Growing as a Catechist (April)

Rowland Bailey Howard (1808-1937), a Congregational minister and author, once wrote “Do not let your chances like sunbeams pass you by /For you never miss the water till the well runs dry.”

Little did Howard know that his words would have great relevance for today’s catechists and Catholic school religion teachers. As we share the Catholic faith, we need to ensure that our wells do not run dry. Faith needs to be nourished and nurtured. Through this ministry of catechesis, we are called to cultivate a deeper relationship with the Lord. Each of us is called to expand our understanding of the Church’s teaching and apply them to our daily living. We are invited to grow both personally and professionally.

Personal Growth

The National Directory for Catechesis calls for us to develop our spiritual lives—our “communion of faith and love with the person of Jesus Christ…(through) an intense sacramental and prayer life” (NDC 55 E). Participation in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, being part of a prayer group or a neighborhood Christian community, spending time each day in quiet meditation, and frequent reading of Scripture are all ways of communing with God. It is not enough to simply pray with our class—we must pray for the children in our class and their families—and allow Jesus to speak to us in our hearts.

Professional Growth

Catechists have so many opportunities to learn more about the faith and the skills we need to be effective in our ministry! Official Church documents, such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, can help us to better understand what we teach. The National Directory for Catechesis helps us to appreciate the Church’s vision for catechesis in the United States and our own role in that mission.

Catechist formation programs enable us to share faith with other catechists and to become more confident and competent in our work. Diocesan-wide conferences and workshops also can help us to hone our catechetical skills and deepen our awareness of the importance of our ministry. At workshops we can learn new strategies for teaching and practical methods for helping children to celebrate and live the Catholic faith through prayer and service.

How are you growing as a catechist? Come to the water and nourish the seeds of discipleship!