The Year of Faith and the Synod on the New Evangelization

Written by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS

October 16, 2012

Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller shared the following message with Catholic faithful in the Archdiocese of San Antonio to mark the opening of the Year of Faith:

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ;

I write to you, asking for your constant prayers, as I gather with my brother bishops from throughout the world at the Synod on the New Evangelization. The Holy Father summoned us to Rome, commissioning this body to strengthen and examine the calling of evangelization that is central to the work of the Church.

The synod will begin on October 7 and conclude on October 28. We are indeed blessed to be  conducting our discussions just as the Year of Faith begins on October 11, marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. In the council document, Lumen Gentium, The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, the fathers of the council prophetically delivered a timeless message that remains relevant today; “While men of the present day are drawn ever more closely together by social, technical and cultural bonds, it still remains for them to achieve full unity in Christ.” In our times, these
words still ring true, and underline the awesome responsibility that this synod carry out its mission with a sense of urgency and in the spirit of unity, faith, and love.

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