North Coast Catholic January/February 2011 : Page 2
2 Share Our Faith Resolving to D from the bishop Bishop Daniel F. Walsh is the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa, Calif. ear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, With the beginning of a New Year, people often think of New Year’s Resolutions. Often these resolutions to change one’s life do not last for too long into the New Year. As a Church, a community of disciples, I propose this year a resolution that we will all keep and that is to focus on evan-gelization. Now this word might not sound too Catholic but it is a word that the Church has embraced since the Second Vatican Council. Evangelization is sharing our faith in Jesus Christ with others – our chil-dren, our relatives, our friends, all whom we meet. first time, the exciting invitation of Jesus – “Come, follow me.” We who have received the good news and who have been gathered by it into the community of salvation can and must communicate and spread it to others. To be true disciples of the Lord, believ-ers must bear witness to their faith, and witnesses testify not only in words but also with their lives. By the witness of our lives we invite others to come to know Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. The Second Vatican Council stated in Lumen Gentium: “The church has received this solemn mandate of Christ to proclaim the saving truth from the apostles and must carry it out to the very ends of the earth.” The New Year’s resolution for the Church of Santa Rosa is to take seri-ously our role as evangelizers and to bring Christ and his truth and love to the people in our area. May God who has begun this good work in us bring it to completion! I am your brother and servant in the Lord. In the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, the early disciples were told by the risen Lord: “You will be my witnesses.” At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Evange-lization is doing just that sharing the good news – our faith with others. How many Catholics do we know who have drifted away from the practice of the faith? Outside the Catholic Church in the United States, inactive Catholics make up the largest number of believers. And there are many others who are lost, seeking someone or something to give meaning to their lives. We are missioned by our baptisms and confirmations as well as the Holy Eucharist to bring the good news of Jesus Christ and his saving love to all whom we meet. To be agents of evangelization we must stir into flame the embers of the Gospel message and Christ’s love in our own hearts in such a way that we not only grow in our own faith but invite others to hear once again, maybe all over again for the Decidiendo Compartir nuestra Fe: Con el comienzo del nuevo año, la gente a menudo piensa en las Resoluciones de Año Nuevo. A menudo estas determinaciones para cambiar la vida de alguien no duran demasiado tiempo. Como Iglesia, una co-munidad de discípulos, propongo para este año una resolución que todos guardaremos y que es el concentrarse en la evangelización. Ahora, esta palabra podría no parecer muy Católica pero esta es una palabra que la Igle-sia ha abrazado desde el Concilio Vaticano II. La evangelización es compartir nuestra fe en Jesucristo con los demas – nuestros niños, nuestros parien-tes, nuestros amigos, con todos a quienes encontramos. En el primer capítulo de los Hechos de los Apóstoles, a los primeros discípulos les dijo el Señor resucitado: “Ustedes serán mis testi-gos.” Al final del evangelio de Mateo Jesús dijo a sus discípulos: “vayan y hagan discípulos de todas las naciones ... enseñándoles a observar todo lo que les he mandado.” La evangelización es hacer sólo eso,el compar-tir la Buena Nueva – nuestra fe con los demas. ¿A cuántos Católicos con-ocemos que se hayan des-viado de la práctica de la fe? Fuera de la Iglesia Católica en los Estados Unidos, los católicos inactivos confor-The Diocese of Santa Rosa continues its commitment to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all young people. We also are eager to reach out to any who have experienced past abuses through clergy, staff or volunteers. If you or someone you know has been harmed by sexual misconduct by clergy, a church employee or volunteer, please contact Julie Sparacio, Victims Assistance Coordinator, at 707.566.3308 or jsparacio@srdiocese.org. If you have cause to suspect young people are currently at risk, contact the local police. Liturgical Calendar: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Jan. 1 | The Epiphany of the Lord Jan. 2 | Most Holy Name of Jesus Jan. 3 | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton,
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