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Hello friends, God bless you and peace be with you, I hope you are well. If you haven’t heard the exciting news yet, Pope Francis announced earlier this week that he was establishing the lay ministry of Catechist. Like Lector and Acolyte, the pope recognizes that this is a perennially important ministry for the Church.
 
While all of us are called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, the pope intuited that some are uniquely called “be expert in the pastoral service of transmitting the faith as it develops through its different stages…” The most striking aspect of the text was the Pope’s insistence that catechists are called to bring the gospel into the secular areas of the world in a way that only the laity can. I am sure many of us immediately think of our parish faith formation programs when we envision the role of a catechist. The pope seems to be reminding us that the mission of the laity is to sanctify the secular order, leaving no part of the world untouched by the gospel.
 
There will be a period of discernment within our country and our diocese to understand how the Holy Spirit is calling us to avail ourselves of this ministry. As that takes place, I invite you to join me in praying that more people will respond to the Spirit’s call to live as a catechist in whatever form this takes.
 
Upcoming Events
 
Our retreat for ministry professionals is now full but if you would like to be placed on a wait list, you can email slfl@orlandodiocese.org. I invite you to pray for all the participants, that they might be renewed and refreshed in the love of the Lord.
 
There is still room and time to join our summer discipleship cohorts. We will use some of Sherry Weddell’s materials, including her Ananias Training program, a way of accompanying other people through the thresholds of trust, curiosity, openness, seeking, and mature discipleship. We will start in early June and go through July, meeting for 6-8 sessions, plus one full day retreat. Our schedule will be based on the availability of participants and we plan to include at least a one full day retreat. Other than purchasing a book, there is no cost to attend.

If you are interested in joining one of these cohorts, you can click the link below to submit your interest.

Here we are midway through the month of May. A month dedicated to Our Mother Mary, where we are encouraged to pray the Rosary daily. Saint John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter “Rosarium Virgins Maria” writes: “The Rosary is both meditation and supplication. Insistent prayer to the Mother of God is based in confidence that her maternal intercession can obtain all things from the heart of her Son.” Our Mother Mary reminds us to pray to her so that she can intercede for us to her Son Jesus.

This Sunday we are invited to celebrate The Ascension of the Lord. On the feast of the Ascension we remember Jesus’s words to his closest friends before He was taken up to heaven; “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Today these words are addressed to us as the members of the Body of Christ alive in the world. For the apostles, this commissioning meant introducing people to the person of the risen Lord, the vast majority of which had never heard the name Jesus of Nazareth. As they walked this path the apostles met with persecution and eventually martyrdom. In a way, for those of us who live in countries where Christianity is a protected religion, our journey as disciples doesn’t seem anywhere near as difficult or dangerous.

Jesus has called us to witness to his life, death and resurrection. Our words about his love that is stronger than hatred and his light that is stronger than darkness will mean nothing if they are not also echoed in the way we live our lives.