Update: The Year of Faith has begun! Visit The Catholic Gene celebrates church “Doors of Faith” for our wrap-up of forty churches whose stories are told within thirty different articles by our contributors.
Do you have ancestors who worshipped in the Catholic faith? Would you like to share photos and/or stories about a Catholic church (or churches) that played a special role in your family members’ faith lives? If so, please join The Catholic Gene in a celebration of Annus Fidei: the Year of Faith 2012-2013.
Pope Benedict XVI has declared a special focus on faith beginning on October 11, 2012 (the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council) and ending on the Solemnity of Christ the King: November 24, 2013. The Year of Faith is “intended to contribute to a renewed conversion to the Lord Jesus and to the rediscovery of faith, so that the members of the Church will be credible and joy-filled witnesses to the Risen Lord, capable of leading those many people who are seeking it to the door of faith.”
“The ‘door of faith’ (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church.”- Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei for the Indiction of the Year of Faith
In honor of this new Year of Faith 2012-2013, the Catholic Gene is hosting a “Doors of Faith” celebration online. Here’s how you can participate:
- Share a photo and/or write a story on your blog about a Catholic church in which you and/or your ancestors worshipped that played a role in your family’s faith lives. (We’d love to see a photo of the “doors of faith” – the entrance doors of the church – but if a photo is not available, please at least share your story with us!)
- Send the link to your article to us by sending an email to CatholicGene@gmail.com. Deadline:
Friday, October 5, 2012. Extended to Sunday, October 7, 2012. - Finally, celebrate the new Year of Faith with us on its opening day – October 11, 2012 – by seeing the photos and reading the stories of other families’ “Doors of Faith” that will be highlighted here at The Catholic Gene on that date.
Places of worship have played important roles within many of our lives and the lives of our ancestors. As this Year of Faith begins, we look forward to seeing the photos and reading the stories of the Catholic churches that have helped to spark the light of faith in the lives of your families over the centuries.
Please spread the word about “Doors of Faith” and feel free to use the image and logo above. See you there!
The Catholic Gene 
I can send you multiple stories! I even have photos of the church where my great-grandfather was baptized in 1863 in Lithuania!
Great, Amanda! We look forward to seeing your family’s “Doors of Faith”.
Lisa, shall I hold publication of my blog post until closer to your deadline of Oct 5?
May I submit more than one article? I’ve done one on my Irish roots but I could also do one on my German ancestry complete with a photo of their church in Germany.
Hi Donna –
You may go ahead and post your article whenever you like. October 5th is just the deadline to notify us of your article. On October 11th we’ll post the wrap up of all of these wonderful “doors of faith” here at The Catholic Gene.
You may submit as many articles as you like – we’d love as many as you have time to write! (I’m working on a half-dozen of my ancestors’ churches – hopefully I’ll get them all finished in time.)
I look forward to reading about your Irish and German churches and any others that you come up with. Glad you are joining us for the “Doors of Faith” celebration!
Lisa, my post for doors of faith is at http://hangingwithdonna.blogspot.com/2012/09/doors-of-faith.html
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