Indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in catechesis
The Penang Diocesan Catechetical Commission (PDCC) organised its Annual Gathering of Evangelising Catechists (EC) on May 1 at the Taiping Catholic Church.
May 24, 2024
TAIPING: The Penang Diocesan Catechetical Commission (PDCC) organised its Annual Gathering of Evangelising Catechists (EC) on May 1 at the Taiping Catholic Church. This event attracted 358 participants, including ECs involved in Catechism and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), along with discerning Catholics interested in the Catechetical Ministry.
The theme for this year’s gathering was Catechesis and the Holy Spirit. The event featured three talks presented simultaneously in four languages - English by Fr Gerard Theraviam, Bahasa Malaysia by Sr Dariah Ajab FSIC, Tamil by Fr John Anandan OFM Cap, and Mandarin by Anthony Ng. A 45-minute prayer session focusing on the Holy Spirit was also included in the programme.
The day began with a light breakfast, after which all participants gathered at the Church of St Louis for a praise and worship session. Deacon Clement Samuel, the head of PDCC officially welcomed the participants. He explained that the theme Catechesis and the Holy Spirit was chosen because the ultimate goal of catechesis is to live the life of the Spirit - the New Life promised by Jesus, received at Baptism, and strengthened in the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Deacon Samuel emphasised that catechists should not only impart Church doctrines but also foster a personal experience of God that strengthens their conviction and motivates them toward service and mission. He urged everyone to open their hearts to learning about the Holy Spirit and to embrace the peace, love, and joy that the Holy Spirit brings into their lives.
The participants then moved into their respective language groups for the sessions.
The Teachings on the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Church
In the first talk, all speakers drew heavily from Chapter 3 of Pillar 1, Article 8 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “I Believe in the Holy Spirit” (#683 - #747). They emphasised the various ways to know the Holy Spirit, including through the Scriptures - particularly the names and symbols of the Spirit - the tradition of the Church Fathers, the Church’s Magisterium, sacramental liturgy, prayer, charisms and ministries, signs of apostolic and missionary life, and the witness of saints.
They also highlighted that the Holy Spirit’s role and mission can only be fully understood in the context of the Blessed Trinity and salvation history. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are consubstantial, indivisible, and united in mission and purpose. This illustrates the close connection between Evangelisation and Catechesis. Evangelisation aims to proclaim and witness the Good News, leading a person to initial faith in Christ and conversion. Catechesis is the ongoing teaching stage, helping baptised individuals to grow and mature in their faith through a deeper, more systematic knowledge of Jesus Christ. The goal is to develop this initial faith to daily nourish the Christian life of the faithful, both young and old.
The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Life of an Evangelising Catechist
This session clarified the terms “Holy” and “Spirit.” The role of an EC is dynamic and goes beyond completing a syllabus. It involves both informing the mind and forming the heart, ultimately impacting both the ECs and those they evangelise.
The speakers reminded participants of the EC’s Mission Statement: to deepen a personal encounter with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, proclaim the core message of the Gospel (the kerygma), accompany people to faith and conversion, provide a systematic exposition of God’s revelation within the Catholic Church, and send out missionary disciples as witnesses to the Good News. Referencing Scriptures, the speakers noted that the Holy Spirit guides and sanctifies (Galatians 5:16), sets us free (2 Corinthians 3:17), empowers us in trials (Ephesians 3:16), emboldens us (Acts 4:31), and is the master of prayer, purifying our prayers to align with God’s plan.
How to Open One’s Life More to the Holy Spirit
In the third talk, participants learned various ways to call on the Holy Spirit. They were encouraged to welcome the Holy Spirit with an open mind, be prayerful, aware of God, and ask with expectant faith, trusting that God will answer in His time. Combining prayer with penance and praying for needs rather than greed were emphasised. The speakers reminded participants that the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, making repentance an ongoing process. Sometimes a change in attitude — a U-turn — is necessary to achieve closer communion with God. Opening one’s life to the Holy Spirit involves making service a part of life, seeking discernment by testing our motives, practicing silence, meditating, reflecting on actions, and constantly communicating with the Holy Spirit throughout the day.
After each of the first two talks, participants gathered in groups to share their experiences of when the Holy Spirit touched their lives. For many, this was a meaningful and uplifting part of the event. In the third session, prayer sessions were organised in the respective language groups to allow for the infilling of the Holy Spirit among all participants.
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