A PAPER PRESENTED TO PORT HARCOURT DIOCESAN CATHOLIC CATECHISTS

ASSOCIATION THIS DAY JULY 24, 2015 BY REVD. MR. SUNEBARI SUNDAY; 3 RD YEAR
THEOLOGIAN OF ST. JOSEPH’S MAJOR SEMINARY, IKOT EKPENE, AKWA IBOM STATE.

Catechist’s Apostolate: A call to Discipleship

Introduction
In this historical period, which for various reasons is very sensitive and favourable, to the influence of the Christian
message, the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples developed a special interest in some categories of
people, who play a decisive role in missionary activity in the Church. In fact, after having looked at formation in major
seminaries considered the life and ministry of priests, this Congregation directed its attention to lay catechists, in the
Plenary Assembly of April 1992.

Right from time in the history of the Church, Catechists have always had a very important role in the secular journey of
evangelisation. Even today, they are considered to be irreplaceable evangelisers, as the encyclical Redemptoris Missio
so rightly states.

Hence, the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples experiences directly the undisputed effectiveness of lay
catechists. Under the direction of priests, in fact, they continue with frankness to announce "the Good News" to their
brothers and sisters of other religions, preparing them for entry into the ecclesial community through baptism. Through
religious instruction, preparation for the sacraments, animation of prayer and other works of charity, they help the
baptised to grow in the fervour of the Christian life. Where there is a shortage of priests, the catechists are also
entrusted with the pastoral guidance of the little community separated from the Centre. Often, they are called to witness
to their faith by harsh trials and painful privations. The history of evangelisation past and present attests to their
constancy even to the giving of life itself. Catechists are truly the pride of the missionary Church of our time!

Furthermore, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (CEP) has always had a special concern for
catechists, convinced as it is that these are, under the direction of their Pastors, a factor of prime importance in
evangelization. In April 1970 it published some practical directives for catechists, and now, conscious of its responsibility
and of radical changes in the missionary world, the CEP has call attention to the present situation, the problems that
arise, and prospects for the development of this " praiseworthy army" of lay apostles. It is encouraged in this project by
the many pressing interventions of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, who, during his apostolic voyages, makes use of
every opportunity to stress the importance and relevance of the work of catechists as a " fundamental evangelical
service". Indeed, it is an indispensable service in the Church.

Our task is demanding as soldiers of Christ but also a necessary and an attractive one, seeing that, from the very
beginning of Christianity and wherever there has been missionary activity, catechists have made, and continue to make,
"an outstanding and indispensable contribution to the spread of the faith of the Church".

And so, my task in this paper is to X-ray the role and duties of “Catechist’s Apostolate: a call to discipleship.” And I shall
draw my discussion from the document entitled: “Guide for Catechists”, which treats in a doctrinal, existential and
practical way the principal aspects of the catechists' vocation, identity, spirituality, selection and training, missionary and
pastoral tasks, and remuneration, along with the responsibility of the People of God towards them, in today's conditions
and those of the immediate future.

Who is a Catechist in the Catholic Church?

The term Catechist is used in a broad sense to designate anyone who participates formally or informally in catechetical
ministry. All members of a community of believer are called to share in this ministry by being witnesses to the faith.
Some, however, are called to more specific catechetical roles. Parents, teachers, and principals in Catholic schools,
parish catechists, coordinators or directors of religious education, those who work in diocesan and national catechetical
offices, deacons, priests, and bishops – are all catechists with distinct roles.

The document General Catechetical Directory outlines what it terms the “ideal qualities for which all catechists should
strive at as a disciple”: Catechists…

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  respond to a call;
 witness to the gospel;
 as a minister of the Word they are committed to the Church;
 foster community;
 are servants of the community; and
 must have certain knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully carry out their ministry.

However, Parish catechists, many of whom are volunteers, may be engaged in catechizing adults, young people,
children or those with special needs. Theirs is a particular way of carrying out the promise the Church makes at every
Baptism: to support, pray for, and instruct the baptized and foster their growth in faith. Their fundamental tasks are to
proclaim Christ’s message, to participate in efforts to develop community, to lead people to worship and to motivate
them to serve others” (Sharing the Light of Faith, 213).

Hence, Catechists are those who are called to serve through teaching, witness, and prayer, service and building
community. Catechists minister to adults, youth and children in a variety of locations and programmes: parish faith
formation programmes, Catholic schools, youth ministry programmes, sacramental preparation, Christian initiation
programmes, family programmes, and ministry formation programmes. Therefore, the primary function of a Catechist is
to catechize (teach) the faith of the Church both by word of mouth and example.

Catechist’s Apostolate: A call to Discipleship

The General Directory for Catechesis affirms the documents of the Second Vatican Council that the entire Church is
called to participate by their baptism in the “… priestly, prophetic and kingly ministry of Christ…” Within this common
vocation, some members of the community are called by God to be catechists. The vocation and mission of the
catechist is deepened in the loving knowledge of Christ which motivates him/her to proclaim, to evangelize, and to lead
others to the “yes” of faith in Jesus Christ.

While the call and response to become a catechist is recognized in the local Church by the bishop, it is more often than
not articulated through another leader: the pastor, Catholic school administrator, catechetical leader or youth minister.
The response to this call includes willingness to give one’s time and talent, not only to catechizing others, but to one’s
own growth and understanding of the faith. (The Catechist in the Third Millennium, Section III A).

Hence, "Catechesis is nothing other than the process of transmitting the Gospel, as the Christian community has
received it, understands it, celebrates it, lives it and communicates it in many ways" (General Directory for Catechesis,
no.105).
Jesus empowered the Church to continue in His mission when He said;
“Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And
know that I am with you always, until the end of time.” (Mt. 28:18-20)

This great commission has been handed to men and women (Catechists), whom God has called, to proclaim the Good
News. This ministry of teaching and forming has traditionally been saddled to the responsibility of the catechists
because it is proper to their apostolate.

Qualities and Characteristics of a Catechist

The Bishops of the State of New York in their The Catechist in the Third Millennium write of the qualities and
characteristics that a catechist should have. They said that…

To serve effectively as a catechist in the Church, a person must possess and exhibit qualities or characteristics to give
credible witness to the Gospel. Human qualities of compassion and kindness, common sense, a sense of humour, an
open and understanding heart, and a sense of one’s own self-worth are among the basic requirements for this pastoral
ministry.

Beyond these basic human qualities, a catechist must exhibit a real and vital Catholic Christian faith based on a
personal relationship with Christ that is nourished in and through the Church. Those called to the ministry of catechist
should be generous with their time and talent, open to deepening their understanding of the theology and methodology
necessary for teaching and be able to communicate faith and knowledge effectively in both word and deed (Section III

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B).

Responsibilities of the Catechist

A catechist in his apostolate must be willing to accept and fulfil to the best of his or her ability the following
responsibilities associated with the catechetical ministry:

 to be a model of Catholic Christian faith and lifestyle;

 to participate in the spiritual, theological and methodological training provided by parish, Catholic school, and
diocesan formation and certification programmes.
 to know and abide by the parish, Catholic school, and/or diocesan guidelines and policies for promoting
effective catechesis;
 to give sufficient preparation time for the catechetical task;
 to contribute to and support, by one’s presence, a spirit of community with other catechists, and the people
whom one catechizes.

The Catechist in a Missionary Church

Vocation and Identity: Every baptized Catholic is personally called by the Holy Spirit to make his or her contribution to
the coming of God's kingdom. Within the lay state there are various vocations, or different spiritual and apostolic roads
to be followed by both individuals and groups. Within the general vocation of the laity there are particular ones.

At the origin of the catechist's vocation, therefore, apart from the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, there is a
specific call from the Holy Spirit, a " special charism recognized by the Church" and made explicit by the Bishop's
mandate. It is important for the catechist candidate to recognize the supernatural and ecclesial significance of this call,
so as to be able to respond, like the Son of God, " Here I come" (Heb 10:7), or, like the prophet, " Here I am, send me"
(Is 6:8).

In actual missionary practice, the catechist's vocation is both specific, i.e. for the task of catechizing, and general, for
collaborating in whatever apostolic services are useful for the building up of the Church.

Hence, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (CEP) insists on the value and distinctiveness of the
catechist's vocation. Each one, therefore, should try to discover, discern and foster his or her own particular vocation.

From these premises it can be seen that catechists in mission territories have their own identity, which characterizes
them in respect to those working in the older Churches, as the Church's Magisterium and legislation clearly recognize.

In short, the catechist in mission territories, like you and I is identified by four elements: a call from the Holy Spirit; an
ecclesial mission; collaboration with the Bishop's apostolic mandate; and a special link with missionary activity ad
gentes.

