ORDER FOR THE BLESSING OF THOSE APPOINTED AS CATECHISTS
INTRODUCTION
A suitable celebration of
the word of God or a eucharistic celebration is the preferable occasion for
celebrating the rite for the blessing of those who are appointed to serve the
local Church as catechists.
The present order may be
used by a priest or deacon. While maintaining the structure and chief elements
of the rite, the celebrant should adapt the celebration to the circumstances of
the place and the people involved.
A. ORDER OF BLESSING WITHIN A CELEBRATION OF THE WORD OF GOD
INTRODUCTORY
When the community has
gathered, a suitable song may be sung. After the singing, the celebrant says:
In the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All make the sign of the
cross and reply:
Amen.
The celebrant greets those
present in the following or other suitable words, taken mainly from sacred
Scripture.
May God the Father of mercies, who
wills that all be saved, be with you.
All make the following or
some other suitable reply.
And with your spirit.
In the following or similar
words, the celebrant briefly addresses those present, in order to prepare them
for the celebration and explain the rite.
For the pastoral activity of the
Church the cooperation of a great many people is needed, so that communities as
well as individuals may advance to full maturity in faith and continually show
forth their faith through the celebration of the liturgy, through study, and
through their manner of life.
This cooperation is provided by those
who devote themselves to catechesis. Enlightened by God’s word and the teaching
of the Church, catechists impart to others an initiation or a deeper formation
in those realities that they themselves have learned as truths to be followed in
living and to be celebrated in liturgy.
In this celebration we will bless the
name of the Lord for giving us such co-workers and pray that through the Holy
Spirit they will receive the grace they need in their service to the Church.
READING OF THE WORD OF GOD
A reader, another person
present, or the celebrant reads either the following text of sacred Scripture
or one taken preferably from the readings given in the Lectionary for Mass in
Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, “For the Spread of the Gospel” or “For
the Ministers of the Church”.
Brothers and sisters, listen to the
words of the apostle Paul to the Romans: 10:9-15
How beautiful are the feet
of those who bring tidings of peace, joy, and salvation.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus
is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one
confesses with the mouth and so is saved. For the scripture says, “No one who
believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew
and Greek; the same
Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who
call upon him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But how can they call on him in whom
they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not
heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people
preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of
those who bring the good news!”
As circumstances suggest,
the following responsorial psalm may be sung or said, or some other suitable
song.
R.: Proclaim his marvelous deeds to
all the nations.
Psalm 96
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name. R./
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R./
Give to the Lord, you families of
nations,
give to the Lord glory and praise;
give to the Lord the glory due his
name! R./
Say among the nations: The Lord is
king.
He has made the world firm, not to be
moved;
he governs the people with equity. R./
As circumstances suggest,
the celebrant may give those present a brief explanation of the biblical text,
so that they may understand through faith the meaning of the celebration.
INTERCESSIONS
The intercessions are then
said. The celebrant introduces them and an assisting minister or one of those
present announces the intentions. From the following intentions those best
suited to the occasion may be used or adapted, or other intentions that apply
to the particular circumstances may be composed.
The celebrant says:
Since God wills the salvation of all,
let us pray to him in these words:
R.: Lord, draw all people to yourself.
Or:
R.: Lord, hear our prayer.
1.
Father, grant that all people will come to know you, the
one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (For this we pray:)
2.
Send workers into your harvest, so that your name will be
glorified among the nations. (For this we pray:)
3.
You sent the disciples of Jesus to preach the Gospel;
help us to spread the victory of his cross. (For this we pray:)
4.
Make us docile to the teaching of the apostles and our
lives consistent with the truths we believe. (For this we pray:)
5.
As you call us to serve you in our brothers and sisters,
make us the ministers of your truth. (For this we pray:)
6.
Keep us as faithful ministers of your Church, so that,
having taught others, we ourselves may be found faithful in your service. (For
this we pray:)
7.
May the grace of the Holy Spirit guide our hearts and our
lips, so that we may remain constant in loving and praising you. (For this we
pray:)
PRAYER OF BLESSING
With hands outstretched, the
celebrant says the prayer of blessing.
With your fatherly blessing, Lord,
strengthen these servants of yours
in their resolve to dedicate
themselves as catechists.
Grant that they will strive to share
with others
what they themselves derive from
pondering your word
and studying the Church's teaching.
And let them gladly join those they
teach
in honoring and serving your name.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R.: Amen.
Or:
Lord God,
source of all wisdom and knowledge,
you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to
live among us
and to proclaim his message of faith,
hope, and love to all nations.
In your goodness
bless our brothers and sisters
who have offered themselves as
catechists for your Church.
Strengthen them with your gifts
that they may teach by word and
example
the truth which comes from you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All reply:
Amen.
