Catechesis: the heart of the Church

By Bernadette Gopaul-Ramkhalawan

Greetings to all catechists as we celebrate them in this month of September. September is set aside to celebrate catechesis and catechists. Why?

Catechesis is the foundation stone of our Church. The Church, the People of God, would not know what they belong to and who they are in Christ if there is no catechesis. Therefore, catechesis becomes the foundation for the life of the Church to grow and function.

Catechists are essential and must be celebrated if the Church is to grow and develop, as it meets the challenges of each age.

Dynamic times to live in

We are all aware of the times that we live in with all the individualism, materialism, wars, political unrest, migration, isolation, rising crime, alienation, stress, technological issues. One may ask the question: Where does faith or religion belong in today’s world?’.

While many of us would agree that faith and religion are the answer, there are still many obstacles to authentic faith and relationship with God. These are the challenges of catechesis in this time.

It certainly is a dynamic time to live in. God knew the needs of this time and created each of us to live in this period. God has placed in each of us the gifts and talents needed to fulfil our purpose in this time. Do you believe this? God is dynamic. Isn’t He?

Human connection

The Synod listening process revealed that people are crying out for authentic human relationships. People are crying out for healing, support, and companionship. These are essential to human growth and sustenance.

As catechists, we are called to help build these human relationships and build the people of God into a Eucharistic people. Doesn’t this vision seem like a glimpse of Heaven? Catechists are called to bring God’s Kingdom to reign on the Earth. This is the beginning of relationship with the human Jesus.

The family is central to all Catechesis

The central theme of the New Directory for Catechesis, promulgated in 2020 by Pope Francis, is ‘kerygmatic’ catechesis in and through the family. It is calling us to strengthen bonds within the family.

This is an evangelisation experience because people learn to love, care, respect, serve and minister to others within the family. The family is the nucleus of society. To transform society, we must transform the family.

The family is the place of evangelisation and catechists must provide these opportunities for families to know and love each other. Family catechesis is now integral to all faith formation. The content is about practising discipleship within the family.

Evangelisation through authentic human relationships

Evangelisation, encountering the Lord Jesus, a living God, comes through encounter with people. Jesus was human and divine, but we treat Jesus as though He is only divine.

Catechists must help people encounter the living God through the human and divine Jesus who walked the Earth more than 2000 years ago. We believe in a triune God and our way to the Godhead is through Jesus.

We need to pay attention to the value of human beings and the significance of our relationships here on Earth if we are to enjoy eternal life.

Authentic human relationships are about living the Eucharist. We are all part of one body called to love as Christ loved. To love is a real outpouring of the Holy Spirit. To love is to evangelise and it is the only way for the 21st century. Catechists must teach how to love and how to open ourselves to being loved.

Need for God’s grace

To develop and sustain authentic human relationships is not an easy thing. We need God’s grace, and we need to avail ourselves to God’s grace constantly. Catechists need to help people come into a relationship with God and avail themselves to God’s grace.

We cannot give what we do not have. We catechists must develop a sustained relationship with our Triune God and continuously avail ourselves to God’s grace. From this experience, we would be able to lead others to do the same.

Participating in Holy Mass, living our baptismal vows, having a disciplined prayer life, immersion in the Christian community, reflection on Sacred Scripture, frequenting the Sacrament of Reconciliation, devotions,  Adoration, allowing others to pray with us, praying for others, performing spiritual and corporal works of mercy all allow us to be available to God’s grace working in us.

It is important to note that any act to avail ourselves of God’s grace engages a person or people. When we engage people with no mask on, we begin valuable relationships with people which enriches our relationship with God and vice versa. These relationships are not an end but builds us into a Eucharistic people, allowing us to experience a foretaste of Heaven and promote God’s reign on Earth.