WHAT IS CATECHETICS?
Back in 1935, the Sacred Congregation of the Clergy decreed: “In order that the minds of Christian people may be directed to religious instruction, let a Catechetical Day be established in each parish community.” We pledge our support, prayers and encouragement for all who teach the faith in our parish communities. We thank each person who specifically chooses to be a parish catechist of the faith.
The word Catechesis is Greek for (to sound forth.) A catechist is an individual who shares God’s world and the Church teaching with others. A catechism is a book containing the essentials of faith. Today we use the term Religious Education text for instruction. The term catechumen is used for an unbaptized person who has entered into the Christian formation process. (RCIA) In 1935, few people imagined the role lay people would have in catechesis or religious formation. At that time, it was solidly in the hands of Religious Brothers, Sisters and Priests.
By our Baptism EVERY CHRISTIAN is called to spread the faith in thought, word, and deed. This means we are all catechists. Some people are uniquely call to catechize: namely-parents, catechists/religious educator of children.
Catechists are essential to all religious education programs. Each year dedicated men and women take on this role in our parish program and for this we say THANK YOU. It is only with Parent Involvement that the real goal of religious education- the passing on of the faith to our children- becomes possible. A parish catechist assists but the parent accepts the responsibility for leading the children to the freedom of being a child of God, and the duty of raising the child to follow God’s law just as Jesus taught us.