Pope St. John Paul II’s letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, revitalized the Rosary by confirming its role as a “compendium of the Gospel” and a prayer centered entirely on Jesus Christ. The letter’s major contribution was the addition of the five Luminous Mysteries (Mysteries of Light) to help us meditate on Christ’s public life and ministry. JPII taught that the Rosary is how we “contemplate with Mary the face of Christ,” making it a perfect tool for growing in holiness and a necessary prayer for peace and the family in the modern world.

Pope Benedict XVI strongly affirmed that the Rosary is a powerful, enduring prayer experiencing a “new springtime,” serving as an essential school of contemplation and inner silence. He stressed that this prayer is fundamentally Christocentric, a means by which the Blessed Mother leads us to gaze upon the face of Jesus in His mysteries. By authentically and profoundly reciting the Rosary, we allow the cadence of the prayers to foster a receptive silence, leading us toward peace, reconciliation, and greater conformity to Christ.

The family is the ‘Domestic Church’. Remembering the sacredness of the home and envisioning the home and home life as the launchpad for mission can transform daily life.

 Some ideas/Resources:

• Strive to pray more together as a family
• Emphasize family mealtime as a time to sit together, pray together, and share life and faith
• Incorporate religious art in your décor

Sharing the faith can be as simple as being a friend to others and inviting them to opportunities for an encounter with Christ.

Check out the Walk With One Initiative for some ideas.

A great way to invite others into parish life is to ‘create a space’ for invitation. That may mean having a welcoming event or series of events that offer a friendly and open atmosphere, but also involve the sharing of the Gospel and presenting some information about the faith.

Some Resources:

The following webinars were offered as part of our Catechist Formation Webinar Series.  Each topic below is connected specifically with our Via Fidelis journey.  These training sessions may be helpful both for individual study and for study as a group.  It can be especially helpful for a parish evangelization team or ministry leadership team to examine some of these topics together as a group.

All Christians are called to share the Gospel.  This webinar centers on the main theme of year 1 of Via Fidelis: Proclaiming the Faith.   In it we discuss our baptismal call to evangelize.

As Christians, we are called to give witness to the great things God has done and is doing in our lives.  This webinar stresses the importance of witness in Christian life and give some guidance on planning to share your story of faith and helping others do the same.

It is important to know where we are called and what our role is.  In this webinar, we explore the image of the Church as a ‘field hospital’ and what that means for our sense of mission.

The ministry of catechesis should always be seen as a ministry of evangelization.  This webinar discusses the keys to ‘Evangelizing Catechesis’.

Starting a small group to study, pray or to share faith is a great way to create a space to share the Gospel, as well as to discuss our common mission to go out and make disciples.

Some Resources/Ideas:

Find transformative programs for men and women, fostering evangelization through prayer, group connection, and personal spiritual development.