The new site will aggregate stories, multimedia treatments and social media sites that deal with the yearlong celebration of the Catholic faith.
"We at Loyola University New Orleans are excited about this collaboration for a number of reasons. It represents a way for Catholic higher education and the Catholic media to work together," said Institute for Ministry director Tom Ryan. "It will facilitate publicity about the Year of Faith by gathering in one place the range of information about it, from event announcements to content in print and online media."
Ryan added that the site is a "resource for those who want to grow spiritually during this time."
"CNS is delighted to partner with the Loyola Institute for Ministry in this excellent project," said Tony Spence, director and editor in chief of CNS. "It will be a great repository for resources on the Year of Faith and new evangelization, locally, regionally, nationally, and even across countries. Users also can post information in English and Spanish."
The site can be found online at http://lim.loyno.edu/yearoffaith
Also supporting the project is the Catholic Press Association of the U.S. and Canada, which is working with the Loyola Institute on other Catholic media projects.
"We have been working on closer collaboration between the Catholic press and Catholic higher education. The Year of Faith project is a great way for both apostolates can work together for the benefit of the greater church," said Tim Walter, CPA executive director.
Earlier this year, Pope Benedict XVI called for a worldwide celebration of a Year of Faith to kick off the new evangelization, which is an effort for Catholics to deepen their personal faith, as well as a call to Catholics who have separated themselves from the faith to return and share the faith with those who have had no experience with Christ.
The pope opened the Year of Faith in a Mass at St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 11, marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council in 1962. The year will close Nov. 24, 2013.
The site was conceived following a recent webinar on the Year of Faith hosted by the Loyola Institute and CPA.
The new website is available to all Catholic media, dioceses, education institutions and other Catholic apostolates to post everything from news and faith-sharing stories to local and national events throughout the year. Both Loyola and CNS are beginning to populate the site with its first materials.
The Loyola Institute for Ministry is a division of the College of Social Sciences of Loyola University New Orleans.
It provides graduate and certification programs in English and Spanish, pastoral studies, theology, spirituality and religious education.
Its highly regarded LIMEX program, an extension program for educating pastoral associates and others, has been used by more than 50 dioceses in the U.S. and around the world.