Bible in a Year

Dear Parish Family,

As we make final preparations to celebrate once again the joyful season of Christmas, I want to take a moment to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May this sacred time of the year fill your hearts with peace, love, and the hope that the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ brings to the world.

In a couple of weeks when our festivities subside, I am filled with expectant hope over what blessings the new year will bring. To help usher them in, I invite you to join me in a spiritual journey that will deepen our faith and enrich our lives, namely, a commitment to reading the entire Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church together as a parish family over the period of one year.

The Bible is the living Word of God, a source of inspiration, guidance, and truth for our lives. The Catechism provides us with a clear understanding of the teachings of our Catholic faith, helping us to grow in knowledge and love of God. By engaging with both, we can strengthen our relationship with Christ and live more fully as His disciples.

To make this journey more accessible, here is a guided reading schedule to help you. The schedule breaks down the Bible and the Catechism into manageable daily readings of about 10-15 minutes, allowing us to progress steadily together throughout the year. Whether you are new to reading Scripture and Church teaching or have been doing so for many years, this schedule is designed to support you every step of the way.

Here are a few suggestions for making the most of this journey:

– Get a Catholic Bible (NRSV, NAB, or New Jerusalem are the best translations) and Catholic Catechism. Either a hard copy or electronic version is fine just so long as it works for you.

– Set aside a specific time each day to read and reflect on the assigned passages. For some early morning works best; for others it will be late at night.

– Pray the Our Father before reading and ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart to God’s Word and teachings. Conclude with a Glory Be prayer and/or your own words of thanksgiving.

– Share the journey: Consider forming or joining a small group to discuss the readings and support one another in faith.

– Be patient and persistent: If you miss a day, don’t be discouraged. Simply pick up where you left off and continue forward.

I encourage you to take this opportunity to allow God’s Word and the Church’s teachings to transform your lives. Let us walk this path together, supporting one another as we grow closer to God and one another. May this journey bring an abundance of blessings to us, our loved ones, and our entire Parish Family.

Faithfully yours,

Fr. Freitag