One Book plus One Diocese

Details: 05 October 2012

It seems fitting to begin celebrating the Year of Faith by having Catholics from throughout the diocese participating in a common Bible Study on that very theme. Thus, the Diocesan Evangelization Committee’s "One Book One Diocese" selection for this fall is "The Year of Faith: A Bible Study Guide for Catholics" by Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J.

In his Foreword for the book, Archbishop of Chicago Cardinal George sets the tone for readers: "Only a living relationship established through dialogue with God will prevent the world from becoming ever more closed in on itself. Without this relationship to God, we live in a prison of our own making. Father Pacwa’s book presents a formula for breaking out of self-imposed prisons. Scripture read in the community of faith opens our lives to a greater world called the kingdom of God. This kingdom is not a place but a person: Jesus."

Father Pacwa’s Study Guide is less than 100 pages long and includes an Introduction and six Chapters:

1. Belief in Jesus Christ;

2. Assent to the Creed;

3. Conversion;

4. The Witness of Charity;

5. Celebrating Faith;

6. Faith and the New Evangelization.

Each session begins with a quote from the Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei (Door of Faith) that Pope Benedict XVI wrote to introduce the Year of Faith that begins Oct. 11. A lesson pertinent to the chapter title follows with historical, scriptural and theological references that provide the substance for each session.

The Year of Faith celebrates several significant occasions. The first is the 50th anniversary celebration of the opening of the Second Vatican Council October 11, 1962. The second is the 20th anniversary of the publication of the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" on the same date in 1992. Finally, the bishops of the world will gather in Rome this month with theologians, experts and observers for the Synod on New Evangelization. All of these significant events highlight the saving content of our Catholic Faith that was established for us by Jesus and which has been preserved through the centuries by the Church that He established.

As one might suspect, each lesson is filled with teachings from Scripture, the Catechism and the Vatican II documents. In addition to discussion questions, suggestions to put each week’s lessons into practice are also offered at the end of each session. Whether we make our way through this inspirational selection by ourselves or with a group, we are sure to profit greatly from entering into the insightful considerations put together by Father Mitch Pacwa, one of the Church’s most well respected biblical scholars.

For more information, watch for flyers and bulletin announcements provided by your parish. Commit now to making this Year of Faith a grace-filled time of spiritual growth.