LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

"Proclaiming Christ to a New Generation"

Dear Friend in Christ,

Thank you for your interest in forming a CUF chapter in your locality. Your interest shows that you are aware of the Church's call to all lay people to participate in spreading and building up the Kingdom of Christ and that you embrace CUF's particular response to this call.

There is, however, a little more to starting a CUF chapter than just the desire to do so. Obviously, there is work to be done in organizing your group and following the necessary procedures to become chartered as a CUF chapter. We've tried to simplify these steps as much as possible, and our staff is committed to assisting you throughout the chapter formation process.

Even more, it is essential that the leaders of the prospective chapter understand and fully reflect the authentic spirit of CUF. In 1968, H. Lyman Stebbins founded CUF to support, defend, and advance the efforts of the teaching Church. He strove to faithfully implement the teachings of Vatican II concerning the lay apostolate. He also keenly realized that all apostolic endeavors must begin with one's ongoing interior renewal in Christ. He therefore stressed the fundamental importance of prayer and penance, growth in virtue, and sound doctrinal formation, without which our efforts will not bear good fruit.

There are many ways of serving the Church; CUF's way is only one of them, but it is what it is. Each chapter must understand this and conform to CUF's mission in essentials, even as we encourage our chapters to develop diverse programs and outreaches that are most suited to their particular needs. Therefore, we must insist that chapters in letter and spirit remain on the same page with CUF's headquarters. Otherwise, we will not have 100 chapters networked in a single organization, but 100 distinct and diverging organizations.

Please take the time to learn as much as possible about CUF's approach and tone and see whether you really agree with them. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to write to me. Then, when you are sure that you share CUF's "spirit," you must do all you can to make sure others who are active in your chapter share it as much as possible. If you do that, we will have the makings of a chapter that can do much good for its members, for the wider apostolate of CUF, and for our Holy Church.

United in the Faith,

Leon J. Suprenant, Jr.
President, Catholics United for the Faith