CONCLUDING RITE
Facing the catechists, the
celebrant concludes the rite by saying:
In Christ God has revealed his love
and his truth.
May he make you witnesses to the
Gospel and to the divine love.
R.: Amen.
The Lord Jesus promised to be with his
Church until the end of the world.
May he give power to your actions and
your words.
R.: Amen.
May the Spirit of the Lord be with
you, so that you may help the ministers of his word.
R.: Amen.
Then he blesses all present.
And may almighty God bless you all, the
Father, and the Son X and the Holy Spirit.
R.: Amen.
It is preferable to end the
celebration with a suitable song.
B. ORDER OF BLESSING WITHIN MASS
If the rubrics permit, the
Mass, “For the Laity,” provided in the Roman Missal in Masses and Prayers for
Various Needs and Occasions, may be used, as circumstances suggest, with the
readings that are provided in the Lectionary for Mass.
The homily follows the
gospel reading. In it the celebrant, basing himself on the sacred text, gives
an explanation of the celebration pertinent to the particular place and the
people involved.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
The general intercessions
follow, either in the form usual at Mass or in the form given here. The
celebrant concludes the general intercessions with the prayer of blessing,
unless it is thought better to have the prayer of blessing at the end of Mass
as a prayer over the people. From the following intentions those best suited to
the occasion may be used or adapted, or other intentions that apply to the
particular circumstances may be composed.
The celebrant says:
Since God wills the salvation of all,
let us pray to him in these words:
R.: Lord, draw all people to yourself.
Or:
R.: Lord, hear our prayer.
1.
Father, grant that all people will come to know you, the
one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (For this we pray:)
2.
Send workers into your harvest, so that your name will be
glorified among the nations. (For this we pray:)
3.
You sent the disciples of Jesus to preach the Gospel;
help us to spread the victory of his cross. (For this we pray:)
4.
Make us docile to the teaching of the apostles and our
lives consistent with the truths we believe. (For this we pray:)
5.
As you call us to serve you in our brothers and sisters,
make us the ministers of your truth. (For this we pray:)
6.
Keep us as faithful ministers of your Church, so that,
having taught others, we ourselves may be found faithful in your service. (For
this we pray:)
7.
May the grace of the Holy Spirit guide our hearts and our
lips, so that we may remain constant in loving and praising you. (For this we
pray:)
PRAYER OF BLESSING
With hands outstretched, the
celebrant says the prayer of blessing.
With your fatherly blessing, Lord,
strengthen these servants of yours
in their resolve to dedicate
themselves as catechists.
Grant that they will strive to share
with others
what they themselves derive from
pondering your word
and studying the Church’s teaching.
And let them gladly join those they
teach
in honoring and serving your name.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R.: Amen.
Or:
Lord God,
source of all wisdom and knowledge,
you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to
live among us
and to proclaim his message of faith, hope,
and love to all nations.
In your goodness
bless our brothers and sisters
who have offered themselves as
catechists for your Church.
Strengthen them with your gifts
that they may teach by word and
example
the truth which comes from you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All reply:
Amen. .
But as an alternative, if
this seems more opportune, the prayer of blessing may be used at the end of
Mass after the following or some other invitation.
Bow your heads and pray for God’s
blessing.
After the prayer of
blessing, the celebrant always adds:
And may almighty God bless you, the
Father, the Son, X and the Holy Spirit.
R.: Amen.
Taken from Book of Blessings, The
Liturgical Press, Collegeville 1989
nvited to facilitate
this formation organised by Kota Kinabalu Archdiocesan Catechetical
Commission. An educator by background,
as well as a trained catechist and a Jesuit priest rooted in Ignatian
spirituality, Fr. Alvin Ho, SJ is an expert in this field. He is also the immediate past chairperson of
the Malaysian Catechetical Commission. 
After the inputs given, participants were put into
small group discussions on how to apply the steps given by the speaker. The participants were very enthusiastic,
happy, inspired, motivated and encouraged in learning the new skills and
methods of teaching even though it was difficult to apply in the beginning, but
after more sessions of discussion and clarification from the speaker, the
participants were more enlightened and challenged to apply this method in their
weekly catechism classes. Some
participants expressed that there were still so many things they need to learn,
and that Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm is very complex. Other remarks from them
are: “We need more refresher course or workshop such as this”, “This formation
is very useful in order to mould us Catechists to better improve our ways of
guiding and approach when it comes to dealing with children of God”, “The
training program is very useful for me. Now I have confidence to prepare my
lesson”. “The examples given by Fr.
Alvin from his personal teaching experience were very helpful”. The feedback
from the survey forms showed an overwhelming response where 90% found the
programme met their expectation and useful for their application in their
classes. 
