Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I open this letter with an enthusiastic welcome because this word of invitation is at the heart of our Catholic faith and what it means to be a people of God. As Catholics, we believe that the saving power of Jesus Christ is alive in our hearts and our Church and is available for all. I pray that our faith and the grace of God fills you with a love that guides and sustains you throughout life’s ordinary and extraordinary challenges.

In ministering to the richly diverse people of the Brooklyn Diocese — in our parishes, our homes, schools, hospitals, our workplaces, in all the places in our city where we gather — I have witnessed the fruits of our faith. John Paul II has said, "One who follows the work of evangelization is not above all a professor. He is a messenger." Like the first disciples and the early Christian communities, we are living members of the Body of Christ who proclaim the Good News by our word and deed.

Your attitude, your charity, your service and ministry to family, friends, and strangers witness to our faith, which can transform our hearts and the world. As faithful Catholics, we have something to show for our belief. We are called to renew our faith through our full participation in the Church and the Sacraments. We are called to grow together by praying together and asking each other what difference the Gospel makes in our lives. We are called to encourage and support each other. And we are called to be grateful and to invite others to share in the richness of our faith.

I invite you to consider anew how you can join our Diocese in being an evangelizing people. You will find many resources on this site and places to begin. Please do not hesitate to contact our Office of Evangelization to assist you further.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Ignatius A. Catanello
Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn