Catechetical Sunday is a day set aside by the Church each year to celebrate the individuals who serve in the ministry of catechist.
“The Catechist is a Christian who receives a particular calling from God that when accepted in faith, empowers him for the service of the transmission of the faith and for the task of initiating others into the Christian life” (Directory for Catechesis, 112).
This year we celebrate Catechetical Sunday on September 15, in accord with the theme: “Lord, when did we see you hungry?” from the Gospel of Matthew 25:37. Reflecting on this verse from scripture, I was reminded of the needs of the family. The image that accompanied this year’s theme is the Holy Family portrayed as immigrants in a modern world, a reminder that all families are called to holiness.
Catholic parents most especially have a deep desire for their children to be good people and faithful disciples of Christ. Parents are the first catechists of their children, and the Church supports them in their role of being the first educators of the faith for their children. The parish community – including the clergy, parish leaders and catechists – are tasked with passing on the faith to the entire family. The partnership between the parish and family to pass on the faith is beneficial to the faith development of the child. Parents are hungry for community and the parish is a place to satisfy that hunger.
The family, which we refer to as the Domestic Church, is the most fundamental and natural way to pass on the faith to the next generation. St. John Paul II defines the family not as a structure but as “a community of life and love” (Familiaris Consortio, 1981), and calls the family to live out the Domestic Church by witnessing their faith to the world.
The Domestic Church can be explained as a place for parents and children to pass on the faith through simple acts in their ordinary daily life, by connecting these simple moments to the person of Jesus Christ. Many of the ordinary experiences in a family are sacred, and present opportunities for the family to pass on the faith. These include, for example, prayer before and after meals, and discussions on moral teachings, serving the poor as a family, celebrating feast days in the home, attending Mass together and many more.
Recognizing the needs of families and the hunger that parents have for their children to grow into good Catholic adults, the Diocese is always seeking ways to support them in their vital role. A few months ago, the Diocese was invited to be part of a national project. We have accepted and are currently working with the National Community of Catechetical Leaders on the Parents & Families at the Center of Faith Formation Project to support families in the first two decades of life.
Over the next few years, a group of parishes in our Diocese will create new approaches intended to encourage, equip, engage and involve families in faith formation experiences, connecting them with other generations of the parish. This initiative will provide us with strategies and approaches based on current research findings that can benefit the entire Diocese. (Check The Monitor in the coming months for updates on this project.)
Parish catechists, Catholic school teachers, youth ministers, Christian Initiation teams, parish leaders and clergy are tasked with assisting families in passing on the faith. Ongoing formation is necessary for all ministers as we fulfill this mandate in our parishes. Toward that end, the Diocese will host a bilingual Faith Formation and Parish Ministry Conference on March 29, 2025. The theme, “Hope in Our Hearts to Ignite, Share, and Transform!” was inspired by the Jubilee Year’s theme, “Pilgrims of Hope.” The conference will aim to restore and inspire all catechists to learn new skills and develop new approaches to meet the needs of their ministries. Information can be found at dioceseoftrenton.org/hope2025.
Catechetical Sunday provides us an opportunity to celebrate and pray for all catechists in parishes and schools that have said yes to the call to pass on the faith. Let us pray for all our parish and school communities as they continue to encourage parents to grow in the faith and become “first catechists” of their children. Blessings to all catechists and families as we walk together in faith in this new school year.
Denise Contino is director of the diocesan Department of Catechesis
Catechetical Sunday to recognize all who hand on the faith to others