Year of Faith Parish Guide - Volume One

PARISH GUIDE VOLUME ONE: OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2012 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD IN ILLINOIS

For information on diocesan Year of Faith activities go to www.dio.org/YearOfFaith or contact Jonathan F. Sullivan, director of catechetical services, at (217) 698-8500 x165 or jsullivan@dio.org.

The ministry of the Department for Catechetical Services is funded by the generous contributions to the Annual Catholic Services Appeal for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ...............................................................................................................................2 How to Use This Guide ..............................................................................................................3 Pastoral Recommendations.........................................................................................................4 The Year of Faith ...........................................................................................................................4 Quotes from Porta Fidei....................................................................................................................................... 4 Small Faith Group Study of Porta Fidei .............................................................................................................. 9

Liturgical Celebrations ................................................................................................................10 October 11, 2012 (Thursday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time)................................................................. 10 Intercessions for the Year of Faith.................................................................................................................... 11 Host a Homecoming Mass................................................................................................................................ 13

Study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Vatican Council II .......................................14 Attend the Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference (November 4-5) ........................................................... 14 Reflect on Faithful Citizenship............................................................................................................................ 14 Promote the Online Catechism.......................................................................................................................... 15 Foster Use of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults............................................................................ 15

Catechist Formation ....................................................................................................................16 Host a Catechist Reflection Evening................................................................................................................ 16 Offer a Workshop on Catholic Social Teaching.............................................................................................. 16

Family Faith Formation ...............................................................................................................17 Promote Household Blessings in your Parish .................................................................................................. 17 Host a Living in Love Weekend ....................................................................................................................... 17 Host a Blessing of Pets ...................................................................................................................................... 18

Parish Programs ...........................................................................................................................19 Catholicism Project Supplements..................................................................................................................... 19 Promote the World Mission Rosary ................................................................................................................. 19 Promote the Cause of Fr. Augustus Tolton ..................................................................................................... 20 Celebrate World Youth Day in the United States........................................................................................... 20

Evangelization and Witness.........................................................................................................22 Create a Parish Plan for Evangelization............................................................................................................ 22 Invite Testimonies............................................................................................................................................. 22 “Thank You� Notes for Godparents................................................................................................................. 22

Calendar of Events ....................................................................................................................23 Resources..................................................................................................................................26 Primary Documents .....................................................................................................................26 Recommended Resources............................................................................................................27 Resources from Publishers...........................................................................................................27 Prayer for the New Evangelization ............................................................................................30 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................31

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INTRODUCTION On October 11, 2012, the Church will embark on a Year of Faith. Called by Pope Benedict XVI and coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the start of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for all the faithful to recommit themselves to growing as disciples of Jesus Christ.

In his letter announcing the Year of Faith the Holy Father expressed three desires: We want this Year to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope. It will also be a good opportunity to intensify the celebration of the faith in the liturgy, especially in the Eucharist, which is “the summit towards which the activity of the Church is directed; ...and also the source from which all its power flows.” At the same time, we make it our prayer that believers’ witness of life may grow in credibility. To rediscover the content of the faith that is professed, celebrated, lived and prayed, and to reflect on the act of faith, is a task that every believer must make his own, especially in the course of this Year.

It is our prayer that these hopes be fulfilled in our diocese through various programs of faith formation, missionary and apostolic activity, and liturgical celebrations -both locally and regionally -- so that, called to be “one body, one spirit in Christ,” we may bear witness to our Catholic faith in the world.

Information on the diocesan celebration of the Year of Faith can be found at www.dio.org/YearOfFaith.

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HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE This is the first of four guides offered by the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois to assist parishes in their celebration of the Year of Faith. Each Parish Guide will give 34 months worth of information, ideas, and inspiration during the Year of Faith: Parish Guide Volume One Volume Two Volume Three Volume Four

Months Covered October-December 2012 January-April 2013 May-July 2013 August-November 2013

Date Available Late September 2012 Early November 2012 Early March 2013 Early June 2013

The Parish Guides will be divided into three sections: 

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PASTORAL RECOMMENDATIONS includes seven subsections, each corresponding to a paragraph in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s “Pastoral recommendations for the Year of Faith.” Different ideas will be listed here for how parishes might fulfill the congregation’s recommendations.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS lists regional and diocesan events connected to the Year of Faith.

RESOURCES links to the primary sources of the Year of Faith as well as other national, diocesan, and Catholic publisher resources.

We welcome input from pastors, DREs, principals, and all of the faithful; if you have suggestions for future volumes of this guide, contact Jonathan F. Sullivan at (217) 698-8500 x165 or jsullivan@dio.org.

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PASTORAL RECOMMENDATIONS “This year will be a propitious occasion for the faithful to understand more profoundly that the foundation of Christian faith is ‘the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.’ Founded on the encounter with the Risen Christ, faith can be rediscovered in its wholeness and all its splendor. ‘In our days too faith is a gift to rediscover, to cultivate and to bear witness to’ because the Lord ‘grants each one of us to live the beauty and joy of being Christians.’”

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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Pastoral Recommendation for the Year of Faith”

The following pastoral recommendations are meant to encourage and inspire the parishes of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois in their celebration of the Year of Faith. It is not meant to be an exhaustive or comprehensive list, but a jumping off point for local celebrations of the Year of Faith.

Parishes, schools, and other ministries should feel free to adapt these suggestions to their own communities and needs.

The Year of Faith “In preparation for the Year of Faith, all of the faithful are invited to read closely and meditate upon Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Letter, Porta fidei.”

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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Pastoral Recommendation for the Year of Faith”

QUOTES FROM PORTA FIDEI One simple way of disseminating the Holy Father’s message for the Year of Faith is to include quotes from Porta Fidei in parish bulletins, school newsletters, and other publications. Below are some short quotes that speak to the themes of the Year of Faith:

The “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church…To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime. It begins with baptism (cf. Rom 6:4), through which we can address God as Father, and it ends with the passage through death to eternal life, fruit of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

5 whose will it was, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, to draw those who believe in him into his own glory (cf. Jn 17:22).

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 1 To profess faith in the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is to believe in one God who is Love (cf. 1 Jn 4:8): the Father, who in the fullness of time sent his Son for our salvation; Jesus Christ, who in the mystery of his death and resurrection redeemed the world; the Holy Spirit, who leads the Church across the centuries as we await the Lord’s glorious return.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 1 The teaching of Jesus still resounds in our day with the same power: “Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life” (Jn 6:27).

The question posed by his listeners is the same that we ask today: “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” (Jn6:28). We know Jesus’ reply: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (Jn 6:29). Belief in Jesus Christ, then, is the way to arrive definitively at salvation.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 3 The renewal of the Church is also achieved through the witness offered by the lives of believers: by their very existence in the world, Christians are called to radiate the word of truth that the Lord Jesus has left us. The Council itself, in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, said this: While “Christ, ‘holy, innocent and undefiled’ (Heb 7:26) knew nothing of sin (cf. 2 Cor 5:21), but came only to expiate the sins of the people (cf. Heb 2:17)... the Church ... clasping sinners to its bosom, at once holy and always in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 6 The Church, ‘like a stranger in a foreign land, presses forward amid the persecutions of the world and the consolations of God’, announcing the cross and death of the Lord until he comes (cf. 1 Cor 11:26). But by the power of the risen Lord it is given strength to overcome, in patience and in love, its sorrow and its difficulties, both those that are from within and those that are from without, so that it may reveal in the world, faithfully, although with shadows, the mystery of its Lord until, in the end, it shall be manifested in full light.”

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 6

6 “Caritas Christi urget nos” (2 Cor 5:14): it is the love of Christ that fills our hearts and impels us to evangelize. Today as in the past, he sends us through the highways of the world to proclaim his Gospel to all the peoples of the earth (cf.Mt 28:19).

Through his love, Jesus Christ attracts to himself the people of every generation: in every age he convokes the Church, entrusting her with the proclamation of the Gospel by a mandate that is ever new.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 7 Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy. It makes us fruitful, because it expands our hearts in hope and enables us to bear life-giving witness: indeed, it opens the hearts and minds of those who listen to respond to the Lord’s invitation to adhere to his word and become his disciples.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 7 Only through believing… does faith grow and become stronger; there is no other possibility for possessing certitude with regard to one’s life apart from selfabandonment, in a continuous crescendo, into the hands of a love that seems to grow constantly because it has its origin in God. - Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 7 Confessing with the lips indicates in turn that faith implies public testimony and commitment. A Christian may never think of belief as a private act. Faith is choosing to stand with the Lord so as to live with him.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 10 Knowledge of faith opens a door into the fullness of the saving mystery revealed by God. The giving of assent implies that, when we believe, we freely accept the whole mystery of faith, because the guarantor of its truth is God who reveals himself and allows us to know his mystery of love.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 10 We must not forget that in our cultural context, very many people, while not claiming to have the gift of faith, are nevertheless sincerely searching for the ultimate meaning and definitive truth of their lives and of the world. This search is an authentic “preamble” to the faith, because it guides people onto the path that leads to the mystery of God. - Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 10