The Role of the Catechist in Missionary Activity

Closely linked to the question of identity is that of the role of the catechist in missionary activity, a role that is both
important and many-sided. Apart from the explicit proclamation of the Christian message and the accompaniment of
catechumens and newly baptized Christians on their road to full maturity in the faith and in sacramental life, the
catechist's role comprises presence and witness, and involvement in human development, inculturation and dialogue.
Thus the Church's Magisterium, when it speaks of catechist’s " Apostolate", treats the subject as an important one and
gives space to it. The Encyclical Redemptoris Missio, for instance, describes catechists as "specialized workers, direct
witnesses, indispensable evangelizers, who represent the basic strength of Christian communities, especially in the
young Churches". The Code of Canon Law has a canon on catechists involved in strictly missionary activity and
describes them as "lay members of Christ's faithful who have received proper formation and are outstanding in their
living of the Christian life. Under the direction of missionaries, they are to present the Gospel teaching and engage in
liturgical worship and in works of charity".

This description of the catechist corresponds with that of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (CEP) in its
1970 Plenary Assembly: "The catechist is a lay person specially appointed by the Church, in accordance with local
needs, to make Christ known, loved and followed by those who do not yet know Him and by the faithful themselves".

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To the catechist, as indeed to other members of the faithful, may be entrusted, in accordance with the canonical norms,
certain functions of the sacred ministry which do not require the character of Holy Orders. The execution of these
functions, when a priest is not available, does not make a pastor of the catechist, inasmuch as he or she derives
legitimation directly from the official permission granted by the Pastors. However, we may recall a clarification made in
the past by the CEP itself: in his or her ordinary activity, " the catechist is not a simple substitute for the priest, but is, by
right, a witness of Christ in the community".

The Catechist's Spirituality

The necessity and nature of spirituality for the catechist. The Catechists that have been called to discipleship of Christ
must have a deep sense of spirituality, i.e. they must live in the Spirit, who will help them to renew themselves
continually in their specific identity.

The need for a spirituality proper to catechists’ apostolate springs from their vocation and mission. It includes, therefore,
a new and special motivation, a call to sanctity. Pope John Paul II's saying: " The true missionary is the saint, " can be
applied without hesitation to the catechist. Like every member of the faithful, catechists are " called to holiness and to
mission", i.e. to live out their own vocation "with the fervour of the saints".

Their spirituality is closely bound up with their status as lay Christians, made participants, in their own degree, in Christ's
prophetic, priestly and kingly offices. As members of the laity, they are involved in the secular world and have,
"according to the condition of each, the special obligation to permeate and perfect the temporal order of things with the
spirit of the gospel. In this way, particularly in conducting secular business and exercising secular functions, they are to
bear witness to Christ".

For married catechists, matrimonial life forms an integral part of their spirituality. As the Pope justly affirms, " married
catechists are expected to bear witness constantly to the Christian value of matrimony, living the sacrament in full
fidelity and educating their children with a sense of responsibility ". This matrimonial spirituality can have great impact on
their activity, and it would be good for them to involve their spouse and children in the work, so that the whole family
radiates apostolic witness.

Finally, Catechists' spirituality is also conditioned by their apostolic vocation, and therefore should bear the marks of:
openness to God's word, to the Church and to the world; authenticity of life; missionary zeal; and devotion to Mary.

Conclusion
By way of conclusion, I will quote the very words of Pope John Paul II to the catechists of Angola during his visit to that
country: "So many times it has fallen to you to strengthen and build up the young Christian communities, and even to
found new ones through the first proclamation of the gospel. If missionaries could not be there for this first proclamation
or had to leave before it could be followed up, it was you, the catechists, who instructed the catechumens, prepared
people for the sacraments, taught the faith and were leaders of the Christian community (...). Give thanks to the Lord for
the gift of your vocation, through which Christ has called you from among other men and women to be instruments of his
salvation. Respond with generosity to your vocation and your names will be written in heaven (cf. Lk 10:20)".

I sincerely hope that, with God's help and with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this paper will give new
impulse to the promotion of catechists, so that their generous contribution will continue to bear fruit for the Church's
mission in our society. God blessed you.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Paulines Publications, 1992.
Guides for Catechists. Vatican City, 1993.
Catechism of the Catholic Church. Paulines Publications.
General Directory for Catechesis, 1971.
The Catechist in the Third Millennium: Call, Mission and Formation, 1993.
Document of the Second Vatican Council: Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity (Ad Gentes), 1965.
Pope John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio, 1990.

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