To the Courage and EnCourage Community: 

I am pleased to announce that on 28 November 2016, Most Rev. Frank Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, signed a decree establishing Courage International as a diocesan clerical public association of the faithful. This act gives the Courage and EnCourage apostolate official canonical status in the Roman Catholic Church and recognizes our connection to the hierarchy. This is an important step in our ultimate goal of being recognized as a universal public association under the supervision of the Holy See. ... [read more]

The Code of Canon Law states that public associations of the faithful are established so that "the Christian faithful ... [may] strive in a common endeavor to foster a more perfect life, to promote ... Christian doctrine," and "to exercise other works of the apostolate such as initiatives of evangelization, works of piety or charity, and those which animate the temporal order with a Christian spirit" (canon 298.1). I know you will join me in fervent prayer that the establishment of Courage International as a public association of the faithful will give us even greater resources and motivation for carrying out these lofty purposes as we strive together in pursuit of the goals of Courage and EnCourage.

Sincerely, 

Fr. Philip Bochanski

Executive Director

Read Fr. Bochanski's entire letter