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In order to arrive at a systematic knowledge of the content of the faith, all can find in the Catechism of the Catholic Church a precious and indispensable tool. It is one of the most important fruits of the Second Vatican Council… Here, in fact, we see the wealth of teaching that the Church has received, safeguarded and proposed in her two thousand years of history.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 11 One thing that will be of decisive importance in this Year is retracing the history of our faith, marked as it is by the unfathomable mystery of the interweaving of holiness and sin. While the former highlights the great contribution that men and women have made to the growth and development of the community through the witness of their lives, the latter must provoke in each person a sincere and continuing work of conversion in order to experience the mercy of the Father which is held out to everyone.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 13 During this time we will need to keep our gaze fixed upon Jesus Christ, the “pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 13 By faith, the disciples formed the first community, gathered around the teaching of the Apostles, in prayer, in celebration of the Eucharist, holding their possessions in common so as to meet the needs of the brethren.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 13 By faith, across the centuries, men and women of all ages, whose names are written in the Book of Life (cf. Rev 7:9, 13:8), have confessed the beauty of following the Lord Jesus wherever they were called to bear witness to the fact that they were Christian: in the family, in the workplace, in public life, in the exercise of the charisms and ministries to which they were called.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 13

8 Faith without charity bears no fruit, while charity without faith would be a sentiment constantly at the mercy of doubt. Faith and charity each require the other, in such a way that each allows the other to set out along its respective path. Indeed, many Christians dedicate their lives with love to those who are lonely, marginalized or excluded, as to those who are the first with a claim on our attention and the most important for us to support, because it is in them that the reflection of Christ’s own face is seen.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 14 Through faith, we can recognize the face of the risen Lord in those who ask for our love. “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40). These words are a warning that must not be forgotten and a perennial invitation to return the love by which he takes care of us.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 14 It is faith that enables us to recognize Christ and it is his love that impels us to assist him whenever he becomes our neighbour along the journey of life. Supported by faith, let us look with hope at our commitment in the world, as we await “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet 3:13; cf. Rev 21:1).

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 14 “That the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph” (2 Th 3:1): may this Year of Faith make our relationship with Christ the Lord increasingly firm, since only in him is there the certitude for looking to the future and the guarantee of an authentic and lasting love.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 15 We believe with firm certitude that the Lord Jesus has conquered evil and death.

With this sure confidence we entrust ourselves to him: he, present in our midst, overcomes the power of the evil one (cf. Lk 11:20); and the Church, the visible community of his mercy, abides in him as a sign of definitive reconciliation with the Father.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei (“On the Year of Faith”), no. 15

9 SMALL FAITH GROUP STUDY OF PORTA FIDEI Why Catholic? and other parish small faith groups may choose to study the Holy Father’s letter announcing the year of faith. Study questions on Porta Fidei prepared

by Deanna Bartalini, director of faith formation at St. Edward Catholic Church in Palm Beach, Florida, can be found at www.newevangelizers.com/blog/2012/09/17/study-questions-for-the-year-of-faithletter.

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Liturgical Celebrations “The Year of Faith ‘will also be a good opportunity to intensify the celebration of the faith in the liturgy, especially in the Eucharist.’ In the Eucharist, mystery of faith and source of the new evangelization, the faith of the Church is proclaimed, celebrated and strengthened. All of the faithful are invited to participate in the Eucharist actively, fruitfully and with awareness, in order to be authentic witnesses of the Lord.”

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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Pastoral Recommendation for the Year of Faith”

OCTOBER 11, 2012 (THURSDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME) Bishop Thomas John Paprocki has asked all parishes to celebrate a special Mass for the opening of the Year of Faith on either Thursday, October 11, 2012, or the weekend of October 13-14, 2012.

