Vatican offers guidance on future of catechesis

"It will become our guide and road map as we address the challenges of catechesis in the culture of these times," said Jeanne Schrempf, director of the Albany diocesan Office of Religious Education. "It's going to have dramatic effects in a positive way."

The General Directory, available in the United States since January, was developed by the Vatican to address the changing needs of the Church.

Changing times

"The course of catechesis during this period has been characterized everywhere by generous dedication, worthy initiatives, and positive results for the education and growth in the faith of children, young people and adults," the document says. "At the same time, however, there have been crises, doctrinal inadequacies, influences from the evolution of global culture and ecclesial questions derived from outside the field of catechesis which have often impoverished its quality."

As a result of the changes cited by the General Directory, said Sister Maureen Shaughnessy, SC, of the U.S. Catholic Conference, "We can't just keep doing what we're doing."

Evangelizing

"It places catechesis in a context that is different," said Sister Maureen. "It is one of evangelization with a missionary perspective."

"This is one of the biggest parts" of the General Directory, said Mrs. Schrempf. "It says evangelization is the task of the Church. The Church exists in order to evangelize. Catechesis is a moment in the process. It's our responsibility to bring the Gospel into life. We have to know our faith and live it."

Work for all

"It's a task of the whole Church," Mrs. Schrempf explained. "It's calling the average person to live their faith. If you are Catholic and are excited about your faith and live your faith, you will catechize others. Catechesis is everybody, all of the time, every day."

Sister Maureen agreed: "Truly, the work of catechesis is the work of the whole parish. Witness is equally important as formal catechesis."

Community effort

"That's what makes catechesis work," she said. "One person can't do it alone."

This community approach to catechesis is important given the time constraints on formal religious education programs. "With one hour a week, no matter how creative the catechist is, it won't take root without all of the others," Mrs. Schrempf said.

Lifetime experience

"The Church recognizes and affirms that development of faith happens over a lifetime," she said. "It's part of a life-long learning process."

Mrs. Schrempf described catechesis as something that "calls us to ongoing conversion. We're both the learner and the catechist."

Ongoing education

"The person called catechist in the formal sense is called to a vocation," Mrs. Schrempf said. "They are called to live a lifestyle. In Third World countries, the catechist is a professional. They are carefully selected and are responsible for handing on the faith. They're called to a lifestyle -- to be a witness."

It is the job of the diocesan Office of Religious Education to provide support to the catechist, Mrs. Schrempf said. Formation of the catechist includes focusing on the spiritual life of the catechist as well providing them with the tools to teach.

Key points

"There is a strong challenge to know the people and the cultures we are catechizing," said Sister Maureen.

In reading the General Directory, Mrs. Schrempf said, "You're aware the Church is beyond the United States. It's a very visionary document. It will be part of a catechetical renewal."

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