Let us Enter the Door of Faith
Circular 2012-23
To:
All Parish Priests, Heads of Catholic Schools, including
Congregational and Diocesan, Local Religious Superiors of
Men and Women, Diocesan Heads of Mandated
Organizations, Associations and Ecclesial Movements,
including the Charismatic and Trans-parochial Communities:
Peace to all people of Good Will!
Last 11 October 2011, the Holy Father Benedict XVI issued Motu
Proprio, his Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei, declaring a Year of Faith in the
Universal Church from 11 October 2012 to 24 November 2013 (Solemnity of
Christ, Universal King). The date 11 October 2012 marks the 50th Year of the
Opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and the 20th Year of the
Publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Last 11 October 2012, the Holy Father officially opened The Year of
Faith for the Universal Church in Rome in the presence of the Synod Fathers
attending the XII General Assembly of the Ordinary Synod of Bishops on The
New Evangelization.
In response to the invitation of the Holy Father, this Particular Church
of Novaliches, on its first decade of its establishment as a Diocese, will
celebrate the Year of Faith in a worthy and fitting year. I, therefore, call on
all of you to the formal opening of the Year of Faith in this Local Church on 30
November 2012 (Friday) with a Concelebrated Mass at our
Cathedral at 5:00 PM. Each Parish, each Catholic School, each Religious
Community, each Mandated Organization, Association. Ecclesial Movements
and Communities are to send a delegation to our Formal Opening.
Our Diocesan Year of Faith will run throughout the Year
2013, ending it formally on the midnight Masses of 31 December
2013 in all the Parishes of the Diocese.
The Popes reason for gathering together Gods People in a Year of
Faith is the observable fact everywhere of a profound crisis of faith that
has affected many people. In the past, it was possible to presuppose Faith
and its contents as well as the values derived from Christ and his Gospel as the
reason behind our social, cultural, and political involvements as Christians.
Today, such presuppositions can no longer be taken for granted, they are
even openly denied!
So as Pastors like Christ we must draw our people out of this
desert to the source of Life, Truth and Freedom who is Jesus himself
who feeds us with the Word of God, faithfully handed down for us by the
Church, and with the Bread of Life, offered as food for his disciples on
our way to God who is Love. Let us as Pastors do this from this Year of Faith
on and beyond, for this is our mission shared by Christ to His Church to which
we, the People of God in Novaliches, belong.
During this Year of Faith, the following activities are asked and
mandated:
1. Individual and/or Group Pilgrimages of the Faithful in the
following Diocesan Shrines:
The Cathedral Shrine of the Good Shepherd
Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy
St. Peter-Shrine of Leaders
Santuario de San Vicente de Paul-Shrine of the Poor
The Major Basilicas of the Lord or of Mary in Rome and/or in
the Holy Land for those who can afford.
Hence from now on the yearly Excursions or Field Trips of Parishes
and Catholic Schools in the Diocese must always include a visit to one
of this Shrines or a Shrine in our nice and beautiful Country.
2. Weekly Catechism (Katekismo ni Father) by the Bishop in his
Cathedral and by the Parish Priest and his Team of Catechists/Leaders
in the Parish Churches on the most convenient time and day of the
week using as Text the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
3. Once a month Study Day on the 16 Documents of Vatican II at St.
Peter Palace of the Rock by the Bishop and invited speakers from 9:00
AM to 12: noon every 2nd Saturday of the month starting December
2012.
4. Bible Class by the Bishop in his Cathedral and by the Parish Priest in
his Parish Church on a most convenient time and day of the week using
as Text the Bible. This Bible Class is open to other people of different
persuasions within the parish.
5. Film clips, and/or stories of the Lives of the Saints especially
those celebrated within the week and/or the Lives of Lorenzo Ruiz de
Manila or San Pedro Calungsod of the Visayas and other Servants of
God, will or can take the place of the optional weekday homilies.
6. The Local Choirs give Faith Concerts in the Vicariates/Parishes on
themes contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the
Compendium of the Catechism or the YouCat.
7. Testimonies of Faith by personages in the Parish from different
professions including the Theater and the Arts.
Guide Question: How do you practice your Faith as ____________?
8. A solemn ecumenical celebration/service participated by various
Religious Faith Groups in the parish and/or in the vicariate ending with
a Common Profession of Faith (Credo of Gods People).
9. Easy Access to all the Sacraments, especially Baptism and
Confirmation.
10. Holding of Parish Missions, Exhibits of Church Patrimonies.
St. Pauls last advice to Timothy to continue in the truths you were
taught and firmly believe since you were a child, (2 Tim. 3:14-15) is also
directed to us. These truths serve as lifelong guide to perceive, ever anew, that
God works for us and in us and remind us as well that we are the living signs
of the presence of the Risen Lord in the world. What the world needs today is
the credible witness of people enlightened in mind and heart by the word of
the Lord and capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire
for God and for true life in God. May these abound as fruits of this time of
grace! This we ask our Lord through the intercession of Mary, mother of God
and our Mother too.
Given in the Chancery in Fairview, Quezon City, 5 November 2012.
Most Rev. Antonio R. Tobias, DD
Bishop
Attested by:
Rev. Fr. Jerome U. Rosalinda
Chancellor
