This document discusses faith during times of suffering through references to various people and events. It summarizes the story of St. Alphonsa and her ministry helping the poor, sick, orphaned and dying. It then describes the suffering of Christians in Orissa, India in 2007, where over 5,000 homes were burned, over 18,000 people were injured, and 93 people were killed. Finally, it discusses how faith can be inspired through suffering, referencing the stories of the burning bush and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego surviving the fiery furnace.
1. Year of Faith
Oct. 11, 2012-Nov. 24, 2013
It takes real spiritual maturity to stay faithful when things go wrong
2. "(Her) heroic virtues of patience, fortitude
and perseverance in the midst of deep
suffering remind us that God always
provides the strength we need to
overcome every trial“.
St Alphonsa
Sorrows to joy
3. For over 45 years, she ministered to poor, sick, orphaned & dying
When I pick up a person from the street, hungry, I give him a plate of
rice, a piece of bread, I have satisfied. I have removed that
hunger. But a person that is shut out, that feels unwanted,
unloved, terrified, the person that has been thrown out from
society—that poverty is so hurtable [sic] and so much, and I find
that very difficult."
14. 18,000
Men, women, children injured
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am
strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
Our neighbors ?
22. • We are not just statistics,
we all are one in Christ
• We are not beggars,
respect our dignity
• We are vulnerable,
not invulnerable.
• We are flesh and blood,
not steel and stone.
• We are men and women,
not cherubim and seraphim
Our true faith
is our stronghold
27. The inspiration
While tending his father-
in-law Jethro's sheep in
the land of Midian,
Moses saw a baffling
sight on Mount Horeb. A
bush was on fire, but it
did not burn up. Moses
went over to the burning
bush to investigate, and
the voice of God called
to him.
Messages through fire
28. Faith through fire
Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego were
bound and cast into the
flames. The fiery blast
was so hot it killed the
soldiers who had
escorted them. But as
King Nebuchadnezzar
peered into the furnace,
he marveled at what he
saw: "But I see four men
unbound, walking in the
midst of the fire, and
they are not hurt; and
the appearance of the
fourth is like a son of the
gods." Daniel 3:25
29. Burning Bush
a human interactive installation
prayer area
handouts
faith walk-through for visitors
photographs | stories of faith | scriptures | prayers | audio | video
Top view of installation = exhibits with participants in candle light
30. Year Of Faith Prayer
You desire justice for all:
enable us to uphold the rights of others;
do not allow us to be misled by ignorance
or corrupted by fear or favor.
Unite us to yourself in the bond of love
and keep us faithful to all that is true.
Ecumenism Pro-life
Love, respect, celebrate and
Initiatives aimed at
defend the gift, value and
greater Christian unity
dignity of human life in all
or cooperation
circumstances.
He had send us to proclaim release to the captives,
to set at liberty to those who are oppressed, to
proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
33. their pain
your support
faith transformed
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
