Celebrating those who hand on the Catholic faith to the next generation, Catechetical Sunday will be celebrated this year on Sept. 21 with a Jubilee Year theme, “Always be ready to give an explanation…for a reason for your hope” (1 Pet 3:15).
Catechists – including those ministering in parish religious education programs or Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, and teaching religion in Catholic schools – will be recognized and commissioned at Masses throughout the Diocese and the nation that day with special blessings. As primary educators and catechists of their children, parents and guardians are also honored on Catechetical Sunday for their role in imparting the Catholic faith in their families.
Forming Those Who Form
Support for catechists in the Diocese has been buoyed by multiple faith formation and collaborative opportunities, including ongoing catechetical training as well as the Hope in Our Hearts Conference in March.
“This conference has sparked hope in the hearts and minds of catechists across our Diocese,” noted Denise Contino, director of the diocesan Department of Catechesis. “We are experiencing a new desire by catechists to engage in formation to be more equipped to pass on the faith.”
Over the past few years, many parish catechists and Catholic school teachers have completed the diocesan Certificate in Catechesis in both English and Spanish, she said.
The Certificate has two components: the Art of Catechesis, which 829 catechists have completed, and more than 100 have completed the theology component to receive full certification since 2021.
“This achievement is no small task,” Contino said, noting both the academic and spiritual commitments required. “It is a response to the call of Christ to ‘go and make disciples’ (Matthew 28:19), and a testament to each participant’s personal desire to grow in holiness while leading others on that same path.”
The Jubilee Year will continue the Diocese’s efforts to support catechists with multiple CATechist Chats planned – one-hour virtual meetings with practitioners in the field.
“Additionally, we are committed to our Confirmation programs and the formation of adolescent catechists,” Contino added. “We offer a ‘Crash Course in Confirmation – let’s get past graduation.’ This year Colin MacIver will be joining us virtually to unpack strategies for making Catholic social teaching accessible and compelling to youth.”
Daunting Yet Possible
Passing on the faith in a culture in which it is often unsupported and frequently questioned is a challenging mission for catechists, she noted.
“The theme of Catechetical Sunday urges catechists to grow in their own faith and understanding to be able to express their reason for hope and pass that on to their learners,” Contino said. “We all have stories of hope in our lives that ultimately lead us to placing our trust in Christ’s promise of eternal life.”
The theme also aligns beautifully with hope during the Jubilee year, Contino observed.
“It serves as a powerful reminder that catechists are not merely transmitters of doctrine, but also witnesses of hope,” she said. “[It] calls catechists to deepen their own relationship with Christ and to reflect on the personal experiences that have shaped their faith,” which she said equips them to share both Church teaching and how it brings them hope.
Authenticity and courage, Contino said, in sharing their own faith stories helps catechists to connect with their learners.
“Everyone has moments of grace, struggle, and renewal that point to the enduring hope we find in Christ. Sharing these stories can open hearts and minds, making their time with learners help grow in their relationship with Christ.”
The connection seems to be working, as over the past two years “the Diocese has seen a significant increase in younger people requesting the Sacraments through the Order of Christian Initiation, which has been very exciting for us as a local Church,” Contino said. “In turn, the entire county has seen the numbers of adults coming into the Church rise dramatically.”
The great responsibility of learning the truths of the faith is both a challenge and an opportunity in today’s culture, she continued.
“In this shifting landscape, the role of the catechist becomes even more vital,” she said. “We are tasked not only with passing on the truths of the faith but also with forming relationships and spaces for conversion. This demands a deeper commitment to our own faith formation, a willingness to engage questions honestly, and the courage to live out our witness joyfully and visibly in daily life.”
The Year of Hope, Contino said, reminds us that “even in the face of decline, the Holy Spirit is at work. Catechists today are called to be credible witnesses who not only teach but also walk with those seeking truth, meaning and a sense of belonging in the Catholic faith … As we are instruments of hope for a new generation longing for something real and eternal.”