Whole community is catechetical team, including families

The glory of this season belongs to the heroes, but the reason they are in the news at all belongs to their teams. An individual baseball player -- even having the season of his life -- is only an individual. Records would not be broken without the efforts of the whole Chicago and St. Louis teams. The whole is greater than any of its parts.

We know that maxim as a Church community from St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians as we reflect on the body and its members. Each part of the body, each member of the community has a unique role or task, but each is interdependent on the others. One without the other is a lesser unity, its potential not fully realized. All parts working together become a whole...a new creation...the Body of Christ.

New documents

The Church will be breaking open these two documents in diocesan, state and national workshops and conferences this fall -- and well into the next millennium. The new directory is a guide for a vision of comprehensive catechesis in a contemporary world and Church. A major focus of the new directory is the vocation of the catechist, calling the Church to renew its dedication to the training, affirmation and support of these ministers.

The entire focus of the New York State document, "The Catechist in the Third Millennium, Call, Mission and Formation," is on the vocation and formation of the catechist.

Team players

Catechesis is not accomplished in isolation but requires the collaboration and partnerships of many people and other ministries. Every member of the community has an obligation to grow in faith and knowledge, to be open to ongoing and deepening conversion, and to witness through prayer, liturgy, and service what it means to live out the Gospel in contemporary society.

Although the role of the catechist is unique and crucial, catechesis is a collaborative ministry. Jesus did not minister alone. The most professional and creative catechist cannot exercise this ministry without the partnership of others. It does take a village to raise a child. It does take a Church to form a child of God.

Partners

* It is within the family that the religious awakening first takes place and faith formation is rooted.

* It is the parish community that catechizes by its faith, prayer, witness and service. It is the parish community that calls catechists to service.

* It is the ministry staff that exercises leadership in articulating the vision, giving witness by their own lives, and assisting the community to live out the Gospel in all areas of life.

* It is in the catechetical and youth ministry programs of the parish and school where the child and adolescent learns the doctrines, Scripture, prayers, values, and stories of our faith according to his/her own age and development. It is here where they learn to exercise their own responsibility to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.

* The diocesan office's partnership with these other members of the team is based on their ability to train and support leadership and volunteer ministers, by establishing criteria for and models of effective programs, by recommending curricula and resources for effective catechesis, by advocating for excellence in programs and the right for all persons to participate fully, and by assisting the Diocese to be part of national planning and initiatives.

* The vision, direction, and the authority for the entire team is due to the partnership with the Bishop who as "chief catechist" is the builder and manager of the team.

This Diocese is blessed with the dedication of Bishop Howard J. Hubbard as the leader of the catechetical team. He teaches and leads through the witness of his life, through his writings in this newspaper and in other episcopal letters and statements, through his two books, "I Am Bread Broken" and "Fulfilling the Vision," through his homilies and talks in the Diocese and nationally, through his support and affirmation of catechists and catechetical and youth ministry leaders, by heading the Bishops' Committee in the writing and implementation of "The Catechist in the Third Millennium," through his leadership in public policy, family ministry, the diaconate, youth ministry, and pastoral planning, and as a constant advocate for the poor and marginalized.

Time for renewal

As we call for a renewal of and rededication to the vocation of catechist, let us also strengthen each partnership in catechesis. Ten years from this date, as we look back on this renewal in our Diocese, we will note in the statistics that 1998 was the beginning of the new passion and commitment for catechesis -- and that the dedication, unity and collaboration of the team made it happen!

(Editor's note: Jeanne Schrempf is diocesan director of the Office of Religious Education.)

(09-24-98) [[In-content Ad]]