Via Fidelis, the faithful way, is the way of the Lord Jesus. As he said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). Each of us who have been baptized in the mystery of Jesus Christ have been chosen and are invited to walk the faithful way with the Lord. He tells us: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you” (Jn 15:16).

Each of us must be committed to learn more deeply what we believe as followers of the Lord Jesus and as members of his Church. It is through growing in knowledge that we can deepen our love and pursuit of God’s will in our lives. As a remedy to the hurt in our world and as an opportunity for us to draw closer and walk with the Lord Jesus, we recommit ourselves to the Lord Jesus and will make a five-year Via Fidelis together. 

Throughout our Via Fidelis, we will contemplate our shared responsibilities to love God and our neighbor and continually renew our free decision for the Lord Jesus. In this effort, we seek knowledge from the Deposit of Faith and through our encounters with one another, so that we can love God and know his will and accomplish it together in our world today. 

2025: Proclaim the Faith. Just as the catechumenate begins with an initial stage during which the Gospel is heard and internalized, so our Via Fidelis begins its first year by placing an emphasis on the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ. Much like the catechumenal process, this reception of the initial proclamation of the Gospel will lead us to give a deeper reflection to the truths of the faith, which flow from the Good News. 

2026: Understand the Faith. In our second year, we will focus on refreshing our knowledge of the faith as a diocesan family, which will also clarify our shared mission. Once we make an effort to understand our beliefs, we will be more equipped to explain it to others who want to learn more about the profound mysteries of faith.

2027: Celebrate the Faith. Just as in the catechumenate, a deeper reflection on the faith is accompanied by a push towards deeper prayer, discernment, action in the faith through “purification and enlightenment,” the reception of the sacraments, and the mystagogy, so our journey will also highlight the various ways in which we are called to live out our faith. In our third year, therefore, we will emphasize the ways in which we are called to imitate Jesus Christ, who came “not to be served, but to serve” (see Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45). As we focus on receiving the holy sacraments and serving those in need, we pray for the strength to make a new commitment to the Lord Jesus and to resolve to live our faith more fully and completely in him.

2028: Serve the Faith. Along our Via Fidelis, we will also focus on outreach and service, identifying opportunities to support and uplift those who are marginalized or in need. This will be our fourth year. Our commitment to service will not only benefit those we help, but it will also enrich our own faith as we experience within ourselves the transformative power of the Gospel. Through these efforts, we aim to foster a brilliant, faith-filled community that is both welcoming and inspiring to others. By the end of this phase, we hope to have cultivated a deeper understanding and appreciation of our faith. Such a deeper love for our faith will equip us to share its beauty and truth with the world around us. 

2029: Share the Faith. The final phase of our journey will find us on mission. Throughout the year, we will emphasize the practical application of our beliefs, encouraging us to embody the teachings of the Church in our daily lives. By actively participating in the sacraments, we will deepen our spiritual connection with the Lord Jesus and with one another and become a stronger community of faith.