Christ Jesus, the Way 

Knowing our weaknesses, we turn confidently to Jesus Christ, the Way.

Each person shares in God’s image and likeness and holds inalienable dignity. Jesus sees the Father in us and recognizes us as siblings and co-heirs in glory. He comes to us as savior, prophet, brother, friend and companion, drawing close and desiring us to accompany him on the faithful way — the way to the Father’s house, guided by the Holy Spirit and the Church.

Christ Jesus, the Truth

Recognizing our limitations to know and do God’s will, we cling to Jesus Christ, the Truth.

The faithful way compels us to discern and accept God’s will in our lives. His will speaks to us not as a distant voice but as the “still, small voice” resonating in our hearts. The Psalmist sings: “Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways you are familiar” (Ps 139:1-6).

God’s will is our path to enriching the common good, building a culture of life and ensuring authentic human flourishing. It is the source of abundant life offered in Jesus Christ.

Today’s society dismisses truth or claims many variations of it. Amid such confusion, there is certainty in Christ’s truth, revealed in his life, teachings and the Paschal mystery. With Jesus as our foundation, we rely on the unchanging truths of Catholic and apostolic faith contained without error in sacred Scripture and tradition.

Christ Jesus, the Life

Acknowledging our wayward hearts and desire to live for ourselves, we turn to Jesus Christ, the Life.

Following the faithful way, God reveals his will to us. Once known, it compels us to action and motivates us to take up our cross, die to ourselves and live for Christ.

As Jesus came as one like us — loving with a human heart, working with human hands, shedding human tears — we see in him the perfection of our human nature and what it means to live as God’s children.

In Christ, we seek to live as God’s children, thinking beyond ourselves, showing mercy and compassion, welcoming all as brothers and sisters, offering our bodies as living sacrifices and transforming our minds to discern God’s will.

The way of love

The faithful way is not easy. It requires much from us. It is not the way of the proud, greedy, selfish, unforgiving or envious.

The faithful way is about love willing to die to itself to serve the good in others. Jesus tells us: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?” (Mt 16:24-26).

In Jesus Christ, we live the abundant life.

Learn more 

Excerpts from Via Fidelis - The Faithful Way pastoral letter 2025-2030. Read the full pastoral letter and learn about each year’s theme at charlestondiocese.org/via-fidelis.