General Suggestions This year the Thursday of the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time does not fall on any feast or memorial. Suggested Masses for celebrating the opening of the Year of Faith on this day are I. For the Holy Church; 1. For the Church  C and D collects are especially relevant.  Readings may be selected from Lectionary for Mass nos. 827-831.

I. For the Holy Church; 20. For a Spiritual or Pastoral Gathering  Readings may be selected from Lectionary for Mass nos. 838-842.

Suggested Songs  Credo, Domine (official hymn for the Year of Faith; text and music available at www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en/annus-fidei/innomusicale.html)  Faith of Our Fathers  Go Make of All Disciples  God, We Praise You  Only This I Want  Praise to You, O Christ, Our Savior  We Walk By Faith

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INTERCESSIONS FOR THE YEAR OF FAITH The United States Conference for Catholic Bishops has provided the following prayer intentions for use during the Year of Faith. Note: When composing the Universal Prayer for a given Mass, care is taken to both use the order and structure given in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal nos. 6971 and the use a parallel beginning for all of the intentions (c.f. Roman Missal, Third Edition Appendix V). 

For the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and for all bishops, that God will give them the grace and wisdom to touch the lives and hearts of many during this Year of Faith.

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For the Church throughout the world, that this Year of Faith may be a time of spiritual renewal and personal encounter with Christ for people everywhere.

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For the sick and the suffering, that this Year of Faith may be a time for them to experience Christ even in the midst of their illnesses and needs.

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May this Year of Faith be a time to renew our love for Christ and the Church and to enter into a deeper devotion to the Virgin Mary.

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May our deepening of faith during this Year of Faith help us to long for justice and peace in the world.

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Through reading and studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the documents of the Second Vatican Council, may all Catholics come to know and love the doctrines of the faith and grow in a desire to share the saving truths of Jesus Christ in our homes, places of work and community.

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May this Year of Faith fill our parish community with an outpouring of virtue.

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May God the Father watch over and bless all families during the Year of Faith, that it may be a time for families to grow closer to one another and to Christ.

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May the Year of Faith be an opportunity for Catholics to renew their baptismal vocation and grow in zeal to share the gospel with others.

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As this Year of Faith begins, may it be a time of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all parents, catechists, clergy and lay faithful who share the gift of the faith with others.

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May the Year of Faith enrich us with a greater love for God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in such a way that others ask God the reason for our hope.

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May the Year of Faith be a time for all Catholics to renew their desire and zeal for the Eucharist and to avail themselves regularly of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance.

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During this Year of Faith, may all Catholics publically proclaim their love for Christ and his Church.

May this Year of Faith remind us of ways to serve those in our midst who are overlooked, ignored or rejected, so that all may experience the peace and healing of Christ’s love.

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May the Holy Spirit guide the Church during the Year of Faith so that all Catholics may experience a deepened renewal of faith, hope and love.

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May young people be inspired by this Year of Faith to listen attentively and respond to God’s call to priesthood and religious life.

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May the faithful grow in understanding and love of the calls to marriage and the single life, realizing the vital role these vocations play in the work.

Copyright © 2012, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to duplicate this work without adaptation for non-commercial use.

13 HOST A HOMECOMING MASS Fall is Homecoming season! While many high school students will be preparing for football games and dances, why not invite them to start off the festivities with a special Mass! Depending on what time activities begin you may be able to schedule an early evening Mass or a Mass the night before. Help the youth of your parish start their Homecoming through prayer and worship!

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Study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Vatican Council II “Priests should devote greater attention to the study of the documents of Vatican Council II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, drawing from them resources for the pastoral care of their parishes – catechesis, preaching, Sacramental preparation. They should also offer cycles of homilies on the faith or on certain specific aspects such as, for example, ‘the encounter with Christ’, ‘the fundamental contents of the Creed’, and ‘faith and the Church.’”

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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Pastoral Recommendation for the Year of Faith”

ATTEND THE DIOCESAN ADULT ENRICHMENT CONFERENCE (NOVEMBER 4-5) This year’s DAEC, entitled “Living Faith Fully, Sharing Faith Freely,” will feature Fr. Robert Barron and a variety of breakout speakers addressing how the faithful can proclaim, celebrate, and witness to our Catholic faith.

For more information go to www.dio.org/catechesis/DAEC or contact the Office for Catechesis at (217) 698-8500 x178.

REFLECT ON FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP "It is necessary that all participate, according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This is inherent in the dignity of the human person ... As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life" (Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 1913-1915).

As we approach our country’s national elections on November 6, now is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the United States bishops document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. Resources for parish formation – including clip art, bulletin announcements and inserts, and the full document itself can be found at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship.

Additional information on Faithful Citizenship is available from the Office for Social Concerns and Respect for Life at (217) 698-8500 x130 or jboos@dio.org.

15 PROMOTE THE ONLINE CATECHISM The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently released a new online version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church ( www.usccb.org/catechism). This resource offers an easily searchable version of the official teachings of the Church and is an indispensible tool for pastors, catechists, and teachers.

Add a link to the Catechism on your parish or school’s web site and post a short notice in your bulletin about this great resource.

FOSTER USE OF THE UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CATECHISM FOR ADULTS A local catechism published in 2006 for adult faith formation in the United States, the USCCA explains the Catholic faith through stories, reflections, doctrine, quotations, and prayers. It includes discussion questions suitable for individual or small faith group study.

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Catechist Formation “Catechists should hold more firmly to the doctrinal richness of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and, under the direction of their pastors, offer guidance in reading this precious document to groups of faithful, working toward a deeper common understanding thereof, with the goal of creating small communities of faith, and of giving witness to the Lord Jesus.”

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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Pastoral Recommendation for the Year of Faith”

HOST A CATECHIST REFLECTION EVENING The Office for Catechesis offers a free two-hour workshop for catechists entitled “Catechesis: A Shared Responsibility.” This workshop incorporates prayer, video, and shared reflection while focusing on helping catechists understand their role in the parish, reinforcing the family as the primary center of catechesis, and providing resources for integrating catechesis in the parish and family. For more information contact Jonathan F. Sullivan at (217) 698-8500 x165 or jsullivan@dio.org.

OFFER A WORKSHOP ON CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING Our faith calls us to work for justice, to protect families, to serve those in need, to pursue peace and to defend the life, dignity and rights of all persons. This two-hour workshop educates persons in Catholic social teaching which comes from Sacred Scripture and the life of Jesus.

Through a study of current issues of peace, justice, and life, participants will be challenged to become a more just person. Participants will also be challenged to integrate action rooted in the spirituality of justice.

Contact Sr. Jane Boos in the Office for Social Concerns and Respect for Life at (217) 698-8500 x130 or jboos@dio.org for more details.

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Family Faith Formation “It is hoped that there will be a renewed commitment in parishes to the distribution of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and of other resources appropriate for families, which are true domestic churches and the primary setting for the transmission of the faith. This might be done, for example, during the blessing of homes, the Baptism of adults, Confirmations and Marriages.

This can contribute to the deepening of Catholic teaching ‘in our homes and among our families, so that everyone may feel a strong need to know better and to transmit to future generations the faith of all times.’”

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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Pastoral Recommendation for the Year of Faith”

PROMOTE HOUSEHOLD BLESSINGS IN YOUR PARISH Household blessings are an excellent way to foster devotion and faith in the family and an important reminder that our homes are “domestic churches” where faith is cultivated.

Invite new parishioners who have recently moved into the area to request a blessing of their home. If possible you may want to present the family with a copy of the YouCat or United States Catholic Catechism of Adults after the blessings. The Blessing of a New Home may be found in the Book of Blessings nos. 660-677.

When the Blessing of a New Home is not warranted, invite families to celebrate a General Blessing for a Family or Household, which may be found in Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers p. 184ff. Again, the YouCat or United States Catholic Catechism of Adults would make worthy gifts to the family on the occasion of the blessing.

HOST A LIVING IN LOVE WEEKEND Couples who stay successfully and happily married make their marriage a priority.

They are not content with having a marriage that is just 'okay', they want something much more. Living in Love provides and opportunity for couples to reconnect with their own personal love history and gain a renewed sense of purpose, hope and direction for their future.

For more information contact the Office for Marriage and Family Life at (217) 6988500 x132 or ctejeda@dio.org.

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HOST A BLESSING OF PETS Thursday, October 4th, is the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi and an ideal date to offer a blessing to family pets. Hold the blessing in the evening outside the church (or, in case of inclement weather, in a church or school hall).

The Blessing of Animals may be found in the Book of Blessings nos. 942-965.

