On the third Sunday in September, the Church in the United States celebrates Catechetical Sunday, an opportunity to recognize, thank, and commission those who have committed themselves to hand on the treasure of our Catholic faith to others. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate the baptismal call of all the faithful to serve others and the specific call to the ministry of catechesis. Parents, as the first teachers of the faith, are the primary catechists of their children. Those called to be catechists within our parish partner with parents in handing on the faith. The whole parish family shares in and supports this awesome task through liturgical celebrations, adult faith formation opportunities and other aspects of parish life. I wish to thank our catechist (the deacons/acolytes, religious and lay women and men who teach the faith in our church and school religious education programs and adult formation events) for the great contribution you make in our parish by your service to the Word. I am aware of your solicitude and pastoral zeal. I know that you employ the best techniques, means and resources to promote evangelization and catechesis in every area and for all age groups: children, adolescents, young people and adults. May God reward you for this work and grant you a share in the reward promised to those who work for the Gospel. I remain close to you in prayerful solidarity; I follow your ministry with affection; and I admire your enthusiasm and encourage the important work you have been doing in the name of the Church. 

In his Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae, our Holy Father of happy memory, Pope St. John Paul II wrote, “At the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, ‘the only Son from the Father…full of grace and truth’ (1 Jn 1:3), who suffered and died for us and who now after rising, is living with us forever” (No. 5). With these words, our late Holy Father wanted to remind the entire Church that Christ Jesus is the living center of catechesis, and through Christ, we are drawn into communion with God the Father through the Holy Spirit. Today, the term catechesis is often understood in as "things to be done," "activities to be organized" or "programs to be drawn up and realized." In itself this is a laudable task since proclaiming the Gospel cannot be separated from competent use of the methods and means necessary for its proclamation. However, the question of catechesis is not about a method or a program but about a person – preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. The renewal of catechesis will not depend on great programs and structures, but on men and women who internalize the call of the Gospel, as disciples of Jesus Christ and missionaries of His Kingdom. In our task of evangelization and catechesis, God asks us to accompany people in the journey of the faith. The Lord already dwells in their heart, given that He always precedes us. As Catechists, our task will be simply to help to unveil, to make explicit, the presence of Him who is already present and has the power to fill every life.

The General Directory for Catechesis states: "Catechesis is a shared but differentiated responsibility. Bishops, priests, deacons, religious and the lay faithful play their part, each according to their respective responsibilities and charisms" (No. 216). There are four areas which best touch upon and complete the formation of catechists whose object is to facilitate the communication of the Christian message under the following headings: spiritual; doctrinal; anthropological; methodological. 

When the Church fulfills Her mission of catechizing, She must be completely conscious that She is acting as a living instrument that is docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The attitude of the teaching Church and of every catechist must be one of communion with Jesus and of trying to discern His authentic inspiration, (cf. Catechesi Tradendae, 72). The catechist is therefore continually drawn by the experience of the Spirit, the giver of all charisms and ministries. Discovery of the Lord and His Word of truth, life and peace is the basic presupposition that must be developed and that must be intensified in a passionate spiritual journey. In carrying out their task, catechists accomplish much more than simply teaching a doctrine. They are witnesses to and sharers in a mystery that they live and lovingly communicate to others. Nemo dat quod non habet (No one gives what he has not got). 

"True formation, above all, nourishes the spirituality of the catechist, so that his activity springs in truth from his own witness of life" (GDC, 239). Solid spirituality is nourished by personal and communal meditation on the Word of God, an intense liturgical and sacramental life that frequently brings the catechist to the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Penance, continued reflection on personal experience of the Christian life and by recourse to spiritual direction. More explicitly, the catechist —Nourishes trust and confidence in the fatherhood of God. The Catechist dialogues with Him and makes himself ready to fulfill His will in the concrete circumstances of everyday life. As part of appropriate and ongoing spiritual formation, the catechist: 

•    Appropriates the choices made by Jesus Christ, the master, and follows the image of Christ "the teacher who is at once majestic and familiar, impressive and reassuring" (Catechesi Tradendae, 8). Only in deep communion with Jesus will catechists find light and strength for an authentic and desirable renewal of catechesis. 

•    Bases his knowledge of God and his spirituality on Sacred Scripture, which is the constant source of preaching and salvation. The catechist also bases it on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is a perennial resource for a systematic updating and deepening of faith for everyone involved in the pastoral ministry and, indeed, for every Christian (cf. Osservatore Romano, Sept. 8, 1998, address of John Paul II, 2). Finally, the catechist bases it on the liturgy, which is the culminating expression of tradition and life and an unfailing wellspring for catechesis. 

•    Develops a desire for prayer and adoration as well as for thanksgiving, penance, familiarity with those signs that indicate the presence of God and that communicate Him in various ways. 

•    Constantly refers to Mary, who is "a living catechism and the mother and model of catechists" (Catechesi Tradendae, 73). 

•    Appropriates the hopes and expectations, the joys and sorrows of the people of God and shares in the problems of the Christian faithful. 

We have made great strides in the area of catechesis and evangelization at Divine Mercy Parish. The attention initially directed toward school-age children has extended to their parents and families through ongoing initiatives in parental and family formation. Ministries are underway to reach out to our adolescence (EDGE), teenagers (Life Teen) and young adults (Christ in the City). Parishioners gather together to share the Word of God in numerous Bible studies or to reflect on various theological topics through our commitment to adult faith formation. Others come to the Parish to request baptism or to become fully initiated into the Catholic Church and to register for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The Word of God echoes within the hearts of the sick and shut-ins mainly because believers take the time to visit them and to talk with them. The poor, forsaken, imprisoned and those living on the fringe of society meet Jesus Christ through those parishioners who care for them in their surroundings. Through all these initiatives, catechesis and evangelization take on a new look. All in the parish are invited to embrace these initiatives, to be catechized and to be an authentic catechetical witness to others.

There is a greater need than ever for catechists who are truly faithful to Christ and His Church. There is a need for joyful, committed catechists renewed in fervor. Dear sisters and brothers, with you, I want to express my gratitude for the many hours of time and effort which our catechists have spent aiding others to encounter the Lord Jesus and so be drawn into a vital and intimate relationship with Him. I pray that, together with our catechists, all of us will come to an ever deeper knowledge and love of Christ, Who lives forever and Who invites each of us to share in His life. May the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless you all. Do not tire of sowing!