All are invited to attend a prayer service led by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio as the diocese officially opens its observance of the Year of Faith on Thursday, October 11th at 7:30 p.m. Bishop DiMarzio will lead Vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint James, Jay Street and Cathedral Place, Downtown Brooklyn.

Pope Benedict XVI has called for Catholics around the world to participate in the Year of Faith as a way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council as well as the 20th anniversary of the issuance of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The pope recently told a meeting of newly appointed bishops that the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the opening of the Year of Faith is a time for them to focus on being “teachers and heralds” of the Catholic faith.

“Your priority concern is that of promoting and sustaining a stronger ecclesial commitment to new evangelization in order to rediscover the joy of believing and the enthusiasm for communicating the faith,” the pope said.

Pope Benedict told the bishops, “Evangelization is not a work for a few specialists, but for the whole people of God under the guidance of pastors.”