Ninety minutes that will deepen your faith

Many Catholics are accustomed to curtailing their television viewing during Lent in order to make time for more spiritual pursuits: attending the Stations of the Cross, for example, or reading Scripture. Next week, however, Catholics should increase their time in front of the TV by 90 minutes.

That time should be spent watching Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, who will devote a half-hour of TV time for three successive nights, April 10-12, in order to talk to Catholics (and other interested viewers) about such fundamental matters as prayer, faith in God, following Jesus and what it means to be a believer. His televised retreat is titled "Disciples, Together in Faith."

The last time he offered such a media retreat, the Bishop out-rated some of the most popular shows on TV. That's because the message he delivers is more substantial than anything else on the air -- and because so many people hunger for guidance and inspiration.

On pages 13-16 this week, we offer several items related to the retreat:

* the Bishop's column about his shows, outlining what he will talk about and inviting people to watch;

* a discussion guide for groups that will view it together;

* an interview about what went in to the creation of the shows; and

* a checklist for viewers, which includes the toll-free phone number for those who watch and then want additional information.

We urge you to pull those pages out of this week's issue and put them by your television to remind you to watch "Disciples, Together in Faith," and to have handy the toll-free number in case you want to call. By the way, TV and toll-free lines aren't the only new technologies being used by the Diocese. Last week, it also inaugurated its website at www.rcda.org (see page 1), adding to the media through which the message of faith is transmitted.

As a way to observe Lent, as a means of deepening your participation in such programs as Renew 2000, and as a method of participating in the Church's celebration of the Jubilee Year, we urge you to spend 90 minutes away from the sitcoms and ball games that fill your ordinary evening, and choose instead "Disciples, Together in Faith."

(04-06-00)

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