ENCOUNTERING THE LIVING CHRIST:

CATECHETICAL SUNDAY 2007

Bishop Paul S. Coakley

The theme for Catechetical Sunday, which the Church in the United States celebrates this weekend, is “Catechesis: Encountering the Living Christ.”  Catechetical Sunday is our once a year occasion to celebrate a lifelong process.  Catechetical formation is the project of a lifetime. 

The New Testament gives us many examples of how faith is born, deepens and matures through various encounters with the person of Jesus Christ.  Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19) brings about a life changing conversion, indicated by his new name, Paul.  Catechesis helps people identify and reflect upon the meaning of the conversion events of their own lives. 

WHEN THE RISEN JESUS appeared to Peter on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias (Jn. 21:15-19) he asked him three times, “Peter, Do you love me?”  With each affirmative response, “Yes, Lord you know that I love you,” Jesus told him to care for his flock.  Jesus then warned Peter that this commitment would take him to places that he would rather not go.  Mature faith comes with a cost.  It makes demands upon our lives.

Finally, Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (Jn. 4:4-42) shows how those who are evangelized must become evangelizers.  After the Samaritan woman came to believe that Jesus was indeed the long awaited Messiah, she went off to tell others! She could not contain this good news; it had to be shared!  The lifelong process of faith formation begins with conversion; it facilitates growth to mature faith, and leads to active discipleship and stewardship.

Through effective catechesis we encounter with the living person of Jesus Christ, and through this encounter, we come to a deeper communion with Christ and his Church.  As we enter more deeply into this mystery new horizons open before us, until we arrive at the full maturity Christ has prepared for us as members of his Body, the Church.

AS MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH catechists are commissioned (often on this Sunday) to participate in this process by leading others to a deeper faith in Christ and commitment to his Church.  Catechists do not teach in their own name.  Their authority comes from the fact that they are handing on the teaching of Christ and his Church.  It is their own fidelity to Christ and his Church which gives their testimony its power.  

Catechetical ministry is the work of the whole Church.  It begins in the family through parents being involved in nurturing the faith of their children.  It is supported and deepened through various parish and diocesan catechetical ministries.   Our faith, celebrated and nourished by the Church’s liturgy, grows and matures also through effective parish religious education programs, Catholic schools, retreats, service programs for youth, and adult education offerings.   Ultimately, catechetical ministry seeks to opens our minds and hearts to know the length and the breadth, the heights and depths of Christ’s love for us.  It prepares us to be his witnesses in the world and generous stewards of his many gifts. 

Published The Register, Sept. 14, 2007