Column: Always (September 7-13, 2008 issue)

The Many Facets of Catechesis

by
Erwin Joey E. Cabilan

The month of September is regarded as the National Catechetical Month. As I can

recall, there are many reasons why we, Filipino Catholics, observe this celebration every
year such as:

 to make all Christians aware of our catechetical mission which is given to us

by Jesus Christ by virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation;
 to deepen the commitment of every local Church, headed by the Bishop, in
ensuring the integral faith-formation of all God’s People;
 to propagate the vocation of catechists (volunteer and professional);
 to strengthen the vocation and mission of those who are called to the sacred
task of catechesis;
 to allow all the faithful (considering the every Christian is a catechist) to
celebrate our life of being called to the Catechetical ministry.

There are many definitions on catechesis. Like a diamond, it has many facets. Let me
share with you some of them.

Catechesis…………

 is the proclamation of the Good News to all.

 is the teaching of Religion to the young.
 is the teaching on the essentials of our Faith.
 is called as Religious Instruction, Religious Education, Religious Studies,
Christian Living Education in a Catholic School context.
 is being done as a way of preparing those who are about to receive the
sacraments of the Church (pre-baptismal catechesis, pre-confirmation catechesis,
pre-Cana, etc.)
 is the on-going formation of all the baptized in the Christian Faith (seminars,
recollections, retreats, symposia, etc.).
 is the deepening of Faith by way of education.
 is a process of allowing the faith of every person and of every Christian
community to mature.
 is the education in the Faith from womb to tomb (adults are included!).
 is the organic and systematic way of sharing the Faith according to the context of
those who receive it.
 is a way of forming the head, the heart and the hands of every baptized after the
image of Jesus Christ.
 enhances the vocation of every Christian to be a living witness of the Gospel and
of the Reign of God in whatever circumstances he/she is into.
  is a tool that can equip every follower of Jesus to articulate our faith into values
and virtues in our day to day living.
 animates the Christian community that breathes “the Spirit of God”.
 supports every Christian so that we can be faithful sharers of the Gospel in the
family, in the community, in our places of work and all fields of endeavor.
 is a journey, accompanied by the Spirit of Jesus, so that we can be authentic in
proclaiming the truth amidst deception, in lighting a fire to those whose minds
and hearts are darkened by lies and be earthen vessels of a life of integrity to
those who are hungry and thirsty of the Truth.
 cultivates the Culture of life, of love, of justice and of peace.

I guess you, too, have your own understanding on what Catechesis is. Its richness is
inexhaustible. Its reality is similar to a diamond. When a ray of light flashes to a
diamond, it sparkles, it glitters, it shines! No wonder the sacred ministry of catechesis
has been shining even in moments of uncertainties (lack of support, lack of personnel,
being underestimated). It is because we have Jesus, the light! For as long as Jesus keeps
on radiating His light, we continue to endeavor and to savor the essence of catechesis.

Fellow catechists, it’s our month! Carry on!