Holy Church is ever ancient, ever new. From the first days of her founding, the mission of the Church has been entrusted to Bishops, conformed to Christ in a special way to hearken to the vox clamantis in deserto – the voice crying in the wilderness. That wilderness is our community, grown cold with indifference to the Gospel in one of the most secularized societies known to man.

Our Bishop, the founder of the Jesus Guild, desires transformational change in our world. He wants the message of Jesus Christ to be spread to every soul in Fairfield County, by means of little seeds sown in the hearts of men and women hungry for hope. He desires for a renewal of the Church in our time so that she is fit to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to this generation, which has gone astray.

That is why, over the next months and years, the focus of the Diocesan Mission will be streamlined into The One – an inspiring vision of dynamic evolution, from maintenance to mission, where the embers of familiar institutions are fanned into new life and growth. What is The One? It is a goal; it is the Passing on of the Faith.

This is not about teaching and learning. Catechesis is important, but the direct means of formation must be supplemented by a myriad of indirect means. That is to say Catholic Life, in all its eclectic vibrancy, must point to God expressed as Truth, Beauty and Goodness, through our Families, through our Friendships and through our Communities.

Above all, this goal brings together Encounter and Accompaniment. Both together: Encounter without Accompaniment leads to a superficial relationship with Christ, whereas Accompaniment without Encounter denies the possibility of transformational change. Our Catholic Culture allows us to see we are a family of families, built upon the one model given to us by God the Father, for whom every family is named.

Pray for our Bishop. He needs your support and encouragement, through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving to bring about the renewal of Catholic life in Fairfield County. Our Lord, through our Bishop, has just given us all the greatest Christmas gift imaginable: the opportunity to recommit to His mission of saving souls. Starting here, and starting now.