Catechists commissioned at St Joseph Church, JB

The Church of St Joseph marked Catechetical Sunday, Jan 26, with a mini exhibition, Mass, commissioning of teachers and a talk to parents, adults and teachers.

Feb 15, 2019

By Vincent D’Silva
The Church of St Joseph marked Catechetical Sunday, Jan 26, with a mini exhibition, Mass, commissioning of teachers and a talk to parents, adults and teachers.

Prior to the Mass, each student presented a chocolate or a flower to their respective teachers in appreciation for the love and for sharing their faith. Parents too had the opportunity of meeting their children’s teachers.

The mini exhibition showcased the activities of the catechism children.

During the past two years students had, in groups, drawn and made crafts which were showcased. A number of parishioners were encouraged to join as assistant teachers or be in the parent support group.

The theme for this year’s Catechetical Sunday is Christ, Our Mission. The parish priest encouraged all parents and the wider community to create a faith community where the mission of Jesus is truly experienced as an invitation that springs from the prayerful reading of the Word.

During Mass, the Catechists and faith formation teachers were recognised, celebrated, commissioned, and prayed for.

The catechists then renewed their commitment to serve the Church in the presence of the parish priest, Fr Anthony Ng.

Fr Ng accepted their commitment and sent them forth to carry out their service as catechists to the Lord and to His Church.

Fr Ng said, “The Church teaches that Catechesis is the responsibility of the entire Christian community. It should not be the work of catechists and priests alone, but of the whole community of the faithful.”

He said, “This will also be an opportunity for the parish to show their support and appreciation for the witness and dedication with which catechists spread the word of God, and join them in spreading the word of God.”

Fr Ng also invited the children and teenagers, as well as the RCIA candidates, to make their commitment to God and to the Church.

The priest then invited parents whose children are attending classes to stand and make their commitment to God and His Church. The parents then committed themselves to support the efforts of the priest and catechists in the ministry of educating their children in the faith of the Church.

Fr Ng said it is also the responsibility of the entire Christian community, as members of this parish, to commit themselves to this task.

He said, “When there is a need, we too have to become educators of faith and teach these young people and RCIA candidates, especially through our words and action as disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Deacon Dr Leslie Petrus, who is in-charge of the catechetics of the parish, said catechists help the catechised to become more tuned in with the way God moves or works in everyday life, in a bid to create a deeper appreciation of their relationship with God.

He said, “In learning the word of God, there is only one teacher and that is God Himself. The reformation changes the way catechism is experienced because now, catechists do not teach but become facilitators between God and the children.”

“By adopting this method, we hope to awaken the catechised’s interest in catechism and when there is interest, the desire to learn will follow,” he added.

He said Catechesis is a ministry that opens our hearts to Christ’s love, draws us into a deeper relationship with him, and invites us to assume our role as his faithful disciples in our world today. Catechetical Sunday also reminds us of the importance of our duty to pass on our faith in intelligible, attractive, and truthful ways to help all of us encounter the living Christ.

Catechetical Sunday was initiated by Pope Pius XI in 1935, when he encouraged dioceses around the world to set aside a Sunday to celebrate, recognise and give vision to catechesis. “The faithful should be called together in the parish, and having received the Holy Eucharist, they should pray to obtain greater fruit from catechesis.”

Pope Pius also called for a special sermon on the necessity of catechetical instruction and for a reminder to parents about their duty to instruct their children in the faith.