Dioceses Must Fill Need for Catechesis, Says Cardinal Castrillón

Zenit.org ^ | 7-29-04 | Cardinal Castrillón

[Salvation]

---

Code: ZE04072906

Date: 2004-07-29

Dioceses Must Fill Need for Catechesis, Says Cardinal Castrillón

Calls It a "Work of Justice"

VATICAN CITY, JULY 29, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The faithful have a right to sound catechesis, and it is up to parishes and diocesan movements in communion with the bishop to provide such instruction, says a Vatican official.

When opening the European Catechetical Conference, Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, referred to the plea of many Catholics who want to learn more about the faith. The Vatican dicastery organized the conference.

"The parishes and the new ecclesial movements present in the local Church will be real communities of faith if they maintain direct catechetical relations with all the faithful of that portion of the People of God entrusted to their bishop, collaborating with him," the cardinal said.

"Catechesis is not simply one more activity among the many endeavors of the diocese in evangelization, but represents a unique and fundamental 'work of justice,'" he added.

Consequently, the cardinal said that "the supplication that Paul heard in the vision of Macedonia, 'Help us,'" must always resound in the heart and mind of every priest and catechist.

The challenge of catechesis, he added, cannot be properly addressed today if the duty to proclaim the truth in the "new 'areopagi'" is not emphasized.

These "areopagi" are "the world of politics and economics, the world of art in all its diversified and noble expression, the world of communication and of scientific research, the world of computer science," the Vatican prefect explained.

He added: "All available honest and congruent means" must be used "to resolve that break between the Gospel and culture which generates serious damages in civil society and the Church."

[Salvation]

for your information and discussion.

[Salvation]

Catechesis Alert!

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Discussion Ping List.

If we had a choice we (I) would choose to be catechized in ______________ (finish the sentence).

[Salvation]

Church Year, Feasts and Saints?

[Salvation]

Advent Lent??

Morality??

The Creed??

Values??

Vatican II??

Prayer??

[Salvation]

The Seven Sacraments??

[cpforlife.org]

If we had a choice we (I) would choose to be catechized in the early 1800's. It seems they REALLY knew their Faith.

If I'm limited to the present time (dragnabit!) (I) would choose to be catechized in the class of Fr. John Corapi. He not only Teaches our Faith so well, he makes you want to LIVE IT.

http://www.fathercorapi.com/

What about you Salvation?

[AskStPhilomena]

When will the Vatican fill the urgent need of catechesis to pro-death politicians like Kerry?

[Robert Drobot]

The urgent need stems from the V2 make-over. Making dust of Sacred Roman Catholic Teachings and Traditions is now in earnest.

[GirlShortstop]

If I'm limited to the present time (dragnabit!) (I) would choose to be catechized in the class of Fr. John Corapi. He not only Teaches our Faith so well, he makes you want to LIVE IT.

BUMP  A man knows his WEAPONS, and lives to share what he knows!    FReegards!

[SuziQ]

My brother in law heads up to Steubenville to find folks to head the Education Ministry of his Parish and it's High School. He doesn't have to worry about what they're teaching the kids!

[Dominick]

Well the list is huge.

When I teach a class, I find it useful to teach around a textbook. The Catechism is a good reference to add to this, so what textbook that is currently in print works?

[GirlShortstop]

When I teach a class, I find it useful to teach around a textbook. The Catechism is a good reference to add to this, so what textbook that is currently in print works?

Dominick, I can not answer your question exactly because I am uninformed about text books.  Father Corapi's Catechism videos are superb, imo.  If the students are too young to grasp the content via their own viewing, what I would do is view Father Corapi's presentation(s) and take notes in order to expand upon, or "teach around" the Catechism[?] text book.  Father Levis [also on EWTN] wrote a book called Jesus, the Catechism, and me and I have heard parents on the radio praise it.  So many Catholic books... so little time!   :-)     
it goes without saying, but lest a lurker get persnickety:  The Holy Bible still ranks as numero uno!

Pax et bonum.

[Salvation]

What a great testimony!