OBJECTIVES AND TASKS OF CATECHESIS

1. To put people in communion with Jesus Christ

To give catechesis is to reveal in the Person of Christ the whole of God’s eternal design reaching fulfillment in that Person. The definitive aim of catechesis “to put people not only in touch, but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only he can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity” (CT 5, GDC 80), because Jesus is the WAY, TRUTH and the LIFE. Catechesis leads the people towards maturity of faith that is Christ-centered (CT 20).


2 Profession of faith


Through the Baptism we receive, we are called to a profession of faith that is eminently Trinitarian (one God in three Persons). Therefore, Initiatory catechesis – both before and after the reception of Baptism – prepares for this decisive undertaking. Continuing catechesis helps to mature this profession of faith. This profession of faith calls one to be a witness to the faith even to the point of oppression & martyrdom (cf. GDC, 82).


3. TASK OF CATECHESIS AS PASTORAL ACTION (cf. DCG, 24-30, GDC 85-86)


We are inspired by the manner in which Christ formed his disciples buy cultivating the different dimensions of faith, in what is to be known, celebrated, lived and prayed. The task of catechesis should constitute a totality, rich and varied in aspects. They are done by the transmission of the Gospel and built on Christian experience. They include the following, all of which are necessary, interdependent and should be Christological and Trinitarian:


1. Promoting the Knowledge o Faith: Adherence (to embrace) to the faith (fides qua) requires, a certain knowledge of the (fides quae) . this includes the knowledge of the whole truth as found/contain in the Scripture and Tradition. Thus the life of faith is strengthened by a deeper knowledge of the truth.


2. Liturgical Education: The disciple lives in communion with Christ especially by celebrating his presence in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist. Such a knowledge will help the disciple have a full, conscious and active participation in the liturgy.


3. Moral Formation: The follower of Christ requires that the disciple think, judge and act like Christ. Hence our catechesis should communicate his teaching as found in the Sermon fo the Mount, the spirit of the Beatitudes and the Decalogue, so that one can corm a genuine Christian morality.


4. Teaching to Pray: Catechesis should lead the catechized to assume the attitude of prayer an contemplation so as to be able to turn to the Father in adoration, praise, thanksgiving, filial confidence, supplication and awe for His glory. The catechesis of “Our Father”.


5. Education for Community Life: This includes many characteristics of Christian life, like simplicity and humility, option for the poor and the alienated, fraternal correction and mutual forgiveness. This formation should include also the ecumenical dimension.


6. Missionary Initiation: Educating to the missionary sense, an important dimension of Christ’s disciple, besides helping one to know how to permeate culture with Christian values, I should also prepare the disciple for interreligious dialogue.


Catechesis seeks to equip & prepares disciples of Jesus to proclaim the Good News to all peoples & to be present as Christians in society through their professional, cultural and social lives. In educating this missionary sense, catechesis is also necessary for interreligious dialogue.