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Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Walsh told 800 catechists attending the archdiocesan Catechetical Forum Oct. 3 that they are people who keep God’s Word “alive in the hearts of your students and their families.”
The bishop, in his homily at the Mass he celebrated opening the daylong forum at Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx, said because of the catechists’ focus on the teachings of Jesus, their task is “a sacred work, a sacred opportunity, a sacred gift.”
In quoting Pope Francis, he said catechists are “the people who keep the memory of God alive; they keep it alive in themselves, and they’re able to revive it in others.”
The forum included many morning and afternoon workshops for the catechists and other religious educators in attendance, and a keynote speaker, Victor Valenzuela, a California-based national religion consultant for William H. Sadlier Inc. There are more than 9,000 catechists in the archdiocese.
A second forum will be held at Sacred Heart parish in Monroe on Saturday, Oct. 17. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Joseph White, an author who spoke at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia last month.
In welcoming remarks at Mass at Cardinal Spellman, Sister Joan Curtin, C.N.D., director of the archdiocesan Catechetical Office, said, “We just experienced the very warm and loving presence of Pope Francis in our midst.” She noted that the pope, as Christ did, encouraged everyone to love one other. Indeed, the theme of the English/Spanish forum was, “Love one another as I have loved you (Amense los unos a los otros, como yo los he amado).”
In expressing her gratitude to the catechists, Sister Joan said she knows that they often go beyond what is expected regarding religious education and faith formation. “Your witness is sterling; thank you,” she added.
In an interview later, Sister Joan noted, “They have such a desire to teach…they give so much of their faith.”
Valenzuela gave his presentation twice—in Spanish in the morning and in English in the afternoon. The presentation was titled “Cultivating Kindness: Mercy as a Goal of Catechesis.”
“There should be a balance between information and formation,” he said during his morning talk. He noted that catechesis can often become too instructional and programmed—that there should be more spirituality in the mission of faith formation.
In speaking about the “mercy” aspect of catechesis, he noted that Pope Francis has said that there should be less financial burden in receiving the sacraments and that some requirements, or “obstacles,” need to be softened or taken away. Valenzuela closed his presentation by leading the Prayer of St. Francis.
One of the workshops was “Nurturing My Faith in Stressful Times.” The presenter, Father Arthur Mastrolia, talked about the high-tech world being part of our daily lives, and how sometimes it can be stressful.
“Nothing is more difficult than a radical change in the family,” he said, citing the empty-nest syndrome, loss of a spouse, loss of a job or moving to a new place.
Father Mastrolia, pastor of St. Anthony’s parish in Yonkers, said catechists should always remember to offer faith, hope and encouragement to the families they serve. The answer to problems and stress, he said, is to establish and maintain a close relationship with God, and to pass that on to families.
Another workshop was called “New Ways to Evangelize Our Families.” The presenter was Oscar Cruz, who said more parishes should try “intergenerational catechesis.” While it’s a lot of work, it can be very beneficial, he said. “It’s like having a mini-family retreat for two hours,” said Cruz, who is director of family catechesis and Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults ministry for the archdiocesan Catechetical Office.
Cruz noted that even though many families are not accustomed to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, they should be encouraged to try. And toward the end of catechesis gatherings, he said, “Have discussion, always have discussion, and end with prayer.”
One of the catechists attending the workshop was Angelina Soriano, of St. Catherine of Genoa parish in Manhattan. Ms. Soriano, in an interview afterward, said that sometimes obtaining space for meetings and funds for supplies can be challenging. “But we do what we can and we complete our tasks,” she said. With patience and prayer, she noted, “We evangelize the families. They depend on us.”
Felix Figueroa, of Holy Name of Jesus and St. Gregory the Great parish in Manhattan, has been a catechist for four years and has attended the forum each year. “It’s enriching and it’s enlightening,” Figueroa noted in an interview.
