The US bishops have launched a new way of teaching the faith | Tech Reddy

By Carol Zimmermann

WASHINGTON (CNS) – Catholic Church leaders are taking a new approach to communicating the faith, acknowledging the need to do so in a way that adapts to the modern world.

Called the Catechism Institute, this new outreach is not a place, but instead a new springboard for faith formation developed by the U.S. Conference on Catechism of Catholic Bishops.

This includes catechetical preachers working directly with a USCCB subcommittee on new ways of communicating the faith using digital tools and seeking to reach a diverse church. It also provides resources to dioceses and annual personal study conferences and retreats for diocesan catechetical leaders.

Bishop Frank J. of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Caggiano, chairman of the bishops’ subcommittee on catechism, understands this: Catholic churches must “recreate a Catholic culture that recognizes that we are in the 21st century. We cannot go back to 1950; has gone”.

Rebuilding what he describes as a “radically different model” for teaching faith is something he has been working on with this subcommittee for the past several years.

The bishop made the proposal to establish the institute last June at the spring meeting of the bishops. It will officially begin in advance of the bishops’ annual fall meeting in Baltimore, Nov. 10-12.

Beginning with the 30th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this new approach is inspired by Pope Francis’ 2021 document Anticum Ministium (“Ancient Ministry”). It also builds on the 2020 Vatican catalog on catechesis, which provides guidance for catechists and pastors, particularly on the role of evangelization.

The most commonly used description for an institute on catechism is evangelizing catechesis.

Explaining this to Catholic News Service on Oct. 19, Bishop Caggiano said the new approach would emphasize truth, beauty and goodness, and he “recognizes that the passing of faith is not in Catholic culture, but in a culture of anti-religious and anti-religious hostility.” Christian Faith”.

According to him, the institute’s mandate is to “create many opportunities for young people to meet Christ on a regular basis” and “to be accompanied by the leadership of the church and their parents.”

In other words, it’s not just textbook learning or even religious education through service projects, but a more focused effort to engage young people in the church and model them with diocesan and church resources. One hope is that these young people will in turn revitalize the church.

In an earlier interview with CNS about the project, catechetical consultants said the institute has the potential to change the fundamental relationship between publishers and bishops toward a finished product that is less reactive and collaborative.

Mike Raffio, vice president of sales at Pflaum Publishing Group and president of the Association of Catholic Publishers, said many catechetical materials lead people to a meaningful encounter with Christ through catechesis and an understanding of their role in the church’s mission. an effort. “But we have to recognize our limitations,” he added.

“Developing one’s faith is a lifelong journey. This journey, even for young people, involves many variables that catechetical texts cannot anticipate,” he said.

Similarly, says Sabrina Magnuson, catechist consultant for Loyola Press, the formation of institute leaders, who in turn inspire and form parents, teachers and catechists in the home diocese.

“Ultimately, a textbook is a resource, a tool,” he said. “The meeting is much more than that.”

Bishop Caggiano said about 17 bishops planned to attend the inauguration of the institute and have committed to using this new model in their dioceses, and he hopes more dioceses will join next year.

In the meantime, he said, participating dioceses will receive the support they need to begin the work. It will also be a learning experience for all participating dioceses and a time for parishes to gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to do this work.

“It must be the work of the Holy Spirit,” he added, adding that he would also need financial help from those willing to partner in the effort.