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Parish Programs “The promotion of missions and other popular programs in parishes and in the workplace can help the faithful to rediscover the gift of Baptismal faith and the task of giving witness, knowing that the Christian vocation ‘by its very nature is also a vocation to the apostolate.’”

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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Pastoral Recommendation for the Year of Faith”

CATHOLICISM PROJECT SUPPLEMENTS

This joint effort of several curial offices is a faith formation project for individual, small group, and large group parish work designed for use in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. It provides additional material to Father Robert Barron’s Catholicism DVD series in the form of three complete books: Journal, Prayer, and Additional Resources. This series can be a helpful follow-up for Why Catholic?, small Christian community, and other faith sharing groups.

The complete set of Catholicism Project supplements is hosted on the diocesan website at www.dio.org/CatholicismProject. On this page you will find not only the basic resources listed above but also episode-by-episode resources containing the basics as well as extra items and handouts on prayer and liturgical catechesis.

PROMOTE THE WORLD MISSION ROSARY World Mission Sunday will be celebrated on October 21, 2012. This is "an important day in the life of the Church because it teaches how to give: as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration and for all the missions of the world.” (Redemptoris Missio no. 81) World Mission Sunday is also an excellent opportunity to promote the World Mission Rosary, created by Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in 1951.

20 Each decade of that World Mission Rosary calls to mind an area where the Church continues her evangelizing mission:  green for Africa;  blue for the islands of the Pacific;  white for Europe;  red for the Americas;  and yellow for Asia.

Archbishop Sheen himself linked this Rosary to the missionary work of the Church and to the Holy Father.

For more information on the World Mission Rosary go to www.onefamilyinmission.org/society-propfaith/world-mission-rosary.html or contact Vicki Compton in the Office for Missions at (217) 698-8500 x120 or vcompton@dio.org.

PROMOTE THE CAUSE OF FR. AUGUSTUS TOLTON November is Black Catholic History Month and the perfect time to promote the cause for canonization of Servant of God Fr. Augustus Tolton, the first African-American priest, who is buried in Quincy, Illinois.

Information on the cause for canonization can be found at www.toltoncanonization.org; a brochure detailing a driving tour of Fr. Tolton’s life is available from the Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.seequincy.com/images/Drivethe5ToltonSites_Guide.pdf.

Leroy Jordan, coordinator for black Catholic ministry, has additional resources; contact him at (217) 698-8500 x168 or ljordan@dio.org.

CELEBRATE WORLD YOUTH DAY IN THE UNITED STATES In honor of young people and the unique gifts they bring to our U.S. Catholic churches, our bishops declared parishes and schools will observe World Youth Day annually on the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time. This particular Sunday is intended to highlight the presence, energy, and diversity of all young people. World Youth Day is a celebration of both young and older youth and also an opportunity for the entire faith community to affirm and welcome the young church of today.

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Renewing the Vision (USCCB, 1997) challenged those involved in ministry to and with youth to develop a comprehensive approach that integrates young people into the life and mission of the parish community. The national celebration of World Youth Day offers all involved in youth ministry an opportunity to highlight the gifts and joys that young people and youth ministry bring to faith communities across the country.

Read the Holy Father’s message for World Youth Day 2012 at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/youth/documents/hf_b en-xvi_mes_20120315_youth_en.html.

Suggestions for Celebrating World Youth Day Sunday:  Host a ministry fair that highlights recent youth activities in the parish;  Commission youth in the parish as servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, music ministers, etc.;  Organize a group to participate in the March for Life pilgrimage;  Invite Scouts to earn their Duty to God patch;  Ask young people who have been on a TEC retreat or similar experience to talk about their walk with Jesus since the retreat;  Participate in Catholic Relief Services’ Food Fast;  Challenge your local Knights of Columbus to sponsor a Columbian Squires or Venturing program;  Have a special blessing for new teen drivers.

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Evangelization and Witness “All of the faithful, called to renew the gift of faith, should try to communicate their own experience of faith and charity to their brothers and sisters of other religions, with those who do not believe, and with those who are just indifferent. In this way, it is hoped that the entire Christian people will begin a kind of mission toward those with whom they live and work, knowing that they ‘have welcomed the news of salvation which is meant for every man.’”

