So, the religious education year will soon begin. Perhaps, you, like many, have been asked to teach for the first time. Perhaps you are nervous, anxious, and maybe even a little frightened. Whether it is your first year or your twenty-first, the beginning of the catechetical year in the parish can be a flurry of busyness: DREs are faced with a lack of catechists, time to prepare those catechists, the demands of safe environment requirements, and the list goes on.
Within this backdrop, it can be easy to miss the profound meaning and purpose at the root of serving as a catechist. For example, why are you a catechist? Is it simply because no one else could be found? Maybe it is because your heart was breaking at the thought of such an important need going unmet? Maybe you just love to pour your heart out to those children and watch them grow in faith? Maybe your heart has been moved to serve the Lord and His Church in some way and you are just not sure how? I invite you to reflect on the answers to these questions!
To all catechists, I’d say, no matter where you find yourselves, it can be easy to forget who you are as catechists; that is, who the Church says you are. We live in a time when “identity” is the buzz word. It shapes our politics, our laws and all facets of our lives. Yet so many of us suffer from an “identity crisis,” which in turn causes us to be nervous, to be anxious and yes, even to be frightened. Realizing your identity and walking in that reality are essential to overcoming this crisis. Who does the Church say you are as catechists?
First, the Church proclaims, “Catechists are truly the pride of the missionary Church;” a “praiseworthy army of lay apostles.”[1] Pope St. John Paul II affirms that the endeavors of catechists constitute a “fundamental evangelical service.” Indeed, “from the very beginning of Christianity and wherever there has been missionary activity, catechists have made, and continue to make, “an outstanding and indispensable contribution to the spread of the faith and of the Church.” Now, you are either feeling very intimidated at the moment or you are feeling very good about yourself. A “praiseworthy army of lay apostles.” Wow!
At the heart of this is the fundamental truth: every baptized person shares in the mission and call to advance the kingdom of God, but Catechists participate in this mission and call in an additional and unique way. At the origin of the catechist’s vocation, there is a specific call from the Holy Spirit, a mandate. It is important for the catechist to recognize the supernatural and ecclesial significance of this call. To be clear, I am using the language of the Church. Notice, “vocation.” You thought it was the overworked DRE looking for someone, anyone, to fill a spot; or Father doing the same! Nope! It just may be the Lord is inviting you to discern and cultivate some gifts you never knew you had!
We live in an age when there is an endless variety of catechetical programs and resources, especially here in the United States. Every publisher and content creator makes big promises for their programs. Some catechetical leaders reaffirm these promises without necessarily observing tangible fruit. I remember hosting a formation day for youth ministers. To my shock and horror, a youth minister stood up, touted a video-based program, and said: “It’s great! All you have to do is just press play.” Let me be clear: Catechesis is about making disciples. Pouring your life into your students, teaching them by your words, showing them the doctrine by your life, creating opportunities for them to apply what you have handed on to them. Ultimately, catechesis is allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through you so that Christ may be formed in your students by first allowing Him to be formed in you. That does not leave room for “just press play.”
Programs are tools. Every carpenter needs good tools. But a tool by itself cannot accomplish anything. Programs do not make disciples. People do. That said, the catechist is so important that the Church declares, “No method, no matter how well tested, can dispense with the person of the catechist in every phase of the catechetical process.”[2] This is because the catechist is essentially a mediator. The catechist facilitates communication between the people and the mystery of God as well as within the community.
St. John Paul II declared that the goal of all catechesis is to put people into deep and intimate communion, a meaningful personal relationship with Christ.[3] The catechist is an essential part of bringing those catechized into an intentional, genuine, and intimate life-long relationship with Christ. The catechist is handing on Christ Himself. In so far as the catechist is united to Him, the catechist extends an invitation to profound relationship with Christ by their words, their deeds, and their witness.
As Pope Francis says so perfectly, “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day.”[4] The catechist cannot give what he (or she) does not have. But neither can a video program or streaming platform. Yes, if you really want to help form Christ in the hearts and minds of those you teach, you are going to need this daily encounter. Otherwise, you might as well “just press play.”
Finally, in the hearts and minds of children (and even adults), the catechist will often be the model of Catholic faith and life; the guide who ushers them into the communal life of the Church; the person they will turn to not only to learn to pray, but also the person they will turn to when they stand in need of prayer. To be a catechist is a beautiful and noble thing. Is it challenging? Yes. Or maybe, YES! But how great is the reward! To lead just one person to life-long communion with Christ is worth even a lifetime of effort. Indeed, to be a catechist is something profound, something incredible; to truly catechize is to be Christ’s instrument – yes, He is teaching through you! Not just in the classroom, but beyond!
If after all of this, you feel that you cannot do this great task, that is a great place to be in! Because you are right. You cannot. But He can! He wants to do it through you! By the power of the Holy Spirit; through the work of His grace. You are not alone! Seek Him in prayer. Pray for your students. For your lessons. Take the time to prepare. Make an effort to really know your students. But above all, pray!
I promise! You can do this!
St John Bosco, pray for us!
[1] General Directory for Catechesis, 1
[2] GDC, 156
[3] Catechesi Tradendae, 5
[4] Evangelium Gaudium, 3