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WASHINGTON – The U.S.
bishops want to provide an
opportunity for all Catholics to
deepen their relationship with
Jesus Christ, according to a new
document from the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops
(USCCB). “Disciples Called to
Witness: The New
Evangelization” focuses on
reaching out to Catholics,
practicing or not, who have lost a
sense of the faith in an effort to
re-energize them.
“Every Catholic has a role in the
Minnesota’s Most Rural Diocese Diocese of New Ulm Vol. 26 No. 9 May 2012
Church, and every Catholic is
called to spread the Gospel,” said
Bishop David L. Ricken of
Green Bay, chairman of the
USCCB Committee on
Evangelization and Catechesis.
“But in order to evangelize, a
person must first be evangelized.
This is really the heart of the
New Evangelization.”
The document examines what the
New Evangelization is, its focus,
its importance for the Church and
how dioceses and parishes can
promote it.
ICONS OF CHRIST
THE SERVANT
“The New Evangelization is a
call to each person to deepen his
or her own faith, have confidence
in the Gospel, and possess a
willingness to share the Gospel,”
the document states. “It is a
personal encounter with the
person of Jesus, which brings
peace and joy.”
The full text of the document is
available online: www.usccb.org/
beliefs-and-teachings/how-weteach/new-evangelization/
disciples-called-to-witness/.
WASHINGTON – The Vatican
has approved the publication
of the “Rite for the Blessing of
a Child in the Womb,” in
English and Spanish printed in a
combined booklet. It should be
available for parishes by
Mother’s Day. The U.S. bishops,
who collaborated on the
development of the blessing,
welcomed the announcement of
the approval.
“I’m impressed with the beauty
of this blessing for human life in
the womb,” said Cardinal Daniel
N. DiNardo of Galveston-
Eleven men from a variety of
backgrounds, careers, and
corners of the diocese – all
married with families – lay
prostrate on the floor of the
Church of St. Mary in Sleepy
Eye as a sign of humility and
submission to God as the
“Litany of the Saints” is sung .
The men were ordained to
the Order of the Diaconate
on April 21 by Bishop John
M. LeVoir, following five long
years of preparation for their
new ministry.
Houston, chairman of the
Committee on Pro-Life Activities
of the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops (USCCB). “I
can think of no better day to
announce this news than on the
feast of the Annunciation, when
we remember Mary’s ‘yes’ to
God and the incarnation of that
child in her womb that saved the
world.”
The blessing was prepared to
support parents awaiting the birth
of their child, to encourage parish
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prayers for and recognition of the
precious gift of the child in the
womb, and to foster respect for
human life within society. It can
be offered within the context of
the Mass as well as outside of
Mass.
For further information visit the
U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops Web site at
www.usccb.org.
(as of 4/25/12)
(photo by Dan Rossini)