Fr Paul J. Watson Director, Maryvale Institute

The Formation of Catechists: A primary task for the Local Church

Only in God will we each find the truth and happiness that we never stop searching for (c.f. CCC 27). God has made us for himself. That is why, in Jesus Christ, God not only speaks to us but also seeks us out (c.f. TMA7).

This is why the local Church, or Diocese, ‘exists to evangelise’. Those who evangelise, preach or catechise in the local Church are those who, in Christ, speak out and seek out the poor and the lost: from the bishop, priests, deacons, teachers and catechists to the youngest parent or oldest grandparent. All do this as part of a body, the body of Christ, the Church; not as private individuals but ‘as Church’.

So how does a local Church, or diocese do this?

Firstly, at ordination the bishop receives ‘the charism of truth’ (GDC222)., That is, the truth of a person, the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. By this charism the bishop is empowered by the Holy Spirit to maintain ‘a real passion for catechesis’ (GDC223) a passion embodied in organised structural support for all the people involved with him in making known this truth, the truth of this Person.

Who exactly are involved? Who, therefore, are to be aided, supported and trained in the diocese?

- Firstly, parents, for ‘family catechesis precedes, accompanies and enriches all forms of catechesis’ (GDC226). Help and support for parents is paramount.

- Also priests, who are to learn to teach and preach ‘not their own wisdom but the Word of God and not in an abstract way but by application of the eternal truth of the gospel to the concrete circumstances of life’(GDC225) so that ‘the true needs of the faithful’ might be met.

- Also catechists (lay and religious) who witness and serve in multiple ways this urgent mission of Christ and of the Church, to draw people to that ‘love that never ends’(CCC25).

The General Directory for Catechesis warns that any form of pastoral activity in the Church is placed at risk if it does not rely on truly competent and trained personnel. Hence, the General Directory speaks of an ‘absolute priority’ to be given to the formation of catechists (parents included) and also to the catechetical formation of priests.

Diocesan and parish provision of formation is necessary and common. Catechetical Centres that provide various day courses are the norm in England. Schools for catechists are more common in countries outside Europe and in some developing countries. ‘Higher Institutes’, providing a higher level of catechetical formation (GDC251) are also highly recommended, especially for forming personnel for diocesan responsibilities. These are more rare.

I speak from within one of those “higher” catechetical institutes. Maryvale Institute is a national and international centre for catechist formation at various levels, from the basics to doctoral research. Its methodology throughout, however, is of a very particular kind, a kind that is unexpectedly suited to an adult personal, spiritual and doctrinal formation.

The methodology of distance-learning combines supported home study with short residential periods at the Institute. Unexpectedly, this form of supported, systematic but flexible study actually stimulates self-motivation and self-responsibility for learning, and at the same time develops a profound sense of community and of ecclesial service. Our experience shows that it encourages an integral Christian formation as people study within their own living, working and worshipping environment. This respects the specific character of the laity in the Church and develops in catechists both human and apostolic maturity.

Uniquely, it allows the very local situation to be the primary locus because people do not move away from their own homes to study. The method, then, avoids any separation from the cultural context of the catechist. The study of the universal message of salvation takes place in such a way as to enable catechists to bring the power of the Gospel into the very heart of their culture.

The Directory stresses the need to give ‘adult catechesis’ the priority. If parents, priests and teachers are inspired anew, their influence on children will be a natural overflowing of their own joy, thankfulness and humility. Witnesses speak louder than words and young people need adult witnesses to inspire them. Distance-learning is respectful of adult learning.

The Directory also stresses that the appropriate pedagogy for catechesis is the pedagogy of God. This can also be called a pedagogy of grace. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the perfect example of such a pedagogy, which again and again reminds its readers, and instils into them, a sense of the Trinity at work and the priority of grace. The Catechism of the Catholic Church must form a core, as it does at Maryvale, for any catechesis of adults.

Many speak of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as providing the content of the faith and the General Directory for Catechesis as providing the method. This could not be more false. The General Directory for Catechesis speaks rather of situations, norms, adaptation, organisation, loci, means and different types of methods and criteria for an effective, systematic and comprehensive catechesis.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church demonstrates a certain method; it cannot be otherwise – since any content will be transmitted according to a method, an order. The Trinitarian, Christo-centric, and ecclesial ordering of paragraph after paragraph, highlighting the paschal mystery and the dignity of the human person as golden threads running throughout every section – embody an attitude of such deep and loving reverence that one cannot help but be formed by it if it is seriously studied rather than used like a dictionary or quick reference guide. Its organic coherence, which is compared to a symphony is a gift for genuine catechesis in the Church today.