The words “catechist” and “catechesis” have their roots in a Greek word that means “to sound” or to echo like whales and dolphins.” The Latin root of the word means "to charm, to fascinate, to teach orally, to instruct." Over time, catechesis came to mean “teaching by word of mouth” and implies dialoging and sharing our faith in an attractive way. As teachers of the Catholic faith, we are all catechists whose mission is to echo of the Word of God.

The Catechism, reflected in your Blest Are We Faith in Action and Be My Disciples programs, provides the content for catechesis. We faithfully teach the content of the faith, employing all our skills and strategies to transmit information about the faith. Our mission as catechists calls us to go further. In On Catechesis in Our Time, St. John Paul II told us, “The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ” (5). And that won’t happen solely by learning information about Jesus. Everything we do as catechists – not only our lesson plans -- should help our students encounter the mystery of Christ.

Because the goal of catechesis is more than academic, the method differs, too. Both models need a leader who is competent, but the competency of the catechist begins with a willingness to demonstrate their faith in action and share their own faith journey. Your students need someone to help them have that encounter with Jesus. In the classroom, the Catholic catechist is the storyteller of the faith and a role model for young people. In the process, we also are learners who are growing closer to Christ.

How do we bring our students to an encounter with Jesus? Pope Francis gives us an answer: On the lips of the catechist the message must ring out over and over: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.” (Joy of the Gospel, 164) He says, “What helps is to focus on the fundamental reality, which is the encounter with Christ, with his mercy and with his love, and to love our brothers and sisters as he has loved us” (October 14, 2013).

How Can We Grow as Catechists?

• Engage in personal prayer and spiritual growth practices, so as to have a living faith to share.

• Know the Scriptures and be able to share the story of salvation in your own words.

• Provide opportunities for encountering God: silence, meditation, use of imagination, journaling, and personal discernment.

• Form community in your classroom with prayer partners. For instance, draw names of prayer partners from a hat. Draw new prayer partners monthly.

• Illustrate faith concepts by sharing appropriate stories from your personal faith journey.

• Include the whole family in faith formation whenever possible.