In response to Pope Benedict’s call for a special “Year of Faith” to be celebrated in the Catholic Church from Oct. 11, 2012 to Nov. 24, 2013, the Salem parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) has several programs planned. The Year of Faith coincides with the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, and Catholics worldwide are encouraged to study the council documents to better understand Catholic teaching. On Oct. 9 and 16, Father Kevin Segerblom, the pastor of OLPH, will present on “Joy and Hope” (Gaudium et Spes), the Apostolic Constitution on the Church and the Modern World, which is one such document. All are welcome to attend the 7 p.m. presentations in the church Social Hall.  This will be the first of four Year of Faith presentations on Vatican II Constitutions.

The Year of Faith also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Parishioners are encouraged study the Catechism to deepen their faith as well as to commit themselves to proclaiming that faith by the way they live their lives.

“The Year of Faith provides an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the mission we received at Baptism, to live as children of the Light in Christ Jesus and to share God’s love and build up his Kingdom,” says Father Segerblom. “On Sunday, Oct. 13, we will begin the Year of Faith at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish by making personal commitments to the Lord to deepen our faith during this special year in the Church.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is divided into Four Pillars: The Creed (what Catholics believe), the Sacraments (how Catholics celebrate our Faith), the Commandments (how Catholics live the Faith), and Christian Prayer. “Parishioners have been asked to make  concrete commitments to deepening their practice of each of the four Pillars of Faith by studying God’s Word, deepening their participation in Church celebrations, performing acts of service and deepening their prayer life as part of the Year of Faith,” says Father Segerblom.   Adults and children are encouraged to  write “Letters to God” expressing their commitments which will be brought up during the offertory at Mass.

There will also be a pilgrimage to Catholic sites in Washington, DC in March 2013. For more information on the Year of Faith, click here.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church is located at 314 Turner Road in Salem. For more information, call 540-387-0491.

Submitted by Andrea Sexton, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.