Colombo (AsiaNews) - "The year of faith is an opportunity to find in deep what is our responsibility in this society we as Catholics and see how we should do our responsibility to make the society a better place". This was the message of Card. Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, during a special Mass opening the Year of Faith, celebrated in the Kotahena Cathedral. During the celebration, the Cardinal urged priests, nuns, religious and lay Catholics to "strengthen their faith", presenting a series of initiatives that will continue for the entire year.
"Faith - explained Card. Ranjith - Faith is God's precious gift to us. It leads us to the discovery of the fullness of the mystery of God revealed to us in the saving love of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is this same mystery which invites us to a new existence, one that is in profound communion with God through His own Son Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit".
The Archbishop of Colombo has also indicated what challenges await Christians: "We need to strengthen the Priesthood, develop the catholic knowledge in Children also strengthen their spiritual lives, in the Christian faith we should sensible for needs of other communities living with us, we should respect them and show our solidarity, pay more attention for the crisis in our society and get involved to settle them, Abortion, implement some success programs and awareness programs to stop and avoid dangerous and illegal things such as drug addiction, various reasons which leads youth to a misery lives in the society."
Based on these guidelines, schools, colleges, parishes, centers and associations of various levels should promote programs and activities to "live" the Year of Faith. For its part, every Saturday and Sunday Card. Ranjith will visit all the parishes of the Archdiocese, to explain, discuss and clarify the theological aspects of the more complex of the Catechism.