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¿Por qué ser católico?
A Journey Through the Catechism
A MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP KURTZ
Answering the thirst to learn more of the Catholic faith … and doing so with others … is the invitation of Why Catholic?, and I invite every Catholic to answer this call.
In the Gospel of St. John, we encounter the famous dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the village well in which her thirst for holiness is answered by Jesus’ personal invitation to her to drink of the living waters of salvation.
These images of thirst and the village well are useful ones to address the nurturing and living out of the baptismal call within the Archdiocese of Louisville in the years to come. We all share the Samaritan’s woman’s need for our thirst for holiness to be quenched by prayer and learning within a community of friends.
It is through baptism, the first foundational configuration to Christ, that each of us is called to spiritual renewal. It is the nurturing of this character to which we are inviting every parish to join as we prepare to begin a program sponsored by Renew International called Why Catholic? next Lent.
The need for renewal received strong support in the listening sessions that were held prior to the creation of the 2009 archdiocesan strategic plan. These listening sessions consistently surfaced a concern about Catholic identity and the need for evangelization. Why Catholic? responds to this thirst and does so ideally within a community of friends in the Lord.
This four-year renewal utilizes two annual six-week periods of prayer and study. Over the four years, participants focus on the four pillars that comprise the Catechism of the Catholic Church: belief, sacraments, morality and prayer. Another advantage is that the second season in the fall of 2011 will be well-timed to conduct an introduction to the Roman Missal, which will be implemented in Advent of 2011.
Renew recommends small groups—often meeting in homes—for study and prayer. There also may be occasional opportunities for companion retreats on an archdiocesan level. Returning to the image of thirst and the village well, the elements of Why Catholic? will address both the quenching of thirst and the building of community as parishioners gather to learn within a community of friends in the Lord.
In recommending that we go forward with Why Catholic?, the Priests’ Council recommended that cost not present a barrier for those parishes that wish to participate. Thus, it was agreed that the overall cost would be funded by the Catholic Services Appeal, and parishes or individuals will only be responsible for the cost of materials.
I am very pleased that so many of our parishes are participating in this wonderful opportunity to respond to our baptismal call to renew our faith. Please pray for the success of Why Catholic? within the Archdiocese.
Renew International Parish Login Pages
Click on the links below for the Why Catholic? Renew International parish login pages:
Login information for each parish was contained in the letter that was sent by RENEW when your parish first signed up. Instructions for using the web code for login can be found in the parish kit.
If you are still in need of your webcode, contact Sal Della Bella via e-mail or at 502-448-8581.
Important Dates
Click to view a listing of upcoming events related to Why Catholic? Please check back often for additions to this listing.