Catechetical formation of candidates for Holy Orders
Catechetics is the systematic study of the history, nature, goals, principles and process of catechetics.
Jan 17, 2025

Echoing the Faith - Dr Steven Selvaraju
In the previous article, I examined the role of the priest as the catechetical leader of the parish community. What is clear is that the priest is expected to have adequate knowledge and competency in catechesis to lead the catechetical ministry in the parish. This leads us to the focus of the present article, namely, the catechetical formation of candidates for Holy Orders.
Why study Catechetics?
In the past, especially from the Council of Trent (1545-1563) up to the early 20th century, catechesis was mainly considered the ‘handmaid’ of theology. It means that catechesis was seen as the imparting of a simplified form of theology to children and young people. The teaching of doctrine was emphasised and the goal was to ensure that the student knew and memorised the contents of the Faith well enough so as to be a ‘good’ Catholic.
From the 1930s onwards, there was a transformation in the way catechesis was understood and carried out. With advances taking place around the world in the fields of education, psychology, sociology and other areas of study, new ideas and concepts began to be incorporated into catechesis. This included concepts, such as methodology, pedagogy, theories of learning, lesson planning and the importance of considering the psychological, intellectual, cultural and social background of the learner.
After the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), as a renewed understanding of the Church emerged and affected almost every area of her life and mission, new developments in theology, liturgy, ecclesiology, pastoral theology, mission and other fields also greatly impacted the ministry of catechesis. As a result, a new field of study, known as “catechetics”, as a branch of pastoral theology, appeared in the Church.
Catechetics is the systematic study of the history, nature, goals, principles and process of catechetics. It is an interdisciplinary field of study in that it draws on other disciplines, such as, theology, biblical studies, liturgy and sacraments, educational theories, social sciences and others. Regarding its aim, catechetics is concerned with the process of initiation and growth in the Faith in relation to the mission of the Church.
Growing awareness of the need for catechetical formation
It is the Second Vatican Council document Optatam Totius, the decree on the Training of Priests (1965), that initially mentions the importance of catechetical formation for future priests:
The pastoral preoccupation which should characterise every feature of the students’ training also requires that they should be carefully instructed in all matters which are especially relevant in the sacred ministry. These are, principally, catechetics, preaching, liturgical worship and the administration of the sacraments, works of charity…” (OT, 19).
The General Catechetical Directory (1971), the first major document on catechetics to be published after the Second Vatican Council, mentions the importance of catechetical formation for priests and deacons, and adds:
“… it is of great importance that a thorough catechetical preparation be given to students in seminaries and scholasticates, which should be completed afterwards by continuing formation…” (GCD, 115).
The next document to mention this aspect of priestly formation is Adult Catechesis in the Christian Community (1990) which was published by the International Council for Catechesis (COINCAT), a consultative body of the Congregation of the Clergy. It states:
“Since the role of the priest in the community is irreplaceable, it is essential that candidates for the priesthood have a solid formation in catechetics. This is particularly true for adult catechesis, for which they need to learn to direct and collaborate with lay catechists (ACCC, 83).
In later years, although Catechesi Tradendae (1979), a key document on catechesis promulgated by St John Paul II, did not specifically mention catechetical formation for future priests, this aspect of priestly training was taken up again in the General Directory for Catechesis (1997):
“…a fundamentally decisive element must be the catechetical formation of priests both at the level of the seminary formation as well as at the level of continuing formation. Bishops are called upon to ensure that they are scrupulously attentive to such formation” (GDC, 234).
Aspects of catechetical formation for candidates for Holy Orders
The most recent document on catechesis, Directory for Catechesis published in 2020, in comparison to the previous documents, gives emphasis to the catechetical formation of candidates for Holy Orders. It stresses that candidates for the permanent diaconate should receive this formation as well. It points out that since “the quality of catechesis in a community depends in part on the ordained ministers who care for it… the process of forming candidates for Holy Orders cannot leave out the specific instruction on proclamation and catechesis” (DC, 151).
The Directory provides the following criteria for the catechetical formation of candidates for Holy Orders:
1. To become familiar with the understanding and experiences related to first proclamation (kerygma) and the various forms of catechesis.
2. To introduce them to a detailed and profound understanding of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
3. To explore the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) as a valuable tool for catechesis and mystagogy (postbaptismal catechesis).
4. To present the guidelines of the respective particular Church related to catechesis.
5. To guarantee a place in the curriculum for the study of catechetics, of the Magisterium on catechetical matters, of pedagogy and other human sciences (DC, 152).
The document also states that bishops should ensure that the above-mentioned criteria are integrated into the formative programmes for their candidates to the priesthood and the permanent diaconate (CD, 153).
Conclusion
A study of the recent Church documents on catechesis leaves no doubt that it is essential for candidates for Holy Orders be formed in catechetics. Therefore, it is hoped that this aspect of catechetical formation is being given attention in the Church.
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(Dr Steven Selvaraju, STD, STL, holds a Doctorate in Theology with Specialisation in Catechetics and Youth Ministry from Pontifical Salesian University, Rome. He serves as Director of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Centre, Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. )
The key ideas in the article are presented in illustrated format below. The illustrations are by Dr Steven Selvaraju. The images are taken from the public domain.
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