|
EDUCATE
|
|
EDUCATE
"Catechesis, being at the service of ongoing education in the faith, exists in relationship with the different dimensions of the Christian life.
a. Catechesis and Sacred Scripture. Knowledge of Sacred Scripture is essential for making progress in the life of faith; its centrality in catechesis makes it possible to transmit salvation history in a lively way, and a "knowledge of biblical personages, events and well-known sayings should therefore thus be encouraged.
b. Catechesis, liturgy and the sacraments. It is necessary that there be both catechesis that prepares for the sacraments and a mystagogical catechesis that fosters an understanding and a deeper experience of the liturgy.
c. Catechesis, charity and witness: Charity is not only a sign of the reception of the Gospel, but also a privileged way of accessing the Gospel: "he who loves is born of God and knows God' (1 Jn 4:7'
- (DC #74)
ECHO THE TEACHING
The root word, "catechesis," is from a Greek word meaning "to echo, or resound." Catechesis is the act of resounding or bringing the Church's teachings to the world.The name of catechesis was given to the whole of the efforts within the Church to make disciples, to help people to believe that Jesus is the Son of God...and to educate and instruct them in this life and thus build up the Body of Christ. (Catechesi Tradendae #1) The word catechesis comes from the Greek meaning "to echo the teaching" meaning that catechesis or the teaching of the faith is an interactive process in which the Word of God re-sounds between and among the proclaimer, the one receiving the message, and the Holy Spirit! Catechesis is a life-long process of initial conversion, formation, education, and on-going conversion. Through word, worship, service and community, it seeks to lead all God's people to an ever deepening relationship with God who reveals himself in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Catechesis takes many forms and includes the initiation of adults, youth and children as well as the intentional and systematic effort to enable all to grow in faith and discipleship.
TASKS OF CATECHESIS (Directory for Catechesis # 79 -88)
In order to form believers for an integral Christian life, catechesis therefor pursues the following tasks:
1. Leading to knowledge of the faith
The believer is introduced to the knowledge of Sacred Scripture and of the Church's living Tradition, fosters knowledge of the Creed. It is important not to underestimate this cognitive dimension of the faith and be attentive to integrating it into the educational process of integral Christian maturation.
2. Initiating into the celebration of the mystery
Through this task, catechesis helps the believer to understand the importance of the liturgy in the Church's life, initiates him into the knowledge of the sacraments and into sacramental life, especially the sacrament of the Eucharist. Catechesis educates the believer in the attitudes that the Church's celebrations require joy, community, attentive listening, prayer, praise, thanksgiving and awareness of symbols and signs. Catechesis teaches the believer to understand the liturgical year, the significance of Sunday and of the Christian community. Catechesis also aids in the appreciation of the expressions of faith found in popular piety.
3. Forming for the life in Christ
This task of educating the believer to the good life of the Gospel involves the Christian formation of the moral conscience, so that in every circumstance, he may listen to the Father's will in order to discern, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in harmony with the law of Christ. This tasks accompanies the believer's response to his vocation to holiness. Catechesis instructs the believer in following the Lord according to the dispositions described in the Beatitudes. It is important to teach the believer to draw from the commandment of charity and from the virtues, both human and Christian. Moral instruction in catechesis is therefore always imparted against a vocational background, looking first of all at one's life as the first and fundamental vocation. Every form of catechesis is to do all it can to illustrate the dignity of Christian vocation, to provide accompaniment in the discernment of specific vocations, to help the believer to solidify his state in life.
4. Teaching prayer
Catechesis has the task of educating the believer for prayer and in prayer, developing the contemplative dimension of Christian experience. It is necessary to teach him to pray with Jesus Christ and like him. This task implies the teaching of both personal prayer and liturgical prayer and community prayer, initiating the believer into the permanent forms of prayer: blessing and adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.
5. Introduction to community life
The faith is professed, celebrated, expressed and lived above all in community. Catechesis, in reference to preparation for community life, therefore has the task of developing a sense of belonging to the Church; teaching the sense of ecclesial communion, promoting the acceptance of the Magisterium, communion with pastors, fraternal dialogue; forming believers in a sense of ecclesial co-responsibility, contributing as active participants to building up the community and as missionary disciples to its growth.
