'Who do you say I am?'

September is a month of anticipation, hope and new beginnings as children and young people begin classes and activities, and adults fill their calendars with plans, meetings and special events.

This Sunday, Sept. 17, is a date that should be circled in red as a very special event in the life of children, young people and adults in our parishes and Catholic schools. It is Catechetical Sunday 2006, set aside to honor the 500,000 catechists who minister in parishes and Catholic schools throughout the U.S.

In our Diocese, parish communities will recognize and honor the 5,000 catechists who minister in our parishes and schools, and call each of them to affirm and support catechesis as an essential mission of the Church.

Theme for 2006

Catechetical Sunday has a rich tradition of selecting an annual theme from the liturgical readings for the third Sunday of September. This year's theme, "Who Do You Say That I Am?" is taken from the challenging question Jesus asked His disciples as they walked together.

Jesus began by asking them what people were saying about Him and then asked directly, "And you, who do you say that I am?" The question asked 2,000 years ago is the question that Jesus asks of every disciple through the ages. It is perhaps the most important and life-changing question that we will be ever asked.

Challenge

The first time I really heard that question personally, and began to understand its challenge and the implications was due to the teaching and writing of Father Ed Ciuba, the former rector of Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, New Jersey, and author of a book titled "Who Do You Say That I Am?"

His book was intended to introduce contemporary Scripture scholarship to those studying the Bible for the first time, and to provide a context for group discussion and sharing. Using the best critical tools, methods and scholarship, he led readers through a foundational study of Scripture to the question asked of every disciple of Jesus: "Who do you say that I am?"

That question that has been pivotal in my life as a catechist. Its answer changes and expands as life continues to offer opportunities for prayer, study, sacraments, seeing Jesus in the other and learning from the witness of those who live as His disciples.

Implications

The question is central to catechesis and the ministry of those called to be catechists. It has broad implications for catechesis and evangelization.

"The National Directory for Catechesis" states that the purpose of catechesis is to "bring about in the believer an ever more mature faith in Jesus Christ, a deeper knowledge and love of His person, and a firm commitment to follow Him."

The goals of Catholic evangelization are to proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ, live and share that faith, and transform society through witness and service as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Our answer

When asked the question, Peter quickly answered, "You are the Messiah." His strong affirmation has been seen as great faith and leadership; and yet we know that he struggled with the meaning of this, not seeing or understanding who Jesus was until after the Resurrection.

Each of us has to answer the question Jesus asks. How we answer it affects what we teach, how we pray, our relationship with others and how we live.

The Catechetical Sunday theme invites us to ponder, pray, study and reflect on the breadth and depth of Jesus as truly man and truly God.

As we pray the Creed, listen to the Gospels, reflect on the Eucharist, share our own faith, reflect on the arts and serve others, we will come to a fuller and more faithful response to the question.

If we make a deeper commitment to prayer, and formation in the areas of Scripture and Christology our personal goal, our answer to Jesus' question may be different and more comprehensive at the conclusion of this academic year than when we began.

Recognition

The staff of the Albany diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis is deeply grateful for the faith, commitment and generosity of those who serve as catechists, and catechetical and youth ministry leaders in our parishes and Catholic schools.

We recognize and support all parents in their critical role as models and mentors of faith in the home.

We ask God's blessing on everyone called to share the ministry of catechesis and continue to pray that we may be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ to a world in need of hope and reconciliation.

(Jeanne Schrempf is director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Albany Diocese.)

(9/14/06) [[In-content Ad]]