WASHINGTON—A new website will help Catholics respond to Jesus’ call to be “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” found in the Matthew’s Gospel. WeAreSaltAndLight.org, a project of the U.S. bishops’ Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, includes:

• More than 50 inspiring stories of real Catholic communities being Salt & Light.
• Over 100 resources on praying, reaching out, learning and acting together.
• Assessment tools to find ways to grow as faith-filled disciples at home and abroad.

An introductory video.

The website equips Catholics to live out Pope Francis’ call to “go forth” on mission. It also seeks to help Catholic communities—especially parishes, dioceses, schools, universities, seminaries, religious communities, and ecclesial movements—to carry out the vision of the U.S. bishops’ 1994 document, Communities of Salt & Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish.

“WeAreSaltAndLight.org is an excellent tool to help parishes, schools, universities, and other Catholic communities form disciples who pray, reach out, learn and act together,” said Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, New Mexico, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace.

“Salt preserves and flavors, light heals and warms. As missionary disciples who have encountered the living Christ we are called to share the joy of the Gospel with all. May this website serve as a tool to assist us in our vocation to be communities of salt and light in our world today,” said Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami, chairman of the Domestic Justice and Human Development Committee of the U.S. bishops.

Success stories on the site include accounts of Catholics praying and acting to end human trafficking, groups mobilizing to end the death penalty, and a parish in the United States finding solidarity with a sister parish in Guatemala.

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Keywords: We are Salt and Light, Communities of Salt & Light, Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish, USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Justice, Peace and Human Development, Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, Bishop Oscar Cantú

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Norma Montenegro Flynn
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Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops