An appropriate message for Catechetical Sunday

By David Amico- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

This year’s theme for Catechetical Sunday — Say the Word and My Soul Shall Be Healed — seems so appropriate as we begin yet another catechetical year amid the global coronavirus pandemic. We were all so hopeful that with the arrival of vaccines, we would be nearly free of this virus by now. We have certainly made great strides in that direction and continue to do so each day. Yet, we simply cannot ignore the challenges that the pandemic is still presenting to us. We continue to need healing on so many levels.

At this point, I am sure many of you are saying something like, “Nice way to begin your Catechetical Sunday message, Davey Downer!” To be honest, I am saying the same thing to myself!

Yet, perhaps our present circumstances offer us an opportunity to reflect more deeply on the ministry of catechesis for “which the whole Christian community is responsible” (“Directory for Catechesis,” 111). The pandemic has starkly confronted us with the meaning and fragility of life. In one way or another, we have all been affected by it. We have all experienced “loss and dying.” We have all experienced “the hope of new life.” To put this in a faith (and catechetical) perspective — we have been living the Paschal Mystery in a way that we have likely never done before. We have died and risen with Christ — over and over again — as we have lived through these many months of pandemic. It is Jesus who gives meaning and hope to our lives, most especially when we experience moments of loss and dying in our lives.

Indeed, living the Paschal Mystery is at the heart of our faith. We are immersed into this mystery at Baptism. We are immersed again into this Mystery at every celebration of the Eucharist, and recommit ourselves to living it. As Pope Francis tells us — this is also the kerygma, the fundamental message that should be proclaimed through our lives and through all of our catechetical ministries: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you” (“Joy of the Gospel,” 164).

This time of pandemic has helped the Church “to embody the kerygma according to the needs of her contemporaries providing help and encouragement so that on the lips of catechists … there may blossom credible proclamations, vital confessions of faith, new Christological hymns for telling everyone the good news.” (“Directory for Catechesis,” 58). Pastors, parish life coordinators, catechetical/youth ministry leaders and dedicated catechists, did just this in many remarkable ways over the past 18 months! Zoom, Google Meet, enhanced livestreaming, and too many creative approaches to list here, became our ways to “go and make disciples.” May this creative energy not be lost, but continue to grow!

No matter what challenges the pandemic may still present to us as we begin this new catechetical year, we must remain focused on Jesus and share his saving love that can heal us in every way. All we need to do is ask, as we do at the invitation to Holy Communion at every Mass, “Say the Word and My Soul Shall Be Healed.”

David G. Amico, M.Ed, is the diocesan director for the Office of Lay Ministry and Parish Faith Formation.