Happy New Year! That is, Happy New “Liturgical” Year of the Church.
                 With the First Sunday of Advent, we begin the new liturgical year. The Season of Advent consists of four weeks. It is a time of prayerful preparation for the Coming of the Lord. Our first two weeks focus upon the Second Coming of the Lord. The third and fourth weeks offer time for us to reflect upon the first coming of Jesus as we remember his birth in Bethlehem.
                 This season of “new beginnings” invite and challenge us to open our hearts to a time of grace and mercy. For us, the Advent Season will set the tone to place into motion a concerted effort to promote the New Evangelization within our Diocese of Stockton.
                 The special season of Advent begs us to have an encounter with the Lord Jesus. It is the perfect time for us to build upon our personal relationship with him. In doing so, our preparation for his Second Coming, as Lord and Judge, will take on a joyful sense of anticipation. It will also help to enhance for us this year’s “Christmas experience.”
                Advent and Christmas are wonderful seasons to welcome back our fallen away Catholic brothers and sisters. “Coming home,” this Advent Season, offers an opportunity for all of us to be renewed by the life of Sacraments and the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
                As Bishop, I am inviting all of you, especially our youth, to experience a renewed encounter with Jesus through the Eucharistic Liturgy, the Mass. For us, the Mass, and the rich readings of the Advent season, can offer a perfect starting point for the New Evangelization.
                It is at the Mass that conversion of mind and heart can be experienced. Coming together to worship God as a community: to pray, to listen to the Gospel of Jesus proclaimed, to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Eucharist, and to be fully engaged in the Mass has the potential to evangelize us. It is not just about “attending” Mass. It is about loving God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. It is about allowing ourselves to being filled with the “risen presence” of Christ. As we are filled with his presence, we are then “sent,” at the end of Mass, to be missionary disciples at home and in the marketplace. The Liturgy has the power to move us to turn away from sin, and to grow in holiness as our relationship with Jesus is strengthened.
                Advent is a great time to remind us of our call to holiness. That is why the Liturgy is our starting point as we begin our journey of the New Evangelization. This will entail a time of catechesis on the Liturgy. It will involve proper and effective training in all the liturgical ministries in regard to the Mass.
                Also, beginning with this Advent Season, our Diocesan Office of Religious Education, will be known as the Office of Evangelization and Faith Formation. The emphasis and approach of faith formation will be based on “family catechesis.” As the children and youth are taught the Catholic Faith, and prepare for the Sacraments, the parents will be invited and encouraged to participate in their own ongoing faith formation as they accompany their children.
                It is sad to hear of individuals leaving the Church, it is evident that they have not been fully evangelized. If an individual has come to know Christ and the Church, and is committed and understands the importance of the Teaching of the Church and the Sacraments, they will likely persevere in the Faith. People leave because there is a disconnect, a lack of rootedness for whatever reason. If parents are not evangelized: How will they be able to truly welcome Christ into their lives, their marriages and their families?
                it is important to remember that it is the responsibility of the parents to be the principle educators of the ways of the Catholic Faith in regard to their children. Parents verbally state this on the day of the baptism of their children. The Church’s faith formation classes, along with the Catholic Schools, are here to support and accompany parents in this responsibility.
                We must believe, as the Church of the Diocese of Stockton, it is necessary that we have Christ-centered and Spirit-filled families in parishes throughout our diocese. I am grateful for the many families who are committed to their Catholic Faith. But, at the same time, we are in need of more families who realize the importance of their love and support of their parishes and the diocese. All of this will enable us to move forward to accomplish great things for the glory of God. Collaboration for the sake of the Kingdom of God is essential.
                 Brothers and sisters, in the future, I will share more with you in regard to the New Evangelization as we begin the New Year of 2020. Let us take these steps together. Let us call upon the prayers of Our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the New Evangelization. In this day and age, we must witness to our faith. The only way we can accomplish this is by putting our faith into action! A faith “lived” will assist us in our readiness for the Coming of the Lord!
                   Blessings to all during the Season of Advent.
 
In the Peace of Christ,
 
Bishop Cotta †

Click here for the Christmas Letter