SPECIAL REPORT • CATECHESIS

A LIFELONG JOURNEY OF FAITH

Come on a faith journey supported in God’s love!
(Policy of Catechesis, Archdiocese of Pretoria)

BY SR CRISTINA IBARRA BARBA CMS, CATECHETICAL COORDINATOR OF PRETORIA ARCHDIOCESE | MAHUBE VALLEY, MAMELODI, PRETORIA

The Archdiocese of Pretoria has embarked on a program of formation and accompaniment of catechesis, its most valuable agents of evangelization. Its Archdiocesan Catechetical Coordinator gives witness to it.

ONE OF the most commonly used symbols to express the meaning of life is that of Life as a journey or as a Way. Our lives begin in our mother’s womb and we undergo different experiences and challenges, which lead us to the same destination: the eternal home of our Heavenly Father.

This journey of life is not lineal or pre-designed, but is always new and dynamic, comprised of every day’s ups and downs; interwoven with joys and sufferings, hopes and disappointments, achievements and challenges, dreams and uncertainties… For some, it is rocky and bumpy; for others, it is more serene and easy. In any case, we must learn to enjoy, to appreciate and to treasure it, because it is a gift from God.

A Journey of faith

Our Christian faith is also a journey which begins when we first meet Jesus Christ, in a heart-to-heart encounter; from there it grows and matures through an experience of love with a Living and Personal God.

One of the clearest images of a journey of faith is that of the people of Israel: starting with their liberation from Egypt, followed by the forty years in the desert, and culminating in the arrival in the Promised Land. This journey was marked by a Covenant of mutual belonging and love: “I will be your God and you shall be my people” (Ex 6:7).

The story of the people of Israel is constantly repeated in our history. Although our path is unpredictable, we are certain that God walks beside us, drawing us back to Himself, forgiving our infidelities, sustaining and nourishing us along the way, renewing His Covenant, as He did with the people of Israel.

Jesus taught us that on this path we do not walk alone, but are accompanied and supported by others: family, friends, brothers and sisters, all people of God, so that our walk is conducted in community, along with Jesus.

The journey of Catechesis

Catechesis is not limited to a period of pre-sacramental preparation, which often fades away in our daily lives but, above all, it is an ongoing journey, which implies an experience and a space of encounter with Jesus. This encounter gives full meaning to the Sacraments, gifts which accompany and sustain us in our daily struggles and achievements. A personal and community encounter with the Lord fortifies our faith and our love for Him and for one another expands. This journey generally begins in the heart of our families and is matured in the ecclesial community through fraternal encounters, liturgical life, charity and catechesis, as a more systematic and gradual formative path.

Catechesis should strengthen us on this journey, making our faith in Jesus more alive and concrete, experiencing Him as Master, Guide, Friend and faithful Companion.

Catechesis in the Archdiocese of Pretoria

The Archdiocese of Pretoria defines Catechesis as an ongoing journey of faith in the life and mission of Christ being its motto: Come on a journey of faith based on God’s love!

Having been in close contact with the 621 catechists of the Archdiocese, I have seen how, with joy, hope and great apostolic passion, they accompany children, the youth and adults in their journey of faith. They promote a catechesis centred on a living and personal relationship with Jesus in the community. They offer a solid doctrinal foundation grounded, not only on an intellectual knowledge but, above all, on fostering an experience of faith, enabling to face daily challenges and joys.

The catechists show a great desire to communicate the beauty of the Gospel in today’s language.

They commit faithfully to God by seeking to transmit their faith and Christian values; responding to the needs of those they accompany, particularly adolescents and young people. The catechists show a great desire to communicate the beauty of the Gospel in today’s language, in a way that all can understand. However, often as the disciples of Emmaus, they feel discouraged and disoriented and they need to start the journey with Jesus over and over again.

Formation of catechists

This year the Archdiocese has offered a program of Initial Formation Journey (IFJ), which 112 catechists from 32 parishes joined. There were four facilitators, supported by the Vicar of Catechesis and its Coordinator.

