Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth

A card to communicate that the carrier is a baptised Catholic is to be distributed nationally as an initiative of the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

One million cards will be made available to twenty-four Catholic dioceses, including the Bishopric of the Forces and the Ordinariate, as a reminder that all baptised are invited to know and share their faith. The credit-card-size resource features on one side, a space for the owner to sign, a clear statement that the carrier is a Catholic, and a list of six things that Catholics are called to do. There is also a sentence that reads: ‘In the event of an emergency, please call a Catholic priest.' The other side of the card has a quote from the recently beatified Blessed John Henry Newman, focusing on the call to serve and affirming that everyone has a mission.

Bishop Kieran Conry (Arundel and Brighton), Chair of the Bishops' Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis, said: "We all carry a variety of cards in our purses and wallets which reflect something of our identity and the things that are important to us. The faith card for Catholics aims to offer a daily reminder of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We can't summarise the whole of our faith in bullet points, but we hope that the card simply inspires people to do, read and learn more."

The Bishops' Conference of England & Wales has launched a Catholic faith enquiry website. The sections on the website lay out a first contact with Catholic faith and the Church, and how they connect to the meaning of our lives. Amongst the links there is a way to find a local parish church, contacts to help answer questions on topics such as Baptism, Marriage and becoming a Catholic. Other sections provide guidance for further reading, together with courses and retreat centres.

Visit the enquiry website at www.catholicfaith.org.uk

The 2012 edition of the Diocesan Year Book has been published and is now available at parishes across the diocese, price £3.00. Edited by Fr. David Annear, the book is now in its fifty-fifth year of publication.

With an Introduction by Bishop Christopher, the Year Book includes a directory of parishes, schools and convents/ houses of religious sisters, details of all the clergy serving in the diocese and of the various departments, services and commissions. There is a liturgical calendar and comprehensive information about national and local resources in the diocese, together with many interesting articles and reports from around the diocese.

‘I Am With You' is a new book of scripture reflections for couples, based on the Sunday Mass Readings. This book, focusing on the question ‘What are these Readings saying to me or us about our relationship?', offers those who believe in the power of prayer and the Word of God, a blessed resource that can speak right into the heart of their love for one another.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols has endorsed the book and Bishop John Hine, responsible for Marriage & Family Life on the Bishops' Conference of England & Wales says: "I am more than happy to recommend this book which will be a most helpful resource to couples who are looking for a way to strengthen their relationship as husband and wife.... [it could] help them to focus the light of God's Word on their relationship and help them to see the "extraordinary in the ordinary".

From the First Sunday of Advent, 27 November 2011, all prayers at Mass will be from the new translation of the Missal. In addition to the Order of Mass, which has been in use by priests and people since September, prayers for the specific day (Collect, Prayer over the Offerings and Prayer after Communion) - the Proper - will also be used.

Bishop Arthur Roche, Chairman of the International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL), and Chairman of the Bishops' Conference Department for Christian Life and Worship, said, "Over the last few months priests and people across the country have worked hard to introduce the new translation of the Missal to the faithful in England and Wales. This has been a great opportunity to learn about what we say at Mass but also to deepen our understanding of the Mass itself - Christ's great gift to the Church. I am grateful for all the effort that has been made and also the patience with which people have begun to take the new translation. I am also grateful to the various publishers, the Catholic Truth Society for the beautiful Altar Missal, and with other publishers for the variety of publications which have assisted people's participation in the Mass.

"As we approach the First Sunday of Advent I hope that the task of formation will continue; that the texts of the Missal will become both a source of prayer and devotion, and a foundation for a renewed appreciation of the mystery we celebrate."

The 2012 programme of Plymouth Diocesan Retreats has been published. These silent retreats are led by members of the Plymouth Diocesan Ignatian Spirituality Team and they take place each year at various venues. The retreats are in the Ignatian tradition and they are open to Christians of any denomination who would like to step back from everyday life, review their journey in faith and be strengthened in their vocation as disciples of the Lord.

The 2012 retreats include a Lenten Quite Day, several weekends and a 6-day one. For further information, please visit the Diocesan Retreats page.

The 50th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) will be held in Dublin from 10 to 17 June 2012. It is a week long programme of events, linking faith and culture, with a particular focus on the gathering of people of every nation, language and way of life around the table of the Lord. The theme is ‘The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another.'

There is an opportunity to join a group which will participate in the Congress. This is being organised by Rev. Deacon Tony Irwin in Kingsbridge, Devon. Outward travel is on Saturday 9 June, returning on Monday 18 June 2012. For further details, please click on the attachment below. Tony Irwin can be contacted at 22 Glebeland, Churchstow, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 3RD; Tel. 01548 853413; Mobile 07813 217503; Email tony [at] irwin777 [dot] fsnet [dot] co [dot] uk

More information about the Congress can be found on the IEC website - http://www.iec2012.ie/

Bishop Christopher writes: "It is a joy to report that we have an increase in the number of people coming forward as possible candidates for ordination. This is something we have all prayed for, yet we have to be confident of our ability to sustain them during the years of formation. So I have decided that my Silver Jubilee of episcopal ministry should be marked by an appeal, throughout the Diocese, for funds to enable us to support our much-needed seminary students. Six of them were at my Jubilee celebration. I would like to call this fund the ‘Bishop Christopher Jubilee Fund for Seminarians'.

"While we rejoice in all our people's gifts, which they gladly make available to the Church community, we can never be the Church of Christ without priests to bring us the Gospel, to lead us in our sacramental worship, especially in the Eucharist, and to minister to us with pastoral love."