ABOUT US/ABOUT THE FLEET
About Us
The Catholic Navigator is the lay apostolate of a small group of Catholic religious educators, each with a specific area of expertise, who are committed to a fuller appreciation of the Sunday Liturgy and to keeping the Faith alive and vibrant.
Our apostolate was shaped by reflection on Pope Benedict XVI’s 2011 Apostolic Letter, Porta Fidei, in which he announced the Year of Faith celebrated during Liturgical Year 2013. The Holy Father stressed as essential the knowledge of the content of the Faith we profess weekly in the Creed (Credo) at Mass. He cited as resources Blessed Paul VI’s Credo of the People of God, Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated by St. John Paul II.
Pope Benedict also noted that “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith” was the theme of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (convoked October 2012). Our American Bishops (USCCB) saw this theme as an opportunity to “usher the whole Church into a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith.” They then followed by initiating The New Evangelization – all Catholics are called to learn their Faith and take this Good News into the world.
This is the mission of the Catholic Navigator Apostolate.
To help us in our endeavors, our apostolate has been blessed with the talents of two professionals:
Nancy Chifala of Chifala Designs, coordinator of all graphics, print, and design work.
Jenifer Schneider, Artist-in-Residence. All artwork is original and copyrighted to TheCathoicNavigator.org.
About the Fleet: Faith Supplements
The Catholic Navigator was launched on December 1, 2013, the first Sunday of Advent. Our idea at that time was to build publications into a “fleet” that would serve to catechize, or echo the truths of the faith to the entire family. Formatted as a double-sided, single sheet, each weekly print issue provides information and reflection associated with the upcoming Sunday Scriptural Readings, seasons, events, and persons memorialized in the liturgical year. Both publications work to pass on the same truths of the Faith in language appropriate for that readership. And, while the younger ones would be reading more age-appropriate language, the same truths would be treated in the publications geared toward parents, aunts/uncles, and grandparents.
Reference is regularly made to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). Any short excerpts cite the specific paragraph number (e.g., CCC 1324) in accordance with the guidelines for permitted use published by the copyright holder, the United States Catholic Conference, Inc. To further assure fidelity to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church –the Magisterium– each issue has received permission to publish (imprimatur) which is so noted and dated.
The Catholic Tugboat, first launched in 2014, has been refitted to serve the needs of third to fifth graders.
*Note Well: The ‘Tug’ is a tool for parents, the primary catechists of the Catholic faith (see CCC 2226, 2372), and teachers. This means that the child will learn and be formed only when led and taught by an adult significant in the child’s life.
The Catholic Navigator is designed for those with a foundation in the Faith– including its unique vocabulary, history, traditions, and sensibilities– who still want to refresh their education or learn anew!
For more information about us, comments or inquiries, please Contact Us.