community Services of Utah load a baby crib into the back of a truck for donation to an area pregnancy center. When Tom Whitworth of St. Mary of the Assumption Council 1129 in Park City noticed that a local business was selling 12 cribs for $20 each, he inquired about buying them for charity through his council. The business ended up donating the cribs — and 15 more — which Knights from several councils distributed to three charitable agencies and two needy families.
Charity
Tim Wuerger, Gregory Biliskov and Tim O’Neill of St. Margaret Mary Council 11091 in Algonquin, Ill., collect cans for recycling from one of the council’s collection bins. Knights were asked to consolidate and oversee all of the recycling efforts at their parish, including the collection of recyclable cans, printer cartridges, cell phones and newspapers by various parish groups. All of the programs now fall under a parish-wide effort called “Recycle Sunday,” held on the fourth Sunday of each month. Funds from the program support a number of initiatives for the parish, school and council.
Fraternity
James W. Ciaglo Jr. (third from left) of San Jose Assembly in Willimantic, Conn., and Supreme Master Dennis J. Stoddard (second from right) examine the assembly’s first book of minutes at the Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven, Conn. The assembly donated the book, which dates from Aug. 22, 1900, to the Supreme Council Archives. Also pictured, from left, are: Jonathan Ciaglo; Michael J. Donnelly, vice supreme master of the Bishop Healy Province; and Edwin O. Geiger.
Patriotism
World War II veterans pose for a picture at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., during a Honor Flight trip that was partially funded by Archbishop Ireland Assembly in Eugene, Ore. Knights teamed with other patriotic organizations to help send 25 veterans on a trip to the nation’s capital. Honor Flight is an organization that transports surviving veterans of World War II to see the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. The trips include complimentary flights for veterans who otherwise may not be able to visit the memorial in their lifetime.
PK 8B mb0 0 OEBPS/Flow_12.htmlBuilding a Better World
Members of the “Knight Riders” team participate in the Ontario MS Bike Tour, traveling 93 miles from Grand Bend to London on bicycle to raise funds and awareness for multiple sclerosis. Seven K of C members joined Knight Reg Campbell and his wife — both of whom have participated in the event for the past eight years — in training for and participating in the ride. Together, the team raised $8,000 for MS research. General Agent Sonny Sangemino donated the jerseys that the team wore.
PK 8B9`u u OEBPS/Flow_13.html‘You did not choose me. I chose you.’
Teresa Kohl Photography
I was born and raised in the Philippines before moving to Canada, where I worked for 13 years in various jobs. On Dec. 12, 2006, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I entered religious life.
When I was young, I wanted to enter the convent, but I had to let go of my dream so I could work and help support my family. Still, there were many times that I heard God saying, “You did not choose me. I chose you” (Jn 15:16).
I pray and hope that all peoples will work toward being united as one in embracing God. This can be done by allowing God to form us into building stones for his kingdom.
One of the lessons I learned as a novice is from St. Paul: to offer myself “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” and to discern his will, “what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom 12:1-2). With God’s grace, my pure joy is to please him and do his holy will in all things all the days of my life.
Sister Agnes Clare of the Holy Trinity
Franciscan Missionary Sisters
of Our Lady of Sorrows
Beaverton, Ore.
PK 8B OEBPS/Flow_2.htmlFaith and Charity
We are called, especially during Lent, to be renewed in faith and to receive and share the love of God
by Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori
The season of Lent will begin Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13. Experience teaches us that we can begin this season of repentance with many good intentions that soon fall by the wayside. Resolutions to pray more, fast or eliminate bad habits easily fade amid the wear and tear of our daily routine. As Lent approaches, we might be asking ourselves, “Will this year be different?”
In this Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI has invited us to observe the season of Lent in a way that will make a fundamental difference in our lives. He has asked us to reflect on the relationship between faith and charity, on how faith opens the door of our hearts to God’s love for us. When we truly believe that God is love (cf. 1 Jn 4:8) and that God loves us more than we could ever ask or imagine, then we rediscover our calling to be men and women of true and authentic charity.
A LIVING FAITH
Many people think of faith as belief in a set of unproven and abstract ideas and arbitrary rules, a kind of impersonal belief system that more or less guides their lives. Others think it doesn’t matter much what they believe so long as they are nice to those around them, and for that reason they do not seriously fulfill their obligation to be well-formed in the faith. However, the Christian faith that we are called to profess is neither simply a personal philosophy of life nor a feeling about God and others. It is something much more.
Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit given to us in the sacrament of baptism that enables us to accept as true and life-giving all that God has revealed and teaches us in and through the Church. We must daily invest our whole selves in this gift of faith, through which we embrace the truth that God is love. Through faith, we are caught up in the merciful and redeeming love which God’s Son, Jesus Christ, communicated to the world by his life, death and resurrection. Through faith, we accept the merciful love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Lent calls us to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord. During this time of grace, many in our parishes are making final preparations for the sacrament of baptism and entry into the Church at Easter. Those of us already baptized are called during Lent to rediscover the gift of faith so that at Easter we can sincerely reaffirm our baptismal promises to reject sin and the attraction of evil, and to profess our faith in God and in the Church.
The elements of a good Lenten observance remain the same: repentance of our sins by making a good and complete confession; forgiveness of those who have harmed or offended us; sincere efforts to pray better and more often; a resolve to deny ourselves, to forego wants and to manifest our need for God and his mercy; and a commitment to serve those in need, including some form of hands-on charity.
