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Fanning the Flame to begin in 2012 as ‘book group’ for entire diocese

During 2012, the Diocese of Belleville is forming one of the biggest “book groups” around. The project, called “Fanning the Flame,” invites parishes, small groups, and individuals throughout the diocese to participate in a year-long “book group.”

While Catholics have practiced the faith in southern Illinois since the 17th century, the diocese was created 125 years ago, in 1887, and Fanning the Flame will mark this journey of spiritual renewal.

Participants will explore all 36 chapters of “The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults” (USCCA).

The USCCA is a recent book (2006), different from better-known catechisms such as the Baltimore Catechism or the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

In 1992, the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (CCC) was published. The CCC is a “major catechism.” It is not intended as a book to be read cover-to-cover. Instead, it is designed “that it may be a sure and authentic reference text.” The CCC states that one of its purposes is to provide a source “for preparing local catechisms.” Each country or region has been encouraged to prepare a catechism suited to the people of its time and place.

The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is the local catechism for our country, approved by the bishops of the United States and recognized by the Holy See. The USCCA goes beyond the stripped down question-and-answer format to provide background and context to understand the Catholic faith in our time.

Divided into 36 chapters, the text centers around four themes: what we believe (the Creed); how we celebrate (the sacraments); how we live (the commandments); and how we pray (the Lord’s prayer). The book draws from stories of Catholics, especially from the United States, relating the Church’s teaching to contemporary culture.

Fanning the Flame aims to facilitate reading and discussion of this book.

Catholics and those curious about Catholicism are invited throughout next year to read along and discuss the book with others. Fanning the Flame encourages us to explore Catholicism, its diversity in unity, the witness of faithful followers across the centuries, and its relevance to the issues of the day.

Discussion of the book will occur in face-to-face conversations and groups, in print, and online. Individuals, families, youth groups, small Christian communities, and parishes are encouraged to discuss the text. Supporting materials will be available in The Messenger and online through blogs, chats, and weekly updates at www.ftfdiobelle.org.

The USCCA is available in bookstores and online. The diocese has secured a significant discount (using the promo code DB1212 when ordering at usccbpublishing.org).Catholic Charities of Southern Illinois and the Prison Literacy Program are working to encourage reading groups that study the text in the prisons of our region. Partnering with St. Vincent DePaul, they have developed a program to encourage literacy among those in prison and to provide copies of the USCCA to those imprisoned.

In this way, those who are imprisoned in our region will be able to participate. This “book group” will begin its reading and discussion in January 2012.

For information on how to support the prison literacy program, go to www.ccsil.org.