As the
Year of Faith comes to a close on the Feast of Christ the King, November 24,
2013, our faith has surely been deepened profoundly for many of us.
This
Year of Faith is not so much a series of events but, rather, a beginning of
living out in a more intentional way, our relationship with Jesus Christ and
inviting others to know Him. During this year, we have heard about reaching out
to our marginalized brothers and sisters in the faith: those who have been hurt
by the Church, those who have lost a living sense of faith, those who no longer
consider themselves members of the Church, and those who live far removed from
Christ and His Gospel.
Pope Emeritus Benedict
XVI told us in the beginning that the Year of Faith was to provide us
with a unique opportunity for "an authentic and renewed conversion to the
Lord, the One Savior of the world” (Porta Fidei 6), and into a deeper,
healthier, more committed relationship with Him.
As the official Year
of Faith is about to end, we can say that the work of the New Evangelization
has just begun and so, too, our initiative to turn our hearts to Christ every
day of our lives. We hope this Year has been for all of us an invitation and a
challenge to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19).
