Every year, on the third Sunday of September, the Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday, when those in each parish community who have been designated to serve as catechists may be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry.
Catechist is a distinct and special ministry in the Church and was instituted as such by Pope Francis in May of 2021 with his Apostolic Letter, “Antiquum Ministerium” – a ministry with ancient origins.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops notes that “Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith.”
In the Diocese of Metuchen, a number of parishes held commissioning and blessing services for catechists, including those pictured above