St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

To Educate in the Faith Saturday, 18 August 2007 According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Catechesis is an education in the faith of children, young people and adults (n. 5)”. What does it mean to educate in the faith? We are all aware of the notion of education, but what of being educated in the mystery of the faith-life? How can we teach the mystery of “believing in” the Invisible God? How do we do this at St. John Neumann? “To catechize is to reveal in the Person of Christ the whole of God’s eternal design. Pope John Paul the Great wrote that at the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth (CCC, n. 426)”. When the clergy and the staff and the trained volunteers of the parish catechize, we are “handing on” what has been revealed to God’s people, and this “handing on” (tradere) is what we mean when we speak of the living Tradition of the Church (cf. 1 Corinthians 11. 23). Parents do the same thing, as they instruct their children about their discipleship, their following of the Way of the Lord Jesus. Our PSR classes are scheduled to begin on Catechetical Sunday, the 16th of September. This year’s catechetical theme for SJN will be Encountering the Living Christ.  We have wonderful catechists already prepared to assist our parents in “handing on” the gift of what has been revealed to us. Still, we are always looking for additional catechists, for this important work of God. Training sessions for our catechists are scheduled for 22 August (7 to 9 PM) and 26 August (10 to Noon). Please contact Sharon Maldonado or Patti Miller in the SJN Ministries office for more details. Often times, we mistakenly think of “catechesis” as an activity for the children. It is that; but all of us are in need of on-going formation in the life of faith. To be educated in the faith is the responsibility of every baptized man and woman. To the older teens and the adults of the parish, please consider joining me on Thursdays, in the SJN Faith Institute. We’ll begin the Institute on Thursday, the 6th of September. Please contact Sherry Johnson for more information on this SJN tradition. On a personal note, please know that I’ll be away from the parish from 18 through 25 August. This week of holiday will be spent with close friends at Sunset Beach, on the coast of North Carolina. I’ll be back home for the Sunday liturgies of the 26th. The Lord has blessed this parish in the past. The Lord is blessing this parish... here and now... in and through your participation in the abundant life of faith. We are the Lord’s, and are called to be His light and love. Let us live the life... to the full, all for the greater glory of God. AMDG. Msgr. David   < Prev   Next > [ Back ]