Our faith becomes more focused and alive when we pray, repent and extend ourselves in charity. We can then better recognize how much God loves us. We come to see Jesus not merely as a figure of history, but as alive and real, as the most important person in our lives. We grasp that he lived and died for our sake, because he loves us deeply and personally.
As the gift of faith comes alive and expands, we can never be nonchalant about coming to Mass. After all, the sacrament of faith, baptism, continually leads us to the sacrament of charity, the Eucharist.
THE WITNESS OF CHARITY
In his letter introducing the Year of Faith, Pope Benedict said, “Only through believing, then, does faith grow and become stronger; there is no other possibility for possessing certitude with regard to one’s life apart from self-abandonment, in a continuous crescendo, into the hands of a love that seems to grow constantly because it has its origin in God.”
Once we have fallen in love with God through faith, then we will want to share the truth of his love and the love of his truth with those around us, including family members and friends who no longer practice the faith and those who seem to have no religious faith at all. The greatest act of charity we can offer others is to share with them the living Word of God — to help them discover the gift of faith that opens them up to the love of God in their lives.
We help make the faith credible to others when they can see we are responding to God’s love by leading lives of charity. This is why prayer and study of the faith combined with self-denial and service are so important. We engage in these activities through the grace of God so that our hearts will be expanded, so that we will believe and love more sincerely, and so that we can share the Gospel with others more forthrightly.
Charity, of course, is the first principle of the Knights of Columbus. Membership in the Order offers innumerable opportunities for men and their families to strengthen their faith and serve those in need. We grow together in friendship with the Lord through our fraternity, and this friendship is lived and cultivated by our practice of charity.
May this Lent, amid the Year of Faith, be a most fruitful season of grace for each of you and your families.♦
PK 8B]{B4 4 OEBPS/Flow_3.htmlVenerable Samuel Mazzuchelli (1806-1864)
Courtesy of the Sinsinawa Dominicans, www.sinsinawa.org
Samuel Mazzuchelli was born Nov. 4, 1806, in Milan, Italy. Among a family of successful merchants, bankers and scholars, he chose instead to enter the Order of Preachers at age 17. He began studies in Rome in 1825 and three years later answered an appeal from the first bishop of Cincinnati. Although Mazzuchelli did not yet speak English, he traveled to America. In 1830, at age 23, he was ordained a Dominican priest to serve as a missionary to an area larger than his native Italy.
After several years in northern Michigan and Wisconsin, Father Mazzuchelli spent most of his life in the upper Mississippi Valley. He built up the Church — both physically and spiritually — throughout southwestern Wisconsin, northeastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois. During a 30-year period, he built more than two dozen churches in addition to various public buildings and schools. He also founded a men’s college and a Dominican community for women.
Throughout his ministry Father Mazzuchelli served a variety of communities, from Native Americans to immigrant traders and miners. He adopted the cultures of those he served and even published prayer books in native languages. Although there were very few Italian immigrants at the time, he was always welcomed.
Father Mazzuchelli admired the American ideal but was not afraid to protest slavery and injustices to Native Americans. He was known for his courage, generosity and charity. He died suddenly on Feb. 23, 1864, amid cold weather after visiting the sick.
His cause for canonization was formally opened in 1964, and Pope John Paul II declared him venerable in 1993.♦
PK 8B OEBPS/Flow_4.htmlA Prayerful Presence Amid Grief
Through a prayer campaign and volunteering, Knights have done whatever they can to support mourners after the heartbreaking events in Newtown, Conn.
by Columbia staff
A man wipes tears from his eyes as he leans over a makeshift memorial outside St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 15. 2012. (CNS photo/Joshua Lott, Reuters)
In the wake of the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., which left 20 children and six adult staff members dead, Knights of Columbus mourned with the victims’ families and comforted them with prayers and acts of service.
After the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson issued the following statement on behalf of Knights and their families throughout the world: “The Knights of Columbus joins the people of Connecticut and of the nation in mourning the loss of those killed in Newtown. Our thoughts and prayers are with each family affected by this tragic event. We pray especially that God will give them consolation and strength in this difficult time.”
St. Virgilius Council 185 in Newtown established a program asking people to pray at least three Hail Marys, one for each of three intentions: the victims and their families; the first responders and teachers; and the community of Newtown.
“Our parish and community were deeply affected by the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School,” said Grand Knight Timothy J. Haas of Council 185. “Many, many people have asked how they can help. One way is with your prayers.”
More than half of the approximately 28,000 residents of Newtown are Catholic, and a number of the victims of the massacre were members of St. Rose of Lima Parish.
Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose, was the first clergy member at the scene of the shooting and accompanied police when they notified parents that their children had been killed.
Newtown is located in the Diocese of Bridgeport, where Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore served as bishop until 2012. In a message read during Masses at St. Rose of Lima Parish on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, Archbishop Lori assured the community of his prayers and said, “I can only say that, especially for the sake of the victims and their families, we cannot allow ourselves to lose hope, but indeed, now more than ever, must strengthen one another through our friendships in Christ and our unity of faith in him and his resurrection.”
