The catechist - a holy and noble vocation

To be a catechist is a holy and noble vocation, a calling from God to share the faith with His people. Parents are called to be catechists for their children... simply through their gift of parenthood. Bishops and priests are catechists of the people entrusted to their care. Ordinary Roman Catholic women and men have answered the call to share faith with others through

• RCIA
• preparation for various sacraments (such as Baptism, Marriage, First Communion, Confirmation)
• Bible studies
• book studies (taking a book written by a reputable Catholic author and discussing it over a number of weeks)
• other adult faith formation activities taking place in parishes, such as Alpha for Catholics, Why Catholic? (from Renew International), Catholicism 201, and a new Canadian program Dogmatic Theology.

The nature of catechesis ministry

Blessed Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae expresses the nature of the catechesis ministry as follows:

...at the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, "the only Son of the Father ...full of grace and truth," who suffered and died for us and who now, after rising, is living with us forever... (CT, 5)

We must therefore say that, in catechesis, it is Christ, the Incarnate Word and Son of God, who is taught—everything else is taught with reference to him—it is Christ alone who teaches. (CT, 6)

Thus, catechists teach to the extent that they are Christ's spokespersons, enabling Christ to teach with their lips.

Before anyone observes and studies anything else, they observe and study their teachers. Thus, in catechesis, the teacher becomes a living example... and as such is called to be a model of faith. In the power of the Holy Spirit, catechists proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ by their word and action, and they invite people they encounter to do the same.

Catechists create a warm and nurturing environment where they and their listeners can enter more deeply into a relationship with God. Along with the entire Christian community, they learn and grow in their faith.