By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer

To recognize and show appreciation for the thousands of men and women who act as missionaries to the faith, the Catholic Church designates the third Sunday in September as Catechetical Sunday.

Sponsored by the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, this year’s Catechetical Sunday, scheduled for Sept. 21 in parishes across the nation, will focus on the theme “Teaching about God’s Gift of Forgiveness.” Those whom have answered their baptismal call to hand on the faith and be a witness to the Gospel as catechists will be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith.

“Even before anyone of us can consider seeking forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance, we know God is already at work in our hearts,” asserted Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wisc., chairman of the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. “The Spirit … creates in us, the penitents, a readiness to embrace ongoing conversion of life through sorrow for sins, sacramental confession through the ministry of the priest, and a firm purpose of amendment.”

The USCC offers a broad spectrum of free resources in both English and Spanish to assist pastors, parish catechists, Catholic school teachers, parents and the faithful in celebrating Catechetical Sunday on its website at http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechesis/catechetical-sunday/sacramental-forgiveness/index.cfm, Bishop Ricken advised.

“Whether you confess regularly, or this is the first time in a long time, may this be your moment to draw near to the confessional with confidence to celebrate the tender loving mercy of God. May you experience again and again God’s gift of forgiveness and healing through the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation,” the bishop said.

To aid in evangelization on the parish level, the Catechetical Sunday website offers reflections for and by clergy in the form of teaching aids and bulletin inserts on such topics as preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the examination of conscience, confessing venial sins and saints who were model confessors.

The bishops offer resources to families, new parents and catechists on the topics of moral development, preparing for the Sacrament as a family unit and instructions for a family retreat examining the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Statements by Pope Francis on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a commissioning service for catechists, prayer cards and certificates are also available.

The history of Catechetical Sunday goes back to the Vatican’s 1935 publication of the document “On the Better Care and Promotion of Catechetical Education” which asks every country to acknowledge the importance of the Church’s teaching ministry and to honor those who serve the Christian community as catechists. Beginning in 1971, the USCCB’s department of education formalized the event and began producing materials to help parishes celebrate it at the local level. Resources were offered online beginning in 2009.