Pope Francis is preparing to formally institute the “ministry of catechist.”
Millions of laypeople around the world are already recognized as catechists in their parish or diocese.
Francis’s apostolic letter “Antiquum Ministerium” (Ancient Ministry) instituting the ministry will be released from Rome on Tuesday.
The pope has spoken of the importance of selecting, training and supporting catechists. They are called to lead people to a deeper relationship with Jesus, prepare them to receive the sacraments and educate them in the teachings of the churc.
In many parts of the world, especially in communities without a resident priest, catechists lead the local Catholic community. They evangelise, convoke and guide their fellow Catholics in prayer and charitable works.
In missionary territories under the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples’ guidance, catechists already serve with a specific mandate from their bishop.
The Congregation’s 1997 Guide for Catechists notes:
“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.’”
In some communities, bishops may entrust catechists with:
- preaching to non-Christians; catechizing catechumens and those already baptized;
- leading community prayer, especially at the Sunday liturgy in the absence of a priest;
- helping the sick and presiding at funerals;
- training other catechists in special centers or guiding volunteer catechists in their work;
- taking charge of pastoral initiatives and organizing parish functions; helping the poor and working for human development and justice.”
According to the Vatican’s Statistical Yearbook of the Church, as of Dec. 31, 2019 there were over 3 million catechists serving the church.
Successive Synods of Bishops over the past 30 years have highlighted lay catechists’ important role in building and sustaining local Christian communities.
They have also called for more resources to be devoted to catechists’ training and support and for greater recognition and respect for their contributions.
The pope’s decision to formally institute the ministry of catechist follows his decision in January to open the ministries of lector and acolyte to women.
While in most dioceses women already served as readers and altar servers at Mass, they were not formally instituted in those services on a stable basis.
In his January decision, the pope cited the request made by members of the 2019 Synod of Bishops for the Amazon, asking that the church “promote and confer ministries for men and women in an equitable manner.
“The fabric of the local church, in the Amazon as elsewhere, is guaranteed by small missionary church communities that cultivate faith, listen to the Word and celebrate together close to the people’s life.
“It is the church of baptized men and women that we must consolidate by promoting ministries and, above all, an awareness of baptismal dignity,” he stressed.
Source
- CruxNow
- Image: NZ Catholic
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