He then recalled the words of Blessed John Paul II: “To receive Jesus Christ means … believing that in the history of humanity, even though it is marked by evil and suffering, the final word belongs to life and to love, because God came to dwell among us, so we might dwell in him.”
Eight funerals, most of them for children, took place at St. Rose of Lima Church in the days following the massacre. Together with the Newtown Knights, K of C members from throughout Connecticut served as ushers at many of the funerals for the victims.
The Knights were assigned to a variety of tasks, including escorting mourners under umbrellas amid heavy rain, handing out prayer cards and sorting mail — cards and letters expressing condolences from around the world.
When the Knights ran out of rosaries that were being distributed to mourners, they contacted the Supreme Council. Within hours, a member traveling to Newtown delivered a donation of 500 rosaries and accompanying prayer books.
In an interview with Catholic News Service, Rodd Blessey, director of youth ministry at St. Rose, noted, “The Knights have parked cards, opened doors, helped the police, and cleared and cleaned the church between the back-to-back funerals.”
Blessey, who is a member of Council 185, organized a large youth event that included overnight eucharistic adoration for young parishioners who were grieving.
“Our Knights were there to help make [the event] happen despite an environment of relative chaos and fear,” explained Grand Knight Haas in an e-mail message. “One young lady commented to her mother, ‘The Knights make me feel safe,’ while she reflected on how their presence reminded her of her dad, and how she just feels … like everything is going to be OK when he is around.”
People participating in Council 185’s prayer drive were asked to e-mail HailMary@kofc185.org to report the number of people praying, the number of prayers said and the location. As of mid-January 2013, more than 3 million prayers had been reported from locations across the United States, the Philippines, Canada and South Korea.♦
PK 8BZ2 2 OEBPS/Flow_5.htmlRediscovering the Gospel in America
Order co-sponsors Vatican congress discussing the mission and future of the Church on the American continent
by Columbia Staff
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, celebrates the Mass opening a congress on Ecclesia in America at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 9, 2012.
From Dec. 10-12, 2012, a historic international congress on Ecclesia in America took place at the Vatican, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops for America. The event was co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and was organized in collaboration with the Institute for Guadalupan Studies in Mexico City.
On the evening of Dec. 9, the feast of St. Juan Diego, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and former archbishop of Quebec, celebrated the opening Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. Following Mass, Pope Benedict XVI addressed participants at a private audience and personally greeted several conference organizers and dignitaries, including Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson.
The Holy Father cited urgent problems facing the Americas, including secularization; assaults on the culture of life and the institutions of marriage and family; unresolved issues regarding immigration; violence related to drug trafficking and the arms trade; and economic policies that worsen poverty.
Although all of these issues “require careful study,” Pope Benedict said, “the Catholic Church is convinced that the light for an adequate solution can only come from an encounter with the living Christ, which gives rise to attitudes and ways of acting based on love and truth.”
In this light, participants of the three-day congress turned to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of America and Star of the New Evangelization, as their guide. And in evaluating the history, present situation and future of the American continent, they discussed ways that the churches of America can cooperate to address contemporary problems and to revitalize their common patrimony of faith.
Pope Benedict XVI greets the Supreme Knight and Mrs. Anderson following Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Dec. 9. (L’Osservatore Romano)
THE CHRISTIAN CONTINENT
When introducing the congress on Dec. 10, Cardinal Ouellet noted that it is no coincidence that the event was being held during the Year of Faith and that it followed the Synod on the New Evangelization, which took place two months earlier.
“The precious patrimony of Christian faith, which was present at the start of the American ‘New World’ and which enriches the lives of its peoples, has been subjected to erosion by the strong forces of secularization,” he said.
The cardinal repeated many of the challenges facing America that were mentioned previously by Pope Benedict and said, “In order to face these problems in light of the Church’s mission, it is imperative that a profound sense of communion and belonging be alive in each and every local church and in the relationships between all churches.”
During the congress, participants from North, Central and South America were joined by Vatican representatives and Catholics from around the world. Members of the hierarchy from Latin America, the United States and Canada led working groups throughout the event that discussed such topics as the new evangelization, the Church’s role in education, the Church’s mission of charity and the role of the Virgin Mary in leading people to Christ.
Addressing participants on Dec. 10, Guzmán Carriquiry, secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, focused on the need for authentic Catholic education and cooperation among countries. He noted the significance of the fact that the congress was taking place at the “center of Catholicism” and included representatives from Catholic churches throughout the hemisphere.
“We must remember that more than 50 percent of the world’s Catholics live in the Americas — a percentage that will grow in the coming decades,” said Carriquiry. “The future of its peoples and the whole Catholic Church shall depend on the Church in the American continent and its evangelizing mission.”
At a press conference before the congress, Supreme Knight Anderson likewise remarked that despite the challenges of secularism, the Christian faith remains more vibrant in America than in other parts of the world.
“America is truly the Christian continent,” he said. “Each country in our hemisphere has a shared history of having had the good news of Jesus Christ take root there.”
EVANGELIZING CULTURE
In his address to the congress, Supreme Knight Anderson called Blessed John Paul II’s 1999 document Ecclesia in America “the blueprint for the new evangelization.” Written in response to the Synod of Bishops that took place two years earlier, Ecclesia in America “correctly focuses Catholic evangelization on what matters most,” the supreme knight said. Specifically, John Paul II pointed to Jesus Christ as “the definitive answer to the question of the meaning of life and to those fundamental questions which still trouble so many men and women on the American continent” (10).
