Christy Guerra                                   For Release
973-497-4187                                   June 6, 2007

 guerrach@rcan.org

Festival of Faith

            On September 29, 2007, the Archdiocese of Newark will be hosting the “Festival of Faith,” a day-long celebration of Catholicism designed to enlighten and inspire all who attend.  The festival, which will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge St., Newark, begins at 10 a.m. and will end with Mass at 6:00 p.m.

            The Festival of Faith was designed with a two-fold purpose: it is a chance for parishioners from the Archdiocese of Newark to celebrate their Catholic identity; and it is also an invitation for Catholics who have been away from the Church to rediscover the treasure that can be found in the faith.  The event also provides a chance for those unfamiliar with the teachings of the Church to participate and learn more about the gift of Catholicism.  “The Festival of Faith reflects our desire to stimulate and energize the faith and enthusiasm of all God’s people in the Archdiocese of Newark,” said the Most Reverend Edgar M. daCunha, Regional Bishop for Essex County and main celebrant of the day’s closing Mass. “It also celebrates the richness of all cultures represented throughout our Archdiocese and the fact that our faith makes us all one Church.”

            The event will feature talks given by dynamic speakers in both English and Spanish (please find a biography for each speaker scheduled to attend at the bottom of this release), encompassing all areas of the Catholic life and its role it plays in the lives of the faithful.  The day will also provide an opportunity for participants to express their faith through popular Catholic devotions, such as a multilingual recitation of the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy; and in recognition of the importance of the beauty of diversity to Catholicism, the festival will also feature music and traditional dances from various cultures around the world. 

            Admission to the event is free.  For more information, please call Liliana Soto at 973-497-4353, or email faithfest@rcan.org.  Media organizations who wish to attend the Festival of Faith should contact the Office of Communications at 973-497-4187.

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Sister Theresa Rickard, OP, is Director of RENEW International. She has extensive experience presenting workshops, retreats, and parish missions. Sister Terry holds a MA in Religious Education, a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, Missouri. She is also a contributing author to the book “Spiritual Manifestos.”

Damon Owens is the founder of Joy-Filled Marriage NJ (www.joyfilledmarriagenj.org), a non-profit organization providing training, resources, and support for engaged and married couples.  Damon has published numerous articles and appeared on EWTN’s Life on the Rock and March for Life 2006, ABC World News Tonight, CBS News 48 Hours, BET Evening News, and National Public Radio. He is also an accomplished gospel singer with such honors as a solo during the 1995 NJ Papal Mass at Giants Stadium and the funeral mass for Bishop Joseph Francis at the Sacred Heart Basilica in Newark.

Rev. Michael A. Saporito is currently Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Maplewood.  He has been a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark for fifteen years, and previously served as Pastoral Vicar at St. Elizabeth in Wyckoff, Our Lady of the Visitation in Paramus, St Peter the Apostle in River Edge, and St. Joseph in West Orange.  Fr. Michael has given numerous talks on matters of Catholic tradition and doctrine, as well as contemporary spirituality. He was born in Newark, and grew up in Bloomfield where he and his family were long-time parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish.

Sister Marilyn Minter, CSFF, is a certified spiritual director and has worked with the Vocation Offices of Newark, Metuchen, Trenton, Camden, Philadelphia, and Wilmington, helping to plan and present programs to foster and nourish the call to use one’s gifts and talents in the service of the Lord and the people of God.  As she traveled throughout the country working with a team of Felician Sisters conducting Parish Missions and College retreats, she was frequently invited to share her gifts of speaking and music ministry.