St. Kitts Catholics usher in ‘The Year of the Faith’

Photos of the Service by Erasmus Williams

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 12TH 2012 (CUOPM) – Catholics in St. Kitts joined their counterparts around the world last Sunday in ushering in The Year of the Faith commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council.

Members of the St. Joseph’s Parish Church, Old Road; Sacred Heart Parish, Sandy Point; Holy Family Parish, Molineaux and came together at the Immaculate Conception Co-Cathedral, Basseterre for the Combined Liturgical Celebration.

The Service commenced on the steps of the church with the door closed. The Celebrant was Vicar General of St. John’s-Basseterre, Fr. Pierre Tevi-Benissan and Co-Celebrants Fr. Vincente Dominguez Gonzalez of the Immaculate Conception and Holy Family Parish; and Fr. Xuan Ho of the Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s.

With his Apostolic Letter of October 11, 2011,Porta Fidei. . . , Pope Benedict XVI declared that a “Year of Faith” will begin on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013.

October 11, 2012, the first day of the Year of Faith, is the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. . . (Vatican II) and also the twentieth anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

During the Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith.

The upcoming Year of Faith is a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world” (Porta Fidei 6).

In other words, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him. The “door of faith” is opened at one’s baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church.

The Year of Faith is an invitation to everyone in the Church to celebrate and renew their faith – individually, in families, in parishes and schools, in our Diocese, country and across our global Catholic community.