Both the supreme knight and Msgr. Eduardo Chávez, postulator of the cause for canonization of St. Juan Diego, noted that John Paul II referred to Our Lady of Guadalupe as “an impressive example of a perfectly inculturated evangelization” (11).
The Virgin Mary’s appearance as a pregnant mestiza, or mixed race woman, to St. Juan Diego in 1531 took place amid a violent cultural conflict between the Spanish and Native Americans. But as a result of the witness of Juan Diego, a humble layman, and the miraculous image imprinted on his tilma, the civilization was radically transformed by the Christian message.
“They not only stopped killing each other,” Msgr. Chávez explained, “but after making their own the love that God offered them through his most holy mother, they accepted each other and a new people was born — a synthesis and reconciliation of what was apparently irreconcilable.”
Supreme Knight Anderson pointed out that authentic inculturation involves recognizing what is true and good in cultures, such as language and tradition, while at the same time rejecting moral relativism and the culture of death. He added that the laity, particularly the family, play an important role in building a civilization of love.
“We must take the opportunity to find cultural unity through a shared religious identity and value system,” the supreme knight said. “The truth the Church has to offer the world does not hinder cultural development; it fulfills it.”
Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore and Auxiliary Bishop James Conley of Denver process during the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
A NEED FOR FORMATION
The historic congress continued on Dec. 11 with reports from the congress’ workgroups and a recitation of the rosary at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Vatican Gardens. On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12, participants gathered for Pope Benedict XVI’s weekly general audience. Cardinal Séan P. O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, then delivered the event’s last major address.
As was the case with other presenters, Cardinal O’Malley highlighted the need for collaboration between dioceses and across borders. Noting the growing percentage of Hispanic Catholics in the United States, he pointed to the Hispanic Seminary of Our Lady of Guadalupe, located near Mexico City, as one example of how collaboration is already taking place. With support from Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, archbishop of Mexico, the seminary provides formation for future Spanish-speaking priests who will serve U.S. dioceses.
Cardinal O’Malley also proposed several ways that churches in America can address contemporary challenges. Specifically, he focused on the need for bishops’ conferences and others to develop education initiatives that counter the effects of secularization and the culture of death.
“In order to uphold the teachings of divine law and natural law, it’s essential to promote an understanding of the Church’s social teachings and ensure that life and family values are recognized and defended,” he said. He added that faithful Catholics must play a greater role in the public square. “If we fail to form Catholic leaders, we will continue to see the erosion of religious freedom, social justice and public morality.”
Moreover, the cardinal stressed the need to train faithful Catholics to work in various parts of the media. “Just as we have an urgent need to properly form men and women who aspire to public office, we must also work together to form competent and articulate Catholics who can present the teachings of the Church in a convincing and attractive way,” he said.
In the end, the participants left inspired by the proceedings of the congress, recognizing that globalization and the changing face of America bring not only challenges, but also new opportunities for solidarity and evangelization.
The event concluded with Mass celebrated by Cardinal Ouellet (see page 14).♦
PK 8B]Ԏ( ( OEBPS/Flow_6.htmlThe Way of Mary
Guided by Our Lady of Guadalupe, we are called to be present-day missionaries
by Cardinal Marc Ouellet
Editor’s note: The following homily was delivered in Spanish Dec. 12, 2012, at the closing Mass of the international congress on Ecclesia in America.
The day that Mary of Nazareth received the announcement of the angel Gabriel and consented to her divine maternity, the history of the world turned to the ocean of divine grace ....
The Gospel tells us that Mary went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, to visit her cousin Elizabeth who, as she knew by revelation, was also expecting a son. From the first moment of their meeting, the Holy Spirit filled the mothers and their unborn children with joy. Elizabeth exclaimed, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled!” (Lk 1:45). Mary responded with her canticle of thanksgiving, which has become the daily canticle of the Church’s faith: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant” (Lk 1:46-48).
When God willed that America be opened to the Gospel, he looked upon Juan Diego, a humble peasant who also received a visitation and message from heaven. According to the account of the Nican Mopohua, Juan Diego was attracted to the mountains
by heavenly singing from an unknown source. He saw a noble Lady, radiant, of unimaginable perfection, clothed in the sun. She introduced herself as the Mother of the true God and asked Juan Diego to tell the bishop to build a chapel on the hill of Tepeyac. Three attempts and three miracles were necessary to convince the bishop: the miracle of the Castilian roses, which blossomed in winter on the mountain, utterly out of season; the miracle of the tilma; and the miraculous cure of Juan Bernardino, Juan Diego’s uncle. Finally, grace prevailed over episcopal prudence and human incredulity, and the chapel was built. …
INSPIRED BY FAITH
We are witnesses that the People of God journeying in America are saying “yes” to the call of this Year of Faith. We have hastened to this meeting to revive the gift of faith that we received 500 years ago, and we want to be witnesses of it in unity, given that this gift is the most precious inheritance that has united America, South and North, since its origins.
We have come guided by the Star of the First and the New Evangelization: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas, whose liturgical feast we celebrate today (Dec. 12). As “Wise Men of the East,” we thought we knew this noble Lady well, but the events of this congress — the conferences, the prayers and the testimonies — have helped us to rediscover her. That is why our soul glorifies the Lord with her — because the Lord has looked upon his poor subjects and, by Mary’s maternal intercession, has touched and renewed us. We are ready to bring the message of the Gospel with new ardor, with new methods and in a new language.
