Directory for Catechesis online study

Mar 01, 2024

By Jennifer Duarte
There is a paradigm shift in the way catechesis should be dealt with today. This was brought to light when the Penang Diocesan Catechetical Commission (PDCC) conducted an online course to expose its ‘evangelising catechists’ to the new Directory for Catechesis (DC).

The DC was published in 2020 by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation under the Dicastery for Evangelisation, with the approval of Pope Francis. It is the third directory since Vatican II – after the General Catechetical Directory (1971), and the General Directory for Catechesis (1997) – with updates based on the Synod of Bishops on Evangelisation (2012) and Pope Francis’ encyclical Evangelii Gaudium (Joy of the Gospel, 2013). This new directory also gives pastoral guidance on how catechists could adapt to globalisation and the digital era which has radically transformed people’s way of thinking and interaction with one another.

The seven-session study conducted in English, with self and/or group study in between, began in July 2023 and attracted more than 200 evangelising catechists and the lay faithful, not only from the diocese but also from throughout Malaysia. The speakers for the sessions included Dr Steven Selvaraju, Bernadette Teh, Fr Desmond Jansen, Fr Joseph Stephens CSsR, and Deacon Clement Samuel.

Church documents are not easy to read, so the course, broken-down into bite-size pieces, was indeed relevant, challenging and helpful, not only for experienced catechists but also for those discerning to join the catechetical ministry.

The study was well-planned and presented, with participants having to submit assignments after each online session. Assignments were reviewed and feedback was given personally. Sample answers were also provided so that participants could gauge their own performance and understanding of the subject matter.

Participants were very pleased with the way that the course was professionally administered under the leadership of Deacon Clement, the Head of PDCC. The course was an eye-opener for many as they came to understand the importance of their role as evangelisers in today’s challenging circumstances.

At the final session of the study, Deacon Clement gave some practical recommendations for catechesis, the way forward in light of the new directory, among them – formation of missionary disciples begins from young (i.e. in Standard 1 or even younger, and not only when preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation), it all begins with the catechists becoming evangelisers, on-going encounter of God from young, encountering Jesus through liturgy/sacraments, engaging the parents, pedagogy (teaching) through accompaniment, and digital catechesis.

As one participant commented in the feedback form, “Each session was enlightening, spiritually motivating and forward-looking. We now know that as evangelising catechists we have to always focus on the kerygma of the Catholic faith and share personal and practical examples of how faith works in our lives in the spirit of evangelisation."