"Catechesis, being at the service of ongoing education in the faith, exists in relationship with the different dimensions of the Christian life.
a. Catechesis and Sacred Scripture. Knowledge of Sacred Scripture is essential for making progress in the life of faith; its centrality in catechesis makes it possible to transmit salvation history in a lively way, and a "knowledge of biblical personages, events and well-known sayings should therefore thus be encouraged.
b. Catechesis, liturgy and the sacraments. It is necessary that there be both catechesis that prepares for the sacraments and a mystagogical catechesis that fosters an understanding and a deeper experience of the liturgy.
c. Catechesis, charity and witness: Charity is not only a sign of the reception of the Gospel, but also a privileged way of accessing the Gospel: "he who loves is born of God and knows God' (1 Jn 4:7'
- (DC #74)
ECHO THE TEACHING
The root word, "catechesis," is from a Greek word meaning "to echo, or resound." Catechesis is the act of resounding or bringing the Church's teachings to the world.The name of catechesis was given to the whole of the efforts within the Church to make disciples, to help people to believe that Jesus is the Son of God...and to educate and instruct them in this life and thus build up the Body of Christ. (Catechesi Tradendae #1) The word catechesis comes from the Greek meaning "to echo the teaching" meaning that catechesis or the teaching of the faith is an interactive process in which the Word of God re-sounds between and among the proclaimer, the one receiving the message, and the Holy Spirit! Catechesis is a life-long process of initial conversion, formation, education, and on-going conversion. Through word, worship, service and community, it seeks to lead all God's people to an ever deepening relationship with God who reveals himself in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Catechesis takes many forms and includes the initiation of adults, youth and children as well as the intentional and systematic effort to enable all to grow in faith and discipleship.
TASKS OF CATECHESIS (Directory for Catechesis # 79 -88)
In order to form believers for an integral Christian life, catechesis therefor pursues the following tasks:
1. Leading to knowledge of the faith
The believer is introduced to the knowledge of Sacred Scripture and of the Church's living Tradition, fosters knowledge of the Creed. It is important not to underestimate this cognitive dimension of the faith and be attentive to integrating it into the educational process of integral Christian maturation.
2. Initiating into the celebration of the mystery
Through this task, catechesis helps the believer to understand the importance of the liturgy in the Church's life, initiates him into the knowledge of the sacraments and into sacramental life, especially the sacrament of the Eucharist. Catechesis educates the believer in the attitudes that the Church's celebrations require joy, community, attentive listening, prayer, praise, thanksgiving and awareness of symbols and signs. Catechesis teaches the believer to understand the liturgical year, the significance of Sunday and of the Christian community. Catechesis also aids in the appreciation of the expressions of faith found in popular piety.
3. Forming for the life in Christ
This task of educating the believer to the good life of the Gospel involves the Christian formation of the moral conscience, so that in every circumstance, he may listen to the Father's will in order to discern, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in harmony with the law of Christ. This tasks accompanies the believer's response to his vocation to holiness. Catechesis instructs the believer in following the Lord according to the dispositions described in the Beatitudes. It is important to teach the believer to draw from the commandment of charity and from the virtues, both human and Christian. Moral instruction in catechesis is therefore always imparted against a vocational background, looking first of all at one's life as the first and fundamental vocation. Every form of catechesis is to do all it can to illustrate the dignity of Christian vocation, to provide accompaniment in the discernment of specific vocations, to help the believer to solidify his state in life.
4. Teaching prayer
Catechesis has the task of educating the believer for prayer and in prayer, developing the contemplative dimension of Christian experience. It is necessary to teach him to pray with Jesus Christ and like him. This task implies the teaching of both personal prayer and liturgical prayer and community prayer, initiating the believer into the permanent forms of prayer: blessing and adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.
5. Introduction to community life
The faith is professed, celebrated, expressed and lived above all in community. Catechesis, in reference to preparation for community life, therefore has the task of developing a sense of belonging to the Church; teaching the sense of ecclesial communion, promoting the acceptance of the Magisterium, communion with pastors, fraternal dialogue; forming believers in a sense of ecclesial co-responsibility, contributing as active participants to building up the community and as missionary disciples to its growth.
OUR OFFICE... assists parishes in evaluating and planning for a whole and comprehensive catechetical process for families and their children, adults, special needs and sacramental preparation for First Eucharist and Confirmation. We provide various models of catechesis to explore and support systematic catechesis with curriculum guidelines.
For more information regarding catechesis as the ongoing education of the faith
-
- https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2020/12/parent-sacramental-prep-and-evangelization-free-videos/
- coming soon- Curriculum Guidelines for Parish Catechetical Programs
- BuildingFaith@HOME weekly faith builders for families
- Models of Catechetical Programs for Parishes
Did you find an interesting article or resource supporting evangelizing catechesis? If so, please share with us so that we might share with others!
Email your findings to aslaven@syrdio.org
Email your findings to aslaven@syrdio.org