We cannot repeat often enough that the Virgin Mary’s apparition to Juan Diego was instrumental to the transmission of the faith to the peoples of America. It marked the commencement of evangelization. It made possible the reconciliation of opponents and the diffusion of the Gospel into the hearts and culture of the natives. … Blessed be God for that face of tenderness and mercy that led the people of America to adore the one savior, Jesus Christ.
The song of praise and thanksgiving that rises from our hearts at the end of this congress indicates that the Holy Spirit has touched us and is urging us to take up again the way of Mary, the mother of fair love and holy hope. We have received notable graces in this Year of Faith; we are more conscious of our dignity as children of God, which makes us cry out: “Abba! Father! Thy Kingdom come!”
Fortified and confirmed by the blessing of the Successor of Peter, let us go to our brothers and sisters; in the power of the Spirit, let us give witness to the truth of the Gospel and of the unity of the Catholic Church, which transcends the borders of all races, cultures and social conditions. The continent that has grown under the sign of Christ the King and under the staff of Peter must transmit and spread its faith. The poor anxiously await this witness, which must be manifested in sincere charity, fraternity and effective solidarity with the least privileged.
May the baptized of America thus become “missionary disciples” in the power of the Spirit, who sends them on a mission that must embrace the whole continent. May all the baptized rise and proclaim their faith with pride, in respect of others’ liberty but conscious that they must pass the torch of faith to new generations. Above all, may there arise a new flowering of holy men and women for the new evangelization. The vocation to sanctity is for the whole Church, and there is no obstacle to holiness that is insurmountable, regardless of our state in life. As the Gospel tells us, an act of faith the size of a mustard seed is enough to move a mountain.
HOLY WITNESSES
At the end of the 17th century, the Church canonized St. Rose of Lima, the first person native to America to be raised to the altar. Legend has it that when it was suggested to the pope that he beatify her, the pope answered that even if a shower of roses were to fall on the Vatican, he could not believe in the sanctity of an indigenous person. Just then, rose petals began falling upon the Eternal City. In 1671, the canonization of Rose of Lima, proclaimed patroness of Peru and later of the whole of South America, of India and of the Philippines, gave way to great solemnities throughout the world.
This past October, at the height of the Synod on the New Evangelization and the beginning of this Year of Faith, we celebrated with great joy the canonization of Kateri Tekakwitha, a young native girl of North America who died at 24 years of age and had to flee from her family and her tribe to maintain her virginal passion for Christ. Loved equally in Canada and the United States, St. Kateri now belongs to the universal Church and is thus a mediating figure for the reconciliation of peoples and the reception of the Gospel.
May these two privileged daughters of Our Lady of Guadalupe join hands in the highest heavens, not only to unite North and South America, but also to radiate the Catholic faith throughout the world. A throng of other saints have preceded us on the path of the Gospel in America; let us invoke them with one heart so that their passion of charity, their passion for Christ, may continue to win souls thirsty for hope and liberation.
The many social evils that plague America require from Christ’s disciples a treatment that will eradicate the deadly virus of egoism, envy and hatred. We must fight against the exploitation of the poor, illicit trade, unjust laws regarding immigration, urban violence, the disintegration of the family and many other afflictions. Christ the Redeemer responds to these challenges through our commitment to justice and solidarity, founded on the grace of conversion and penance. May we, the Christians of America, therefore be in the front line of the battle, so that the witness of our faith is not contradicted by indifference and a lack of consistency in our lives.
Dear friends, let us put in the hands of Holy Mary of Guadalupe, our mother, the hopes and projects born from this meeting in Rome, 15 years after the Synod on America. In the face of the immense needs of the new evangelization, our possibilities are poor, but our faith is great. May that faith increase even more today and in every communion with the body of the risen Christ, who makes us participants in his victory.
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed’” (Rev 12:10). Amen!♦
CARDINAL MARC OUELLET, formerly archbishop of Quebec, is the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Council for Latin America.
PK 8B ( ( OEBPS/Flow_7.htmlA Charity that Evangelizes
In this Year of Faith, the good works of the Order are a strong witness to the message of Christ
by Patrick Scalisi
If it’s true that actions speak louder than words, then the Knights of Columbus let out a giant shout this past winter with a number of charitable initiatives that fulfill Jesus’ command to feed the hungry and clothe the naked (cf. Mt 25:35-36).
Especially in this Year of Faith, acts of charity inspired by faith are essential to the new evangelization. Where words end, actions undertaken in a spirit of charity, unity and fraternity convey what it means to be a follower of Christ.
The Knights of Columbus has not let this opportunity go to waste. Throughout all the jurisdictions where the Order is present, Knights took up the task of helping the most vulnerable during cold-weather months through the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids and Food for Families initiatives. Whether distributing new winter coats in Utah or feeding a community on Thanksgiving in Massachusetts, Knights demonstrated what Blessed John Paul II called “a charity that evangelizes.”
BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
With only a few days advance notice, Connecticut State Warden William T. McGovern and area district deputies organized a Coats for Kids distribution at Blessed Sacrament Church in Bridgeport, handing out approximately 300 coats to needy families. The turnout wasn’t quite as large as expected — which turned out to be a hidden blessing. Following the devastating school shooting in Newtown, many children were forced to leave their jackets at Sandy Hook Elementary School after evacuating the facility. Coats left from the distribution in Bridgeport were later transported to Newtown and donated to children who lost their coats amid of the shooting.
“We are there to do what is needed for the community and to support the community — Catholic or non-Catholic.”
– Connecticut State Warden William T. McGovern
The Republican
CHICOPEE, MASS.
The holiday season can be a wonderful time for families to share food and company. But it can also be a lonely time for many. Thanks to Fairview Council 4044 in Chicopee, Mass., no one in Western Massachusetts needed to spend Thanksgiving alone. For the 22nd year, the council hosted its annual Thanksgiving dinner, serving more than 3,800 meals throughout the week. Beginning on the Monday before Thanksgiving, Knights delivered 2,000 meals to the homebound and cooked for about 400 people at the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club. The council also delivered food to military personnel at Westover Air Reserve Base and served food at a local soup kitchen before joining 200 volunteers at the council’s social hall to wait on approximately 1,000 diners there. In total, the staff prepared 4,200 pounds of turkey, 1,000 pounds of potatoes, 1,200 pounds of squash and 1,000 gallons of gravy, among other sides.
“Every year the numbers go up. I hope for the day that the economy is better and people are doing better and the numbers go the other way and drop. But until that day, the council plans on being there to help those in need.”
– Ronald Belair, dinner organizer
OCEANSIDE, N.Y.
For Msgr. John A. Cass Council 2626 in Long Beach, N.Y., the autumn of 2012 brought one tragedy after another. In October, Hurricane Sandy smashed multiple communities along the southern coast of Long Island. Despite running on generators, the council’s social hall served for five weeks as a distribution center for food, shelter, clothing and cleaning supplies. But in a second tragic turn, the council hall caught fire Dec. 10, 2012, just as council members were about to turn their attention to repairing the storm-ravaged building.
With several important events pending at the social hall, Father Joseph O’Connell Council 3481 in nearby Oceanside stepped in to help. Primarily, Knights took the reins on a Christmas party that was supposed to be held for child victims of Hurricane Sandy on Dec. 22, 2012. Council 3481 relocated the event to its hall and arranged with the Florida State Council to have coats donated to every child in attendance. The Oceanside council also donated food for the event, which included music, entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus with an abundance of toys.
“When you see the stress of people losing the contents of their homes … people don’t know how to deal with this. And what our faith teaches us is to help and care for these people, and help them try to get through these difficult times.”
– Grand Knight Timothy Pendleton of Father Joseph O’Connell Council 3481, Oceanside, N.Y.
SALT LAKE CITY
In winter, the average low temperature in Salt Lake City typically hovers around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s chilly for most adults, let alone children who don’t have access to adequate cold-weather clothing. The Utah State Council set out to correct this deficiency at the end of 2012, purchasing 25 cases of coats through the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids program to donate to needy families. By working with the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Catholic Community Services, Knights were able to effectively target families who needed the most assistance. In addition to working with CCS, Knights also distributed coats at several parishes, one of which also had hats and gloves available for recipients.
“Some of the parents, too, you can see the gratitude in their faces. They thank you. And some of them start crying a little bit because now they know that their child is going to be warm. … They don’t have to focus now on, ‘What am I going to do today if it gets cold?’”
– Utah State Secretary Jerald P. Hanten
KAUFMAN, TEXAS
Sometimes even the U.S. Marine Corps needs a little bit of help — this time from the Knights of Columbus. In Kaufman County, Texas, Father W.P. Pechal Council 11721 assisted with the Marines’ Toys for Tots program to make Christmas merry for 85 local families.
For the past 13 years, Knights have collected the names of needy families, vetted them through the Salvation Army, and worked with the VFW and other community groups to organize the distribution of toys and food items. When all the goods were collected, volunteers gathered at St. Anne Church to divide the materials equally for each family into boxes containing two toys for each child, a turkey, dinner rolls, vegetables, potatoes, apples and pie filling. No children were present at the pick up, so the toys and food could be a surprise on Christmas. Suddenly, families who were looking forward to baked beans and hot dogs for Christmas dinner had a bit more holiday cheer.
PATRICK SCALISI is the associate editor of Columbia magazine.
“This is family. This is what we were brought about by Father McGivney to do. This is keeping families together.”
– District Deputy Bernard J. Grant Jr. of Texas District #84
PK 8BY=7 =7 OEBPS/Flow_8.htmlInto Full Communion
Former Anglican priests, received into the Catholic Church, reflect on their faith journey and the role the Knights have played along the way
by Monica Hatcher | photography by Chris Curry
Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson, head of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, is pictured at Our Lady of Walsingham Shrine in Houston.
The journey has consisted of gut-wrenching decisions, difficult conversations, tests of personal faith, and moral resolve. But for former Anglicans looking back on the first anniversary of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, it was all worth entering the true fold of Christ.
“Like Jesus’ parable of the man who sells all he has to buy a pearl of great price, that is what becoming Catholic has been,” said Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson, a former Episcopal bishop who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to lead this historic homecoming.
