Register Radio: Putting Out into the Digital Deep & Advent

Cindy Black and Lisa Hendey

Today on Register Radio, Cindy Black, director of the Office of Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministry with the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind. spoke about the launch of their innovative "My Year of Faith" mobile app and blog.

Black described how the initiative came to be through an idea raised by the Curia as a way to reach those who may not be engaged in the life of the Church during the Year of Faith.

She said that after the idea was raised, it took Little i Apps, a local developer, about two months to create.

"Each day there is a post that gets people to think about their faith and the beauty of our faith," said Black. "There are also prayers, calendars, and challenges to help people live out their faith in the course of their day."

For those without access to an Android or iPhone, the daily reflections are available through the connected My Year of Faith blog.

The beauty of the mobile app, said Black is that people can access it wherever they are - while waiting somewhere or in the car.

"One of our goals is to get people into Church documents and the Catechism of the Catholic Church by pulling out short excerpts," said Black. "We want to encourage them to not be intimidated by encyclicals or Church letters."


Advent

In our second half, Lisa Hendey, editor and founder of CatholicMom.com spoke about her new Advent devotional book, "O Radiant Dawn."

"The beauty of our liturgical calendar is that we have the opportunity to start anew as we begin a new Church year," said Hendey.

The book, Hendey described, consists of short five minute prayer services that individuals or families can utilize each day of Advent.

"The leader quietly invites the family into prayer," explained Hendey. "The family can sing a verse of 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel,' and then a reader can read the brief Scripture passage taken from the lectionary. There's a moment for silent prayer, and then there are two sets of reflection questions - one for children, the other for those who are older - to promote the themes of Advent. Each reflection ends with a closing prayer, the Sign of the Cross, and the acclamation: 'Come let us walk in the light of the Lord.'"

Hendey also provided tips for getting the un-engaged teen to participate.

For those tips, and to listen to the entire show tune in at 2 p.m. EASTERN Friday on any EWTN Radio affiliate or Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. The program re-airs at 7 p.m. EASTERN on Saturday and 11 a.m. EASTERN on Sunday, and is also available on the Register Radio web page, and via podcast.