Nun inspires week of small acts with love

Little Way Week is the brainchild of the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE) and will run from the 18 to 24 October 2009.

It is inspired by the spiritual teaching on the ‘little way’ of St Thérèse of Lisieux. As Patroness of the Missions, St Thérèse lived by this pathway which is a commitment to do every day small tasks with love.

The week will start as the national tour of England and Wales of the relics of St Thérèse finishes.

Interim CASE Team Leader, Clare Ward, said: "We don’t always need to use words to evangelise.

"Small daily acts and gestures can powerfully witness to others of the love and mercy of God."

In preparation for the week resources are being provided to encourage and help Catholics to decide which seven small actions they will do to witness to their faith through service.

Daily ‘little way’ ideas will be distributed by SMS text message. Additional ideas and resources will be provided on the website www.littlewayweek.org.uk to support people to reach out to others with the love of Jesus Christ.

The hope is that the initiative may also encourage people to consider volunteering with a Catholic charitable organisation long term as an expression of Catholic mission.

Ms Ward said: "The hope is that every member of the Catholic community will feel equipped, enthused and resourced to get involved in this seven day national outreach.

"Please consider taking some little steps to signpost people to Jesus Christ. The 'little way' is simple, direct and something that everyone can get involved with whatever age they are."

Advance information and resources about the initiative have been sent to every parish to coincide with Home Mission Sunday on 20 September, which is a day of prayer for the spread of the Gospel in England and Wales. It is hoped that this will give people time to reflect on their possible involvement in the week.

The liturgical materials provided for the Sunday are themed “They will know Him by the good works that you do”, and invite people to consider how they can witness to their faith through service, being aware of the ‘little’ opportunities that present themselves to explain the reason for their actions in response to the love of Christ.

More than 270,000 leaflets have been distributed to parishes and religious houses across England and Wales.

The Rt Rev Kieran Conry, Chair of the Bishops’ Conference Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis, said: "It is the task of every parish and baptised person to break open for others the meaning of Jesus’ story through witnessing to their faith through loving service.

"This initiative challenges us to take a fresh look at how we can show the face of God by the good works, small and large, that we do in daily life. I encourage you to take part in this 'little' week of evangelistic service and before that to celebrate Home Mission Sunday in your parish."