Week of Christian Unity

From the 18th to the 25th of January, we redouble our prayer for Christian unity.

In this Year of Faith, we have been asked to reexamine the documents of the Second Vatican Council.  One of these documents is called Unitatis Redintegratio, commonly called the "Decree on Ecumenism" in English.

The first paragraph of this conciliar document clearly and unambiguously expresses the sentiments of the Catholic Church in regard to Christian unity:

The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council. Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only. However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided.  Such division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature.                  The full text is here - http://ow.ly/gIBS5

Recently, Pope Benedict XVI spoke directly and clearly about Christian unity (20 Jan 2013) saying:

One of the most serious sins that disfigures the face of the Church is against its visible unity, especially the historical divisions the have separated Christians that haven't yet been overcome.

 It's a moment always welcome to believers and communities, which awakens in all the desire and spirit of commitment to full communion.

The Pope will close the week of prayer for Christian unity 2013 by presiding at vespers in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls alongside representatives of other churches and communities.

As both the Second Vatican Council and our present Pontiff have made clear, we need to pray more and work more for the unity of all Christians.

Happy New Year of Faith!

Happy

New
Year of Faith!

Thresholds in time also create special moments in time. The New Year is just such a threshold for assessment and decision - our resolutions. But real, "do-able" resolutions mean personal change. We change because we see something, that makes us feel something, and propels us to change something. What really motivates us is emotion, not information.

Stop and take a look inside yourself.  Pull out your calendar and your favorite posts, tweets, pics or blogs on Facebook, Youtube or Pinterest.  Look over your timeline, activities and the events of 2012.

Ask yourself:

• What was most significant in my life over the 365 days that just past?
• What do I need to put aside for God to be at the center of my life? What change do I want to see in my relationships?
• What must change in me in order to have a hope capable of sustaining me no, matter what lies ahead?
• What will I continue to consume and what will I allow to consume me?
• Am I a Catholic on purpose or am I a Catholic by default?
• What support do I need from God in the coming New Year of Faith?

Now pray for it!

Congratulations!    You just kicked off your own New Year of Faith! 

p.s. you're invited to our next Year of Faith meeting, Thursday 24 January, 7pm in the Tobin Room - use Eggert Rd lot, door number 5, first floor.  Hope to see you there!

courtesy of Dennis Mahaney
Office of Parish Life
Diocese of Buffalo, New York

Year of Faith RETREAT

The St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Benedict’s Parish

cordially invites you to take one day to reflect upon a

Year of Faith

Pope Benedict XVI declared a “Year of Faith” in his Apostolic Letter entitled, Porta Fidei.

 

This special year of prayer and devotion will begin on October 11, 2012

to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council

and the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

 

During the Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to study

and reflect on the documents of Vatican II

and the Catechism to deepen their knowledge

and understanding of the faith.

Please join Deacon Bill Hynes for a one day retreat

devoted to helping us make the most out of this special year!

   DATE:  Saturday, November 3, 2012

    TIME:  9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

PLACE:  St. Benedicts Parish, Office of Faith Formation

  COST:  Ten Dollars (Retreat includes lunch and beverages).

For more information or to make a reservation

write to Matt Smith at msmith@saintbenedicts.com or call 836-6444.

Retreat Director: Mr. William Hynes, Permanent Deacon, serves at St. Benedict Parish, teaches religion to eleventh graders at St. Joseph Collegiate Institute, and taught for many years in the Diaconal Formation Program for the Diocese of Buffalo.  Deacon Bill was ordained in St. Joseph’s Cathedral by Bishop Mansell in June 1998.  This will be the fourth year Deacon Bill has lead our annual retreat!

Year of Faith at St. Ben's

I encourage all our parishioners and visitors to participate in the Year of Faith activities we have planned at the parish.  The Year of Faith was called by Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.  (In case you are a non-Catholic reading this...Catholics love celebrating anniversaries, feast days and fast days. For us, time itself is holy!)

This is an opportunity for all of us to convert ourselves anew and rededicate ourselves to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Year of Faith officially begins in October.

Mr. Matthew Smith, our Director of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, has already planned four informative evenings to connect the Liturgical Seasons with the goals of the Year of Faith. 

You are encouraged to attend; more than that - you are encouraged to invite everyone you know!!  All four of them take place in our beautiful church and begin at 7pm.  They last about an hour.


Advent in a Year of Faith
Monday, December 3, 2012

Understanding the Mass in a Year of Faith
Monday, January 14, 2013

Lent in a Year of Faith
Monday, February 18th, 2013

Easter in a Year of Faith
Monday, April 22nd, 2013

We will have more parish activities to report as we continue to plan for this exciting year.  Please check our website often - www.saintbenedicts.com.  Don't forget that you can have future blog posts emailed to you simply by entering your email address in the upper right box marked "follow by email."

Click here for the Vatican website for the Year of Faith.