The USCCB has designated the third Sunday of September as “Catechetical Sunday” and several parishes across the Diocese of Metuchen marked the day, which fell on Sept. 15 this year, with a blessing of parish catechists at the end of Mass. Many parishes also hosted a special gathering following this blessing as a sign of appreciation and as the official launch of the catechetical year in their parish religious education programs. This special recognition of parish catechists gives rise to the opportunity to reflect upon the role of the parish catechist.
In any discussion of catechesis, it is important to note that parents are the primary catechists of their children. The witness of parents practicing and living out the Catholic Faith is paramount to the formation of their children. A poor or absent witness in the home cannot be overcome by even the best of parish catechists. The efforts of a parish catechist in no way usurp the efforts of parents as primary catechists. A good parish catechist, however, can provide an additional powerful witness and can assist parents by offering a catechetical experience in support of the formation efforts of parents.
A misconception exists that a catechist is a teacher in the same way that a math or social studies teacher is a teacher and that all teachers make good catechists. This idea reflects a misunderstanding of both the aim of catechesis and the most important quality of a good catechist. Although classroom experience and formal training as a teacher can aid a catechist in the catechetical classroom, the most important quality of a good catechist is his or her relationship with Jesus.
A top-notch classroom teacher that has no relationship with Jesus can sometimes do more harm than good in the catechetical setting because he or she does not embrace the type of knowledge needed to be a good catechist. This teacher tends to aim for ‘head’ knowledge only rather than ‘heart’ knowledge and can mislead his or her students down an intellectual path that serves to distance them from Jesus. How can a catechist that does not desire to receive the Eucharist lead children to have that desire? How can a catechist that does not embrace the Sacrament of Reconciliation lead children to want to cleanse their souls by celebrating the sacrament?
A catechist can receive instruction in classroom management strategies and lesson planning for evangelization. Great classroom resources and catechetical texts can and should be utilized in the catechetical environment to ensure that catechists are providing an age appropriate, engaging, systematic and organic presentation of the Faith, as mandated by the magisterium of the Church. These things can help a parish catechist present a captivating lesson in a well-managed classroom, but a parish catechist that does not have the heart knowledge of Jesus cannot pass on what he or she does not have.
Good catechists begin their preparation for their classroom sessions on their knees in prayer and embrace the teachings of the Church in their hearts and minds and long for others to do the same. They call on the Holy Spirit to work through them to provide their students an encounter with Jesus that will settle in the hearts and minds of the students when they leave the classroom. The ultimate mission of the parish catechist, and the mission of the Church, is to help their students “share in the communion between the Father and the Son in their Spirit of love” (CCC, 850).
As the busy catechetical year unfolds, let us pray that the Holy Spirit guides the hearts and minds of our catechists and that their efforts bear much fruit in the hearts and minds of our precious children.
Jill Kerekes, is diocesan director, Office of Discipleship Formation for Children