Useful Links

Year of Faith Activities and Ideas for Religious Educators: TheReligionTeacher.com

Daily email on the Catechism

Cafod’s Year of Faith website

The Year of Faith:

In 2011 Pope Benedict announced a special ‘Year of Faith’ would start in October 2012.

“Ever since the start of my ministry as (Pope) I have spoken of the need to rediscover the journey of faith so as to shed ever clearer light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of the encounter with Christ.

… I have decided to announce a Year of Faith. It will begin on 11 October 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, and it will end on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King, on 24 November 2013.

The starting date of 11 October 2012 also marks the twentieth anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church … Moreover, the theme of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that I have convoked for October 2012 is “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.”

This will be a good opportunity to usher the whole Church into a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith.

Further information:

You can read the full text of Pope Benedicts announcement HERE.
A special international website with information on all aspects of this announcement is HERE.
Pastoral recommendations for diocese, parish and groups during this Year of Faith are available HERE.
Like the Eucharistic Congress, this ‘Year of Faith’ will have a special hymn – HERE, and official logo.

Irish resources

The Irish Bishops Conference is the umbrella for a large number of groups and resources that we all access on a regular basis. (Information about the IBC is HERE). The IBC will be adding Irish resources and information about Irish events for the Year of Faith HERE.
iCatholic – a website of short, informative Catholic videos which can be watched by individuals and groups. These include talks from the Eucharistic Congress, Alpha information, etc. HERE.
Sacredspace.ie – a prayer website which has daily prayer, novenas, retreats (Advent, Lent), Prayer with the Pope, Living Space: Commentaries on the daily readings, and space to leave prayers (Intentions and Remembrance). HERE
A list of Irish Catholic magazines, newspapers, radio & websites to explore HERE