A Catholic priest since 2009, Msgr. Steenson serves as ordinary, a title that carries the same administrative and pastoral authority as a bishop, although he cannot ordain priests. He is a member of St. Cyril of Alexandria Council 8024 in Houston, the seat of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, which was erected Jan. 1, 2012.
The ordinariate is comparable to a diocese, but geographically covers all of the United States and Canada. A year after its official inauguration, the ordinariate has ordained 28 priests and welcomed more than 1,600 members from 36 communities into the new ecclesial structure.
In early 2012, the Knights of Columbus made a key contribution to the critical task of forming the scores of former Anglican clergy who are seeking to be ordained to the Catholic priesthood. The Supreme Council donated $100,000 to purchase technology for a specially designed, long-distance formation program at St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston.
Where logistics and travel expenses could be prohibitive, this equipment has allowed multi-participant video conferencing and makes it possible for many to pursue their vocations. So far, approximately 70 men across North America have sought candidacy — nearly more than the ordinariate can handle, Msgr. Steenson said.
The principal task of the ordinariate in the months ahead, Msgr. Steenson added, will be to build up fledgling communities and to help new converts feel comfortable in the broader Church. In this work, too, the Knights of Columbus has already played a role.
Father Charles Hough IV was ordained for the Ordinariate alongside his father and four other former Episcopal priests on June 30, 2012. He now serves as rector of Our Lady of Walsingham Church in Houston.
‘A TREASURE TO BE SHARED’
The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter is part of a bigger movement of Anglicans seeking full communion with Rome after becoming disillusioned by increasing disunity within the Anglican Communion.
In response to numerous petitions from groups around the world, Pope Benedict in 2009 issued Anglicanorum Coetibus, an apostolic constitution authorizing the creation of personal ordinariates to shepherd the conversion of entire communities to the Catholic faith. There are now ordinariates for North America, England and Wales, and Australia.
Anglicanorum Coetibus encouraged the preservation of the rich spiritual and liturgical traditions of the Church of England. It described this patrimony, which in Catholic liturgy is called Anglican Use, as “a precious gift” and “a treasure to be shared.” It also made an exception to the norm of clerical celibacy for Latin-rite priests, allowing some former Anglican clergy who are married to become Catholic priests.
Father Charles Hough IV, who was received into the Catholic Church and ordained a priest last year, was one of 10 Anglican priests from northern Texas who petitioned Pope Benedict for full communion. Father Hough said that most Anglicans making the move are already closely aligned with Catholic theology, but over time have realized that things such as deviations from the all-male priesthood and the erosion of the sacrament of marriage are symptoms pointing to a greater lack of authority within the Anglican and Episcopal churches.
Nearly 500 years has passed since King Henry VIII, who was seeking an annulment from Catherine of Aragon, broke from the Church in Rome over questions of national autonomy. Today, the implication of the loss of unity with the See of Peter has troubled the hearts of many people being led into the ordinariate.
Following years of theological study, Father Matt Venuti, now a Catholic priest in Mobile, Ala., said he had hoped his so-called “Roman Fever” would cure itself once he entered real-world ministry. The most difficult day of his life, though, was when he was ordained an Anglican priest and questioned the validity of his ordination.
“When you realize you need to become a Catholic on the day of your ordination in the Episcopal Church, it kind of throws your whole future into question,” said Father Venuti, who now leads a small Anglican Use mission community called the Society of Saint Gregory the Great.
NOT COUNTING THE COST
Father Hough, who is a member of Our Lady of Walsingham Council 13615 in Houston, said his decisive moment came when he was elevating the Eucharist during the Easter Vigil. He realized that because the Anglican Communion was not in communion with the Holy See, nor were its sacraments.
“Many of us came to the conclusion that there is only one way to gain back ‘the faith once for all delivered to us by the saints,’ as St. Jude said in his epistle, and that was to come back into communion with the See of Peter at whatever the cost.”
The price for many, though, would include the possibility of leaving priestly ministry forever, in addition to saying goodbye to the communities they loved, the faith of their fathers and, in some cases, the church buildings their ancestors had built.
For married men trained and formed for lives as Episcopal clergy, financial concerns loomed about how they would be able to provide for their families on the stipends provided for celibate Catholic priests. Msgr. Steenson noted that the Knights’ life insurance and financial services have been a wonderful resource in that regard.
Former Anglican communities have also had to wrestle with the loss of members, property issues and finding their financial footing. St. Luke’s Parish in Bladensburg, Md., the first Episcopal church to join the ordinariate, is one example. When the congregation decided to join the Catholic Church, it negotiated a three-year lease from the Episcopal diocese for the current church and rectory — hopefully enough time to find a new place of worship or to raise funds to purchase the current facilities.
“We live from our collection plate or paycheck to paycheck,” said Father Mark Lewis, the parish’s pastor. “Truly we are putting ourselves in the hands of God and trusting as we move forward that he will take care of us.”
Despite the challenges, new Catholic converts radiate joy.
“To become Catholic has been the greatest gift that [my wife and I] could have received,” Father Lewis said. “It has deepened our spirituality. It has put before us, even more than before, the call to holiness in our lives…. It has quenched a thirst we didn’t know we had, but at the same time it has inspired us to want more.”
Father Hough, who was ordained alongside his father, also a former Episcopal priest, said, “We are overjoyed to be here and so blessed to be able to live in the fullness of faith with other Catholics.”