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Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Pastoral Recommendation for the Year of Faith”

CREATE A PARISH PLAN FOR EVANGELIZATION What does the New Evangelization mean? What can your parish do about inactive Catholics? How can we become a more welcoming parish? The Year of Faith is the time to begin answering some of these questions. Contact Vicki Compton in the Office for the Missions at (217) 698-8500 x120 or vcompton@dio.org to assist your parish leadership in creating a Parish Plan for Evangelization.

INVITE TESTIMONIES Over the course of the year (maybe once per month) invite select members of your parish to give their testimony -- their story of conversion, re-version, or just why they stay in the Church. These could be presented after Mass or at a special gathering during the week.

Be sure to invite parishioners who are well-spoken about their relationship with Jesus Christ or who have a particularly compelling story. You might want to provide a resource such as Discovering My Experience of God (2009, Paulist Press) to help them explore and express their faith. Consider recording these testimonies and posting them on your parish's web site.

“THANK YOU” NOTES FOR GODPARENTS This would be an ideal activity for Catholic schools, PSR programs, or Confirmation classes. Have young people write thank you notes to their godparents –the people who stood with them as they were baptized into the faith – and explain what their faith has meant for them.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Catechetical Sunday: “Catechists and Teachers as Agents of the New Evangelization September 16, 2012; www.usccb.org/CatecheticalSunday Annual Catholic Services Appeal Weekend September 16, 2012; www.dio.org/acsa Celebration for Couples Married 50 Years or Longer September 16, 2012, 2p; Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Springfield) Office for Marriage and Family Life Clergy Convocation September 17-19, 2012; Decatur Conference Center and Hotel Office of the Vicar General Maximilan: Saint of Auschwitz September 24, 2012, 7p; St. Charles Borromeo (Charleston) September 25, 2012, 7p; Christ the King (Springfield) September 26, 2012, 7p; Blessed Sacrament (Quincy) September 27, 2012, 7p; St. Francis Xavier (Jerseyville) Encuentro Hispano Diocesano October 7, 2012; Our Lady of Lourdes (Decatur) Office for Social Concerns and Respect for Life Opening of the Year of Faith October 11, 2012; www.dio.org/YearOfFaith Respect Life Mass and Rosary Walk October 13, 2012, 9a; Holy Family (Granite City) Office for Social Concerns and Respect for Life

24 Towards a Spirituality of Accompaniment – Parish Twinning Summit October 20, 2012, 9a Christ the King Parish Center (Springfield) Office for the Missions and Office for Campus Ministry World Mission Sunday October 21, 2012 Office for the Missions North American Forum on the Catechumenate Concerning the Baptized Institute October 26-27, 2012; St. Clare of Assisi (O’Fallon, Illinois) Office for Worship and the Catechumenate and Office for Worship (Diocese of Belleville) Diocesan Campaign for Justice and Hope Collection October 27-28, 2012 Department of Human Services World Youth Day Sunday October 28, 2012 Office for Catechesis – Ministry to Youth and Young Adults Mission Mass October 30, 2012, 11a; Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Springfield) Office for the Missions Solemnity of All Saints November 1, 2012; Holyday of Obligation Theology of the Body for Teens: High School Edition Training November 3, 2012; Decatur Conference Center and Hotel Office for Catechesis – Ministry to Youth and Young Adults Coaching the Right Way Workshop November 3, 2012; Decatur Conference Center and Hotel Office for Catechesis – Ministry to Youth and Young Adults

25 Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference: “Living Faith Fully, Sharing Faith Freely�

November 4-5, 2012; Decatur Conference Center and Hotel; www.dio.org/catechesis/DAEC Office for Catechesis Election Day November 6, 2012 Thanks for the Harvest Mass November 18, 2012, 10a; St. Isidore the Farmer (Dieterich) Office for Social Concerns and Respect for Life Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary December 8, 2012; Holyday of Obligation and Patronal Feastday of the diocese Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe December 12, 2012; Patronal Feastday of the Americas Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord December 25, 2012; Holyday of Obligation Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God January 1, 2013; Holyday of Obligation

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RESOURCES Primary Documents Porta Fidei (Apostolic Letter “motu proprio data” for the Indication of the Year of Faith) Pope Benedict XVI; October 11, 2011. www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en/annus-fidei/lettera-apostolica--porta-fidei-.html

This letter is the Holy Father’s official announcement of the Year of Faith.

“Pastoral recommendations for the Year of Faith” Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; January 6, 2012. www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en/annus-fidei/indicazioni-pastorali-per-l-anno-della-fede.html

This document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith includes general guidelines as well as suggested activities for parishes during the Year of Faith.

