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What are the Eastern Catholic Churches doing in response to the Holy Father's call for the Year of Faith?

Comments and insights from knowledgeable clergy who regularly post here would be most appreciated.

Am I the only one who finds these "theme years" (Year of the Priest, Year of the Laity, Year of Faith) just a little too gimmicky, like an ill-conceived advertising campaign, or worse still, like a "mission-vision statement"? Does the Pope retain a PR company? If so, he should fire them.

Year of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, perhaps? Seems like Bishop John has certainly been a big fan of holding those from time to time. As many as there have been, I find it weird that I never attended a hierarchical DL, which would have been interesting.

Agreed.

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Curious Joe,
As I understand, the Eastern Catholic Encounter is being connected to the Year of Faith, at least that's how Fr. Thomas Loya has connected things on his "Light of the East" podcast.

Yeah, those should be worth listening to. On top of that, Bishop John Kudrick here also has the "Voice of the Shepherd" podcast series as well, which should also be worth the listen. It's on the Eparchy of Parma website.

Aye...so in 2013 we are no longer to have faith? The year of apostacy?

Every year should be a year of faith, and hope, and charity.

No, every year should be a "year of faith". That's the point. We're supposed to have faith all the time, so a year dedicated to faith is kind of an indictment of the Church's ability to do its job.

exactly.

I think the Holy Father wants all catholics to more fully appreciate the gift of faith and to give it to others. He also wants us to read and understand the documents of the 2nd Vatican Council and the catechism which either have been largely misunderstood or unread. I think our church is being made aware that the only way to effectively propogate the faith is through solid catechesis.

That seems only fair to mention that right on the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, as well as on the Seven Ecunemical Fathers Sunday. Good point, my dear friend. Certainly a feast day to make double sure that this would be hitting home with us.

Glory forever!

Thanks, J.A.

FYI - I just returned home from Encounter 2012 - East. While the Year of Faith was covered as a topic by one of the speakers, it was a rather general treatment. I was hoping that we might have been given some insight as to how the Eastern Catholic Churches planned to participate in and/or contribute to the objectives for the Year of Faith as envisioned by His Holiness.

While I too tend to view these thematic "Years" with some skepticism, it does seem as if the emphasis of the Year of Faith was appropriate given some of the concerns expressed by Pope Benedict XVI with respect to the current situation of the Church and the faithful (practicing and fallen) in the modern, increasingly secular world. They affect all of us - East and West, Catholic and otherwise.

I know the UGCC is focusing on aspects of parish life that seem critical to the continued growth of their particular Church, which seems connected in a way to the themes set for this particular "Year of ___".

While I hate to be cynical, so far in my own Ruthenian Church and Eparchy, the only real mention has been in connection with the annual "Diocesan" Development Appeal.

Unfortunately it is how we get people's attention these days. If we don't do our own "promotions" people lose interest. Commercialism is deeply seated in our collective psyche.

On a related note, can my business degree now quality me for ordination?

More than that, it qualifies you for the episcopate.

Well, let's not forget that the Latin Church had the "Catholics Returning Home" campaign for at least a year or so themselves. Not that it helped as much as they had hoped, but it does seem like we need the message spread more than ever that faith is very vital now to get through these struggles of ours.