BRIDGEPORT—Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has invited all families in Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic schools and parish religious education programs to participate in a 33-day personal consecration from January 9 to February 11.
“I’m excited to invite you to this, for every family in our Catholic schools and in our programs of religious education are invited to participate as a family together: to pray together and to reflect together each day,” Bishop Caggiano said.
Each day, an email will be sent to all families to encourage them to share a story together, pray together, and engage in video catechesis together. At the end of the 33 days—on February 11, the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes—participants will be asked to consecrate themselves to Jesus through Mary. There is no celebration or commemoration, as this entire process is rooted in personal prayer and prayer together as a family.
Catechists and teachers have been given tools to participate with their classes, including the distribution of more than 10,000 rosaries, courtesy of the Institute for Catholic Formation.
Bishop Caggiano described the consecration as “an offering of ourselves and asking an intercession of Our Lady to continue to bless your family, that it may grow together in spirit, in joy, in hope and in faith in Jesus, the Lord.”
Moreover, the Institute encourages participation in the consecration as a way to ask Mary to bring a soul under her mantle of protection.
According to the Institute for Catholic Formation, “the soul brings all it has—past, present and future—to be placed at the disposal of Mary. In turn Our Lady takes the soul by the hand and guides it to its true home in Heaven while cultivating a multitude of fruits.”
Bishop Caggiano is hopeful this consecration will be just one aspect of his “The One” initiative, where families can encounter Christ together and accompany each other on their lifelong walks of discipleship.
“I thank you for becoming part of this journey, and promise to pray for you, that these 33 days will be a rich blessing for you and for your family,” the bishop said.
To learn more, visit www.formationreimagined.org/personal-consecration/