Documents of Vatican Council II www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en/credo/conciolio-ecumenico-vaticano-ii.html

The Year of Faith commemorates the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II. Catechism of the Catholic Church www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en/credo/catechismo-chiesa-cattolica.html

The Year of Faith also commemorates the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism by Pope John Paul II. United States Catholic Catechism for Adults Published in 2006, the USCCA is a local catechism which includes stories, doctrine, reflections, quotations, discussion questions, and prayers to lead the reader to a deepening faith.

YouCat www.youcat.org

Released in 2011, the YouCat is a youth catechism based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church in a question and answer format.

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Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers Published in 2007 by the USCCB, this resource can help families celebrate their faith throughout the liturgical year.

Disciples Called to Witness http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/disciples-called-towitness/

This resource from the USCCB offers an overview of the New Evangelization, including reflection questions that would be useful for pastoral councils and other parish leaders.

Recommended Resources Year of Faith Official Website Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en.html

This site includes downloadable versions of the official Year of Faith logo in English and Spanish as well as other resources from the Vatican.

Year of Faith Resources United States Conference of Catholic Bishops www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/

Diocesan Year of Faith Resources Diocese of Springfield in Illinois www.dio.org/YearOfFaith

This site includes a digital version of this guide as well as additional links and resources for parishes.

Resources from Publishers I Believe Newsletter Franciscan Media; $18.00 for a 12 issue subscription; bulk pricing available catalog.franciscanmedia.org/Product.aspx?ProductCode=IBE

From the publisher: “In conjunction with the Year of Faith, this new parish resource from Franciscan Media and Servant Books will help you understand and teach the basic beliefs of the Catholic faith. The I Believe newsletter will help engage parishioners in their faith by taking them step by step through the Nicene Creed, with explanations and reflections for each creedal statement.�

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Longing for the Holy Renew International; $120 parish kit; $16.95 participant book www.renewintl.org/longingfortheholy

From the publisher: “Experience how the gentle spiritual guidance and practical wisdom of best-selling author, Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I. can enliven everyday life. This is an ideal process for enriching the spirituality of your RENEW group, for small faith-sharing communities, and for individual reflection, as it covers different dimensions of contemporary spiritual life.”

Renew Your Faith Bulletin Inserts Our Sunday Visitor; $47.80 for 50 sets of four inserts www.osvparish.com/Shop/Product.aspx?ProductCode=X1379

From the publisher: “Specially created for the Year of Faith, Renew Your Faith is a four-part bulletin insert series that enlivens Catholic faith.

Parishioners are educated about the Year of Faith, better understand the Apostles' Creed, and are inspired with ideas for ways to strengthen their faith through prayer, the Mass, outreach, and evangelization!”

“Teaching During a Year of Faith” Webinar Recording Loyola Press; facilitated by Joe Paprocki, National Consultant for Faith Formation catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2012/08/30/recording-of-teaching-during-a-year-of-faith-webinarnow-available/

In August 2012 Joe Paprocki of Loyola Press offered a webinar for catechists and teachers on how to use the Year of Faith to foster an encounter with Christ through authentic witnesses to faith and a deeper understanding of the truths of our faith that Jesus revealed. This hour-long presentation would be useful as part of a teacher or catechist retreat at any time during the Year of Faith.

29 Year of Faith Companion Magnificat; $6.95; bulk pricing available www.magnificat.com/english/boutique_year_of_faith.asp

From the publisher: “A comprehensive, page-a-day booklet designed to strengthen the life of faith. Each day features one of eight cornerstones of the Catholic Faith: Profiles of the holy men and women of the Bible; Reflections on Sacred Scripture; Short explanations on the Catechism; Devotions for deepening faith… A practical way for families and parishes to celebrate the Year of Faith from start to finish.”

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PRAYER FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION 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.

Copyright Š 2012, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Gracious thanks to the following curia offices for their assistance in compiling this resource:  Office of the Bishop  Office for Catechesis  Office for Marriage and Family Life  Office for the Missions  Office for Social Concerns and Respect for Life  Office for Worship and the Catechumenate Year of Faith logo © Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization.

Used with permission.

Artwork on pages 13 and 18 © Fr. Philippus Philippus, OFM Cap. Used with permission.