2025: The Year of Evangelization

03-09-2025Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

The Year of Evangelization starts this Lent as the first year of the five-year Diocesan pastoral plan called “Via Fidelis.” In the coming weeks, Bishop Fabre will be sending out a pastoral letter detailing this five-year journey. Recently, he shared suggestions for all of us for prayer and evangelization each month during this Year of Evangelization.

March: Share the Good News. This month, pray to the Holy Spirit to put an individual on your heart to proclaim the Good News of salvation in Christ to, and do so at least once.

April: Invite someone to meet Jesus. This month, with the help of the Holy Spirit, make a conscious decision to invite someone to encounter Jesus with you.

May: Share the Word of God. This month, share the story of Joseph the Patriarch (Genesis), Esther, or Daniel with someone who may need to hear it.

June: Share the Word of God. This month, share the story of the Woman at the Well (Jn 4:1-42), the Rich Young Ruler (Mk 10:17-31), or the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32) with someone who may need to hear it.

July: Challenge the Culture. This month, examine your conscience to find ways that you have given in to various cultural pressures that run contrary to the Gospel; ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and perseverance to challenge the culture and proclaim a culture founded on the Gospel.

August: Rejuvenate the Church. This month, young people are especially challenged to share their faith by inviting another young person to Mass, adoration, or youth ministry; older adults are asked to invite a young person to these same opportunities at your parish.

September: Listen to the voice of God. This month, “Be still and know the He is God” by spending time in silence or silent adoration and allowing God to speak to you.

October: Use the Rosary as a Tool for Evangelization. This month, pray the Rosary asking for the Blessed Mother's intercession for our families and diocese as we evangelize; ask her help to share her Son in the same way she shared Him with us.

November: Find Christ in Another. This month, find ways as an individual, a family, or a parish group to find Jesus in your brothers and sisters by serving them with love and joy.

December: Evangelize with the Symbols of our Faith. This month, use the seasonal symbols we use in the Church to Evangelize. For instance, invite someone to parish events, such as celebrations of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Las Posadas, nativity plays, processions with the creche, or any other parish festivity.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

All the best…in Christ, Father Wilson