Baptism and the Path of Holiness
Our family recently celebrated the baptism of our newest child. Surrounded by friends and our parish community during Mass, my wife and I proclaimed our Christian faith on her behalf, promised to instruct her as a disciple of Christ, and prayed that she will remain faithful to her baptismal calling.
As a father, my greatest hope for my children is that they walk a path of holiness to become saints. This path begins with a journey through the waters of baptism. In Pope Francis' newest apostolic exhortation, Gaudete et Exsultate ("Rejoice and Be Glad"), the Holy Father writes:
Let the grace of your baptism bear fruit in a path of holiness. Let everything be open to God; turn to him in every situation. Do not be dismayed, for the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to do this, and holiness, in the end, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. (no. 15)
In baptism we have been given access to the grace of the Holy Spirit and a share in the divine life of Christ. As catechetical leaders, our task is to help the faithful delve more deeply into the faith of their baptism in order to grow in holiness and walk more closely with Jesus. By encouraging them in a life of prayer, fidelity to the teachings of the Church, and an active sacramental life -- especially the frequent reception of Reconciliation and the Eucharist -- we serve not only as teachers but as witnesses to how faith can transform sinners into saints.
- How can we help the faithful to reflect on the graces they have received in baptism?
- What graces do we recognize in our own lives of faith and ministry?
- How can we encourage others in their journey through the path of holiness, especially by putting grace into action?
Jonathan F. Sullivan
Executive Director of Pastoral Ministries
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Take our Quick PCL Meeting Survey!
We're looking for feedback from parish catechetical leaders about how we can best serve you through our biannual meetings! Please take three minutes to answer our short survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PCLMeetingSurvey2018.
Your answers will help us to plan future parish catechetical leader meetings!
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Youth and Young Adult Summit
The annual Youth and Young Adult Summit will be held May 23 at the St. Joseph Retreat and Conference Center in Tipton. Dr. Michael Havercamp will speak on "Accompaniment: Keys to Relational Ministry to Young People."
For registration and additional information, go to www.dol-in.org/summit.
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"In our culture, children with bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are too often considered a nuisance; they are seen as kids who just can’t sit still. And yet, dancers, gymnasts, athletes, engineers, and architects are all examples of people who have this form of intelligence and excel when action and movement are involved in learning."
Read more on Catechist's Journey...
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"Too often, we Christians think about the task of evangelization or Christian formation as directed exclusively to the young. Instead, we ought to recognize that those little children of God’s reign are preaching to us. In forming our newest Christians, we are tour guides reawakened to the glorious city of God."
Read more at Living Church...
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Steve the Missionary: "Young People are Afraid"
(April 2017)
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Upcoming Events
Youth Ministry Summit
May 23, 2018; 9a-3p
St. Joseph Retreat and Conference Center (Tipton)
Ordination of Deacons and Preists
June 2, 2018; 11a
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Lafayette)
Adult Faith Formation Symposium
August 8-9, 2018
St. Joseph Retreat and Conference Center (Tipton)
Parish Catechetical Leaders Meeting
October 4, 2018; 10a-3p
St. Mary (Muncie)
Missionary Discipleship Conference
November 3, 2018
St. Elizabeth Seton (Carmel)
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Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana