Scottish Catholic Observer

The Holy Father may be writing a new encyclical for the Year of Faith, according to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State.

Pope Benedict XVI, who has just finished his Jesus of Nazareth trilogy, has so far written three encyclicals: Deus Caritas Est in 2005; Spe Salvi published in 2007 and then Caritas in Veritate in 2009.

Following his encyclicals on Charity and Hope, the next is expected to be on Faith, seen as especially timely now as the Church prepares to enter into the Year of Faith that is part of the New Evangelisation aimed at a deepening of Faith.

The Vatican has now published the full official calendar of events pertaining to the upcoming Year of Faith. It begins on October 11 this year with a Mass presided by Pope Benedict XVI in St Peter’s Square, concelebrated by bishops and theologians who, like the Pope himself, served as members or experts at the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council.

The Holy Father called for the Year of Faith to strengthen practising Catholics in their Faith, to reach out to those who have stop attending Mass, to offer a path to those who are searching for meaning in their lives and to help even those who think they do not need God.

Traditional Papal appointments, like the January 25 celebration marking the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been incorporated into the Year of Faith, including the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme of New Evangelisation from October 7-28 which Archbishop-elect Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow will attend on behalf of the Scottish bishops. Other events have been added, including the October 6 meeting Assisi, an encounter and dialogue between believers and non-believers on the theme of Faith.

Here are some of the highlights of the Year of Faith:

October 12 2012: Event at the Church of the Gesù focuses on Dante Alighieri and Faith during which an excerpt of Dante’s Paradise from the Divine Comedy will be recited.

October 21 2012: Canonisation of six martyrs of the faith.

October 26-30 2012: World Congress for Catholic teachers from.

November 15-17 2012: International Conference for Health Care workers on the theme the Hospital, a place of evangelisation: a human and spiritual mission..

December 1 2012: Pope Benedict will celebrate the first Vespers of Advent for the Pontifical Universities, the Seminaries and the Ecclesial Colleges.

December 20 2012: An exhibition of the Year of Faith is due to be inaugurated at Castel Sant’Angelo opens and will be on display until until May 1 2013.

December 28 2012: The Taizé community in collaboration with the Vicariate of Rome promotes a European youth meeting to last until January 2 2013.

January 2013: The celebration for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the inauguration of a major exhibition at the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the walls dedicated to the Basilica itself and Vatican II, which will remain open until October 24 2013.

February 2 2013: Pope Benedict is then due to preside at the celebration for the World Day for Consecrated Life.

March 24 2013: Holy Father to take part in followed by Palm Sunday events.

February 25-26 2013: An international congress dedicated to the Saints Cirillus and Methodius takes place at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and at the Gregorian University.

April 4-6 2013: Catholic Associations dedicated to education hold a conference.

April 13 2013: A concert entitled Oh My Son takes place in the Paul VI Hall.

April 2013: The month of April also foresees the Day of Seminaries, a Day of Study dedicated to Vatican II documents, and a celebration on April 28during which the Pope will confirm a group of young people and meet with others who recently have been or are about to be confirmed in their home countries.

May 2013: The Pope is scheduled to celebrate the Day of Confraternities and Popular Piety and undertake a pilgrimage to the tomb of St Peter.

June 2 2013: On the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ in most countries, the Pope will lead the solemn adoration of the Eucharist and is asking every cathedral and parish to have an hour of silent contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament at exactly the same hour.

June 16 2013: Pope Benedict will preside over a celebration of the church’s witness to the dignity and value of every human life.

June 22 2013: St Peter’s Square will come alive with a huge concert for the Year of Faith.

July 7 2013: The Holy Father will meet with seminarians and religious-order novices, who will make a pilgrimage to Rome.

July 23-28 2013: The Pope will travel to Rio de Janeiro to celebrate World Youth Day.

September 2013: A workshop organised by the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Pontifical Universities examine the value of “the Catholic Church’s Catechism” in the teaching of theology (September 18-19).

September 29 2013 : The Day for Catechists and it will be celebrated in the presence of Benedict XVI.

October 13 2013: The Pope will celebrate a Marian Day together with a host of Marian Associations.

November 24 2013: Conclusion of the Year of Faith.

—Find out more on the Vatican website: http://www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/it.html