Learning about Our Faith

“Evangelisation aims at a process of growth which entails taking seriously each person and God’s plan for his or her life. All of us need to grow in Christ…so that each of us can say wholeheartedly ‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me’ (Gal. 2:20)”

Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 160

Becoming a Catholic is not an end in itself, but rather a beginning.

The life of the Church is – truly – new life. The Sacraments of Initiation make us members of Christ’s Body: we participate in God’s Life and Love through the Holy Spirit, and are ourselves called to share that life and love with others.

We are always learning.

We grow as Catholics through prayer, through our celebration of the Sacraments – especially the Sunday Eucharist – and through our work and family life. Our families are not isolated but belong to the one Catholic Family of our parishes, our diocese and the whole Church.

We grow through sharing Life and Love. In our parishes we can offer our service of Ministry, and we can also find other ways to share in the life of our community.

There are also opportunities for learning more about our Faith, as we do through reading and reflecting on Scripture either alone or with others, or through attending courses offered by our parish or by the diocese.

There are also many helpful websites which you can explore for yourself:

- Thinking Faith: The Online Journal of the Jesuits in Britain
- Pray As Your Go: Daily Reflections for Prayer
- Word on Fire: a website offering many useful videos and articles explaining the Catholic Faith

The following books may also be of interest:

Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith, Bishop Robert Barron, Image Books, New York, 2011
Credo: The Catholic Faith Explained, Fr Marcus Holden and Fr Andrew Pinsent, Catholic Truth Society, London, 2007)
An Introduction to Catholicism, by Lawrence S. Cunningham, Cambridge University Press, 2009
The Light of Christ: An Introduction to Catholicism, Thomas Joseph White OP, Catholic University of America Press, Washington D.C., 2017

You might also like to explore the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Second Edition, published by Our Sunday Visitor, 25 Feb. 2020) which is also available online.

For more information about faith, prayer and spirituality, please contact your local parish priest or email Jessica Wilkinson jessica.wilkinson@dioceseofleeds.org.uk

You are most welcome to explore the Resources offered here, and to share them with others. The Diocese also offers Courses, the details of which you can find by following the link.

Courses

Resources