NEWARK-The Archdiocese of Newark will host the "Festival of Faith" on Sept. 29, a celebration of Catholicism that will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge St.

The festival, which begins at 10 a.m. and ends with a Mass at 6 p.m., will include music and cultural celebrations at Barringer High School as well as events at the Archdiocesan Center. The high school and the center both are located adjacent to the cathedral.

The event is designed for parishioners from the Archdiocese of Newark to celebrate their Catholic identity. It also will serve as an invitation for Catholics who have drifted away from the Church to rediscover their faith. The festival will provide an opportunity 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 Most Rev. Edgar M. da Cunha, Regional Bishop for Essex County, who will serve as the 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," he said.

The event will feature presentations in English and Spanish, encompassing all areas of Catholic life and the role it plays in the lives of the faithful. Speakers slated to take part in the event include Sister Theresa Rickard, O.P., the director of RENEW International, Plainfield; Damon Owens, the founder of Joy-Filled Marriage NJ (Web site: www.joyfilledmarriagenj.org), a non-profit organization providing training, resources, and support for engaged and married couples; Father Michael A. Saporito, the pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Maplewood, who has an extensive background in Catholic traditions, doctrine and contemporary spirituality; and Sister Marilyn Minter, C.S.F.F., a certified spiritual director who has worked with diocesan vocation offices throughout New Jersey as well as in Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE.

The day will 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. In recognition of the importance of the beauty of diversity to Catholicism, the festival will feature music and traditional dances from various cultures around the world.

Admission to the event is free. For more information, please call Liliana Soto, coordinator of the archdiocesan Office of Evangelization, at (973) 497-4353, or via e-mail at faithfest@rcan.org. Media organizations that wish to cover the event should contact the archdiocesan Office of Communications at (973) 497-4187.