The “Echoing the Word Course”, an introductory study on the Bible, was also offered and 17 catechists participated. On-going materials were made available to the catechists, following the theme of the year chosen by the South African Bishop Conference: ‘Faith Communities, Families and Catechists, nurturing together a living faith’.

A workshop on Leadership for chaplains and catechetical coordinators—facilitated by Fr Joseph Puliyilakat MSFS, Archdiocesan Vicar on catechesis and its Coordinator—was attended by 102 participants from all over the Archdiocese. Another workshop for facilitators of Initial Formation on ‘Pedagogy and Methodology of Catechesis’ was offered on 29^th April.

In the parishes, catechists celebrated Commissioning Day when they were presented to the community and the annual catechetical program started officially. The Rites of Election, Acceptance of adult catechumens and the Rite of Sending took place in joint celebrations in assigned churches of the Archdiocese. Two retreats, attended by 76 and 105 catechists respectively, took place at Sizanane Pastoral Centre, and Mater Dei at Polokwane Pastoral Centre. The catechists expressed their joy and satisfaction with these initiatives.

On-going formation is of utmost importance for catechists who face a complex reality and are confronted with so many challenging questions. For example, how to help hurt children and young people who come from broken families; how to accompany members of a digital-born culture with a new perspective on life, often contradicting Christian values. There is a great need to make others aware that God never tires of loving, forgiving and starting all over again, retracing the path with and for us. Even in the midst of violence and suffering, God continues to see, listen and act in favour of His people in order to liberate them, as He did with the people of Israel.

Missionary Disciples accompanying other disciples

As a Church, we have been reflecting on our identity as missionary disciples, learning from Jesus, our Master who, as Pope Francis stated, “never gets tired of being with us” (cf. Hearts on fire, feet on the move, Message for 2023 World Mission Sunday-WMS).

The catechists are missionary disciples walking on their way who, at some point in life had the joy of meeting Jesus, and answered God’s call to become companions of others who also want to meet Him.

The passage of the disciples of Emmaus (Lk 24:13–35) stands out as a clear way of understanding our Christian life as missionary disciples. Catechesis can be defined as a way of encounter, communion and intimacy with Christ, of conversion and service. Pope Francis says: “People who have encountered the Risen Christ in the Scriptures and in the Eucharist carry his fire in their hearts and his light in their eyes with enthusiasm to speak of him to all” (WMS 2023).

There is a great need to make others aware that God never tires of loving, forgiving and starting all over again, retracing the path with and for us.

The New General Directory for Catechesis 2020 affirms that Jesus formed His disciples through a relationship with them. He prayed with and for them, called them to share life with Him and with other disciples, walked with them, shared stories, enjoyed time together, taught and challenged them; above all, he made them feel his love. This experience of a personal and communal encounter with Jesus launched them into the evangelising mission that he had entrusted to them.

Our own faith experience is essential because we cannot introduce someone to Jesus if we have not encountered him ourselves; we cannot accompany others if we have not been accompanied ourselves; or catechise someone if we ourselves have not been catechised. Therefore, the first step on the path of catechesis is to reflect on where we are in our faith journey, so that we can better help others in theirs.

Another central part of the ministry of catechesis, and of every Christian, is to reach out to those who have been left behind, especially the poor, those who have been hurt, broken or marginalised. We are called to see and hear their pain and disappointments, but also their hopes and dreams, because it is precisely there where we can bear witness to the gospel and the experience of Jesus’ love.

I would like to conclude with the words of encouragement and hope from Pope Francis:

“Let us always be ready to allow ourselves to be accompanied by the Risen Lord as he explains to us the meaning of the Scriptures. May he make our hearts burn within us; may he enlighten and transform us, so that we may proclaim to the world his mystery of salvation with the power and wisdom that come from his Spirit.” (2023WMS).