The Noble Vocation of the Catechist

So it's the beginning of the religious education year; you are nervous, anxious and maybe even a little frightened. Maybe it is your first year, maybe your twenty-first. Maybe, as is often the case, you find yourself a catechist simply because no one else could be found. Maybe it is because your heart was breaking at the thought of such an important need going unmet. Maybe, you just love to pour your heart out to those children and watch them grow in faith. What is common in all those circumstances is that this year, certainly will be a year like no other. COVID-19 presents many challenges to the mission that all catechists share. No matter where we find ourselves, it can be easy to forget who we are as catechists; that is, who the Church says we are, and what we have been called and equipped to do by the working of the Holy Spirit in us. In some ways, not realizing the nature of the call to be a catechist leads us to be even more nervous, anxious and yes, even frightened. Realizing our identity and walking with confidence in that reality are essential to overcoming this worry and fear. So, what does the Church teach about catechists?

First of all, the Church proclaims, "Catechists are truly the pride of the missionary Church"; a "praise-worthy army of lay apostles". Pope St. John Paul II affirms that the work of catechists constitute a "fundamental evangelical service". Indeed, " 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 and of the Church." While every baptized person shares in the mission and call to advance the kingdom of God, "Catechists participate in this mission and call in an additional and unique way. At the origin of the catechist's vocation ... there is a specific call from the Holy Spirit, a mandate. It is important for the catechist to recognize the supernatural and ecclesial significance of this call.”

Secondly, the catechist is so important that the Church declares, "No method, no matter how well tested, can dispense with the person of the catechist in every phase of the catechetical process". This is because the catechist is essentially a mediator. The catechist facilitates communication between the people of God and the mystery of God as well as within the community. St. John Paul II declared that the goal of all catechesis is to put people into deep and intimate communion, a meaningful personal relationship with Christ. The catechist is an essential part of bringing those catechized into an intentional, genuine, and intimate life-long relationship with Christ.

Finally, in the hearts and minds of children (and even adults), the catechist will often be the model of Catholic Christian faith and lifestyle; the guide who ushers them into the communal life of the Church; the person they will tum to not only to learn to pray, but also the person they will tum to when they stand in need of prayer. To be a catechist is a beautiful and noble thing. Is it challenging? Yes. Or maybe, YES! But, how great is the reward. To lead just one person to life-long communion with Christ is worth even a lifetime of effort. Indeed, to be a catechist is something profound, something incredible; to truly catechize is to be Christ's instrument - yes, He is teaching through you! As catechists let us come into this new religious education year mindful of this reality. After all, none of us are in this alone. We have the Holy Spirit to help lead us and guide us in this effort.

In my own work in catechesis I have found that I am quite thankful for those nervous moments and when I am anxious before teaching. It reminds me that I am dependent upon his grace, that I must - like John the Baptist decrease - so that He may increase. It is, after all, him that is teaching through me. So, it is okay to be a little nervous. This is a reminder of our dependence upon God for our teaching to bear fruit in the hearts and minds of those before us. Embrace it. Draw close to Christ. Trust Him. Allow Him to work through you in those moments.