Make time for prayer . Allow reflection and prayer to be a regular part of your daily life. Use personal prayer, the Scriptures, meditation and the Liturgy of the Hours. Consider making a retreat once a year. Pray the Our Father as a prayer for Christian unity.

Practice forgiveness. Learn to forgive and be forgiven. Regularly examine your conscience, practice fasting, and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Celebrate the Eucharist. Actively participate each Sunday, on Holy Days of Obligation and on other occasions whenever possible, in the Eucharistic liturgy. One way to participate more fully is to reflect on the upcoming Sunday readings. The readings are listed in the parish bulletin.

Live a just life. Work against discrimination, racism, and oppression. Treat all people with the dignity they deserve as sons and daughters of God.

Help the Poor. Practice charity by assisting those living in poverty and promote community-based solutions to the cause of injustice and poverty. Make a personal covenant, a pledge, with the poor.

Be a domestic church. Family is the domestic church. Family encompasses all household dynamics. Support and nurture the love and care within the family.

Share faith. Talk about God’s presence in your life with other people. Be an evangelizer.

Know your faith. Learn more about the teachings and traditions of the Church. Read the Scriptures. Take advantage of adult education and formation opportunities. Study the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Vatican II document: “The Church in the Modern World.” These documents are online at Vatican and Catechism of the Catholic Church .

“He said to them, ‘go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.’” (Mark 16:15)

Share Your Catholic Faith!

Suggestions to assist you as you begin speaking about your faith.

1. Share something that is special to you about your faith tradition.

2. Talk about the Mass. If you need help with this, we have resources in the Christian Formation Office. Also, check out the monthly bulletin insert.

3. Reflect on what the Sacrament of Baptism means in your life. Reflect on why you brought your children to the Sacrament.

4. What is your favorite hymn? Why?

5. Have you forgotten how to pray the rosary? The rosary is one the great treasures of our faith that help us meditate on the life of Christ. Resources are available in the Christian Formation Office.

6. What saint name did you choose when you were Confirmed? Read about the saint, pray for and to this Saint and ask their help in your life. If you have forgotten the saint name you took at Confirmation, then research saints and adopt another.

7. Are you involved in a ministry? Talk about why you enjoy this particular ministry. Being involved in a ministry will strengthen your spiritual life, aid in the active participation in your faith, and supports the Church in the mission of building up the Kingdom of God.

8. Share why you are a part of St. Peter’s parish. What does it mean to be part of a parish family?

Use these 8 simple ideas to begin talking to friends and family about why you are Catholic. An easy way to begin the conversation is ask another person what they love about being Catholic or another faith tradition.