Evangelization and Catechesis Supplement

Learn about the faith and share it, ‘because Jesus says so’

“Why do you Catholics do that? What makes you think the Catholic vision of (fill-in-the-blank) is the truth?”

We’re not always great at explaining our faith to others. What if, when asked why we believe a basic doctrinal or moral teaching of the Church, we simply reply “Because Jesus says so,” and see where the conversation goes from there?

“I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you” (1 Cor 11:23).

This statement by St. Paul is the theme for Catechetical Sunday 2020, which is on Sept. 20. And Paul meant it!

When we hear the teaching of our holy Catholic Church, we are listening to the teaching of Christ. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, who keeps his Church free from error in her basic doctrinal and moral teaching.

If a person isn’t familiar with the authentic Jesus of sacred Scripture and sacred Tradition (and hence might be puzzled by one or more Church teachings) we have a great opportunity to share a bit about our disciple relationship with Jesus—lived in full communion with his body, the Church. Once a person knows who Jesus is (based on our witness), it’s easier to understand why we embrace the teaching of the Church.

Also, even if a person struggles with a teaching, no one can argue with your witness. You’re simply sharing who Jesus is in your life and why you find Church teaching to be good, true, beautiful and helpful—a gift from a loving God who knows us well and wants us to be happy, on Earth and in heaven.

As an article in this supplement highlights, the Holy See recently issued a new edition of a document called the Directory for Catechesis. This directory addresses both evangelization and catechesis, helping leaders at various levels facilitate these essential ministries.

Evangelization and catechesis are such essential areas of Church activity that each has its own office in the administrative structure of our archdiocese.

When you pray for Archbishop Charles C. Thompson and his ministry of leadership, when you participate in the United Catholic Appeal, when you help your parish catechetical and evangelization leaders with their collaborative efforts involving your pastor and the offices of evangelization and catechesis, you are helping to hand on what we’ve all received from the Lord. You are helping to fulfill the great commission of Jesus, who commands us not only to be his disciples, but also to make disciples and share all of his teaching, confident that he is with us until the end of the age.

I hope you enjoy this annual Evangelization and Catechesis Supplement to our archdiocesan newspaper. In this special feature, you’ll find encouraging accounts of how Catholics in central and southern Indiana are sharing the faith effectively and joyfully.

Please keep the ministries of evangelization and catechesis in your prayers. Please be supportive of your parish leaders in these areas of Church activity—even to the point of answering God’s call, if you hear it, to serve as a catechist or evangelization team member. By God’s grace and mercy, may we all hand on what we receive from the Lord—because Jesus says so!
 

(Ken Ogorek is the catechetical director within the archdiocesan Secretariat for Worship and Evangelization. He can be reached at kogorek@archindy.org.) †