Catechesis as Part of the Church’s Ministry of the

Word
Catechetics
Studies how to do
catechesis, how it has
been and is being done
– and the norms for
evaluating it.
1. Linking Catechesis with the broad
concept of Church’s ministry
clearly shows how inadequate it is,
to identify catechesis merely with
the classroom instruction.
2. The central place of instruction in
catechesis is also clearly affirmed:
“especially the teaching of Christian
Doctrine.”
WHAT IS SYSTEMATIC
CATECHESIS?
Teaching that is programmed
for a definite goal, not
haphazard or improvised.
It also focuses on the
essentials of the Faith. There
are many Theologies but one
faith; many disputed questions
but one basic adherence to
Christ in living faith.
Any catechesis of “essentials” needs to
be:
1. Communicated in current, attractive
and captivating terms.
2. It must be sufficiently complete – not
a bare skeleton outline – but adequate to
provide intellectual satisfaction.
3. Must present an “integral Christian
initiation, open to all factors of Christian
life. ”
 Basic aim of
Catechesis is to “put
people not only in
touch but in
communion, in
intimacy, with Jesus
Christ.
 Catechesis today can be outlined in terms of living
the Christian faith in all its fullness, within the
Christian community, in the secular
1. The understanding of the
sources of faith – Holy
Scripture, Tradition and the
Church teaching –
commensurate with the age
and maturity of the catechized.
Catechesis aims at developing a
real sensitivity to, and love for, the
Word of God in scripture, and a
personal appreciation for Catholic
doctrine and its development
through the teaching authority of
the Church.
 Ignorance of God’s Word and
sound doctrine has never produced
authentic disciples of Christ.
2. To educate the
catechized in the
basic principles and
practice of Christian
morality.
Catholics use their
consciences in making
decisions .
Seeing every moral choice as
an expression of the love for
God and an actualization of
commitment to Christ.
3. Development of the ability to
pray and to participate actively
in the Church’s liturgy.
4. The sense of belonging and
participation as active
members in the Church
community, the community of
disciples of Christ.
5. Educate the catechized
in translating their
Christian faith into
attitudes and values of
daily life.
Definition of Terms
CATECHESIS
refers to education in the
faith, especially the teaching
of Christian doctrine
imparted in an organic and
systematic way, with a view
to initiating the hearers into
the fullness of Christian life.
Definition of Terms
Catechism –
a general term for the
contents of catechesis,
used primarily for
books, manuals, and
summaries of Catholic
teachings.
 Definition of Terms
Catechumens –
the one being catechized.
Kerygma –
the act of proclaiming, or the core message
proclaimed, of the Good News of salvation
through Jesus Christ
Tradition – the “handing on” of the complex of
Christian doctrines, moral norms and rites of
worship
 CHURCH DOCUMENTS:
NCDP – National Catechetical
Directory of the Philippines
(Maturing in Christian Faith)
CT – Catechesi Tradendae
(Catechesis in Our Time)
CHURCH
DOCUMENTS:

CCC – Catechism of
the Catholic
Church
CFC - Catechism for
Filipino Catholics
What is Catechesis?

• The General Catechetical Directory (GCD)

states that Catechesis is one of the forms of
the Ministry of the Word.
• NCDP – National Catechetical Directory of
the Philippines says that Catechesis is an
integral part of evangelization.
What is Catechesis?

• John Paul II in “Catechesis in Our Time”

initiated a non-technical description of the
purpose and consequently of the nature of
Catechesis. “Accordingly, the definitive aim
of catechesis is to put people not merely in
touch but in communion, in intimacy with
Christ.
(CT. 5 Catechesi Tradendae)
 What is Catechesis?

• Catechesis as a way of not merely

introducing and bringing people into the
presence of Christ, but more of making
people “at home” with Christ.
Biblical Catechesis

• 3 Features of an effective
Catechesis:
• A Catechesis deeply rooted
in the
1. Word of God
2. Christocentric
3. Truly Filipino
Biblical Catechesis should convey what the Bible
wants to say:

 God is saying to us through the Sacred

Writers
 The Bible also reflects God’s way of
unfolding & developing His message to His
people.
3 FEATURES of an EFFECTIVE CATECHESIS
1. Word of God
• The essential message of the Bible is the plan
of God for man before the creation of the
world, “predestine us to be sons and daughters
through Jesus Christ.
• The central theme of the Bible, then all the
subject matter that we deal with in our
catechesis must be rooted in it.
• Our lessons & explanations should revolve
around this central theme
3 FEATURES of an EFFECTIVE CATECHESIS
2. Christocentric Catechesis (Christ-centered)
• Why should our catechesis be centered on the
Person of Christ?
a) The first reason is we are Christians and being
Christians, we are followers of Christ.
• Christianity is not a philosophy of life, as
someone has put it: Christianity is Christ.
• Christ is the truth. He is the truth who we must
know and on whom our lives must be founded.
3 FEATURES of an EFFECTIVE CATECHESIS
“Every Christian, A Catechist”
• Catechists lead people to life, not to any life, but
to a Christian life.
• Christ is the LIFE
b) Second reason according to John Paul II
(Catechesi Tradendae)
• We are to stress that the heart of our Catechesis
we find, in essence a person, the Person of Jesus
of Nazareth, the only Son of the Father.
3 FEATURES of an EFFECTIVE CATECHESIS
b) Second reason according to John Paul II
(Catechesi Tradendae)
• The primary and essential object of catechesis is
the Mystery of Christ.
• It is to seek, to understand the meaning of
Christ’s actions and words, of the signs worked
by Him.
• In catechesis, it is Christ, the Incarnate Word and
the Son of god who is taught.
3 FEATURES of an EFFECTIVE CATECHESIS
3. Truly Filipino Catechesis
• The battle cry now a days for those involved in
the apostolate of Catechesis is Inculturation.
 We desire that God’s Message be handed to us
Filipinos
 We would like our catechists to speak to us in a
language that we can understand.
 “If God is to teach us, He must in a sense of
going down to the level of His pupils.
3 FEATURES of an EFFECTIVE
CATECHESIS
3. Truly Filipino Catechesis
• He must take persons as
they are, use what they
know, make use of their
institutions and customs
and transform them by
His living truths.