As the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, prepares for his historic visit next month to Mexico and Cuba, we are with him in our prayers and our enthusiasm for his mission of faith.
It has been nearly 14 years since Blessed John Paul II visited Cuba and 10 years since there has been a papal visit to Mexico. There is so much anticipation. There is that sense that this is a moment for the light of faith to shine through and touch a great many lives.
The deeply-rooted Christian faith continues to be profoundly important to our dear brothers and sisters in Cuba and Mexico and their faithful family members and friends who are here with us in America and right here in the Diocese of Norwich. “Santo Padre, todos estamos con usted. Estamos muy agradecidos por este momento.” We are grateful for this moment.
It is no surprise that we are already hearing editorializing from many news sources regarding Church and State issues and various political implications of the trip. This politicizing is to be expected. What we should keep first in our thoughts, however, is that this visit is about bringing the Christian message of faith and love to the good people of these magnificent countries. It is a message of the truth of the Gospel and of hope delivered in person by the Holy Father.
By setting out from the Vatican to be there with the people of Cuba and Mexico on their home soil, the Holy Father is vigorously leading the way for all of us in the Church to begin to live the New Evangelization initiative of the Church.
New Evangelization, about which we will be learning much more in the months ahead, is a renewed commitment to sharing the Good News of the Gospel with those individuals and populations facing a crisis or drought of faith in increasingly secularized cultures. It reminds each of us that we are disciples of the living faith, and this is a crucial time to reinvigorate the missionary within each of us. It is our responsibility to help others find their way home to receive the waiting gifts of faith, hope, love and new life in Christ. Being more conscious of reaching out to others with the encouragement of faith is becoming one of the central challenges of our time.
One of the surest ways to help others rediscover their way to Christ is to be a joyful and involved Christian. Joy is contagious. In last month’s edition of this newspaper, we quoted Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan as having recently said, “Happiness attracts….if there is anything that should be upbeat, affirming, positive, joyful – it should be people of faith.” This is so perfectly the spirit of the New Evangelization. When we accept and embrace true hope in Christ, the joy of that growing relationship shows. As we develop our closeness to Christ, we become alive with faith and with an inner happiness that attracts.
Each of us has varying degrees of opportunity to proclaim the Good News. The millions who will witness the Holy Father’s journey to Cuba and Mexico are part of a vast opportunity to share the faith. At the same time, in our daily lives, if each of us shares the message of hope with one other person, we are all doing our individual best to bring more good Catholics home to Christ and new Catholics to the promise of new life with Christ. By degrees and circumstances, we are all capable of participating in the New Evangelization outreach.
Pope Benedict has proclaimed that effective October, 2012, the subsequent twelve months will be designated the Year of Faith. Much of the emphasis of this important designate period will be on joining together in the spirit of the New Evangelization. More details will be released this spring regarding programs and actions to help all of us live a renewed and reenergized Christian life.
A prayer shared by all Bishops as we support the promise of the New Evangelization effort is “We pray, through the Holy Spirit, it will be a means of bringing renewal to our Church and new life to all who search for God.”
This we pray.Sincerely Yours in Christ,