‘PROUD TO BE A KNIGHT’
Embracing the fullness of the faith has also included, in some sense, enthusiastic service through the Knights of Columbus.
In a March 2012 letter to Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, Msgr. Steenson expressed his gratitude for the Order’s grant to purchase the equipment used for the priestly formation of dozens of candidates throughout North America.
“I do look forward to seeing councils of Knights chartered in Ordinariate communities,” Msgr. Steenson wrote. “My association with the Knights at St. Cyril of Alexandria, Houston, has been a very happy one, and it will be a privilege to commend the great work of the Knights of Columbus to our future clergy and laymen.”
Among the former Episcopal priests who have joined the ordinariate is Father Randy Sly, a member of Our Lady of Hope Council 12791 in Potomac Falls, Va. “When I found out how involved the Knights were in the ordinariate, it just made me even more proud to be a Knight,” he said.
In a “blessing beyond all description,” Father Sly was ordained a Catholic priest in June 2012, accompanied by an honor guard of Fourth Degree Knights. Father Sly now leads the St. John Fisher Anglican Ordinariate Community at Our Lady of Hope Church.
Meanwhile, Father Venuti said he was grateful to the Knights of St. Mary’s Parish in Mobile who adopted him as their seminarian and purchased books he needed for the distance-learning program in Houston. “I am in debt to them, and I know a lot of other guys are, too,” he said.
As for Father Hough, he first encountered the Knights after he converted and was living in the rectory with his wife and two children at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Keller, Texas.
“For a year I was able to experience that council, and it was beautiful,” said Father Hough. “What I saw those men doing for the Church was phenomenal. I realized I wanted to be a Knight of Columbus, too, and wanted to know how I could carry it with me through my ministry.”
When he was appointed rector of Our Lady of Walsingham, the ordinariate’s principal church, and realized it had a dormant Knights of Columbus council, he knew just what to do.
“When I came here, I figured it out. I thought, let’s resurrect this council. In October we did, and I became a Knight,” he said.♦
MONICA HATCHER is a journalist and Catholic Worker serving at Casa Juan Diego in Houston.
PK 8Bm$} } OEBPS/Flow_9.htmlMake it Personal
Opportunities for spiritual growth abound in the Year of Faith
by Allan F. Wright
CNS photo/Juan Medina, Reuters
How are you living out this Year of Faith, which began last October? Have you and your brother Knights followed the “Year of Faith Council Action Plan” that outlines four categories of participation: faith professed, faith lived, faith celebrated and faith prayed? As the Year of Faith continues until Nov. 24, now is a good time to plan for a deeper experience of the Catholic faith. The goal is to not only do more, but also to become more through spiritual growth and change.
The Year of Faith is a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world,” Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his letter Porta Fidei. Catholics are called to renew their relationship with Christ and his Church, and since we are all at different stages in our spiritual development, we must decide which aspects of our lives need the most attention. The three areas I have personally chosen to focus on are deepening my conversion to Christ, enriching my faith life with my family and reaching out to those who may have fallen away from the Church. An outline of these three areas may help you focus on your own Year of Faith agenda.
We may attend Mass each weekend and receive holy Communion, but we still need conversion in our relationship with Christ. Is that relationship more ritual than personal? Regular Mass is absolutely vital, as is the sacrament of reconciliation, but we should also become familiar with Jesus through the Gospels and daily prayer. And we must allow what we believe to influence the way we act in the world — at home, at work and as citizens.
Sharing our faith with fellow Catholics is likewise necessary to sustain and deepen our relationship with Christ. As Knights, we are often so focused on the important mission of charitable service that we miss time for prayer, reflection and faith sharing, which must support all of our activities. After all, a stronger faith makes us better husbands, fathers and men of charity.
My second area of focus is supporting the spiritual growth of my wife and our children. Life with three kids under age 9 is exhausting, unpredictable and loads of fun. Although time alone is difficult to schedule, my wife and I make the effort to pray together and refresh our faith in God and devotion to one another. We also want this Year of Faith to be special for our children, so we invite them to come up with ideas on what to do. For example, our kids love to choose an item at the supermarket for the food pantry, and this practice develops a Catholic mindset of helping those in need. We also keep a prayer bowl before a Sacred Heart statue at home. Each night, the children pick out the names of two people to pray for. While there are minor skirmishes about who gets to pray for Nana or Aunt Amber, we have found great joy and renewed faith in praying together as a family, a domestic church.
My third area of focus deals with the new evangelization and reaching out to lapsed Catholics. I concentrate not on my ability to convince but on my availability for dialogue with those who no longer believe. Authentic friendships can lead to opportunities to share the good news of Jesus, who always seeks out the “lost sheep.” We can probably all think of at least one friend, colleague or relative who would appreciate a visit and a personal invitation to return to the faith. Take advantage of the graces offered throughout this year to reach out to that person.
Whatever you decide to do in this Year of Faith, remember that you cannot give what you do not have. Develop your relationship with God, and your faith will benefit others.♦
ALLAN F. WRIGHT is academic dean of evangelization at St. Paul Inside the Walls: The Catholic Center for Evangelization (insidethewalls.org) in the Diocese of Paterson, N.J., and is the author of Jesus the Evangelist (Franciscan Media, 2013). He is a member of St. Damien Council 6575 in Stirling, N.J.
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