Parishes celebrate Catechetical Sunday

By Denver Catholic Register

Parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Denver will join Catholic parishes across the country in celebrating Catechetical Sunday during the weekend of Sept. 20-21.

The annual event, the 73rd observance in the Church of the United States, spotlights the importance of the formal teaching ministry in the Catholic Church.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.”
Currently, more than half a million catechists serve in 19,000 Catholic parishes, missions, and schools across the country. They are instrumental in introducing more than 4 million children and youth to the faith and traditions of the Church.

In addition, catechists provide opportunities for study, reflection, and growth in faith to a large number of adult Catholics through their involvement in sacramental preparation programs, RCIA, and other adult faith-formation efforts at the parish.

“The Word of God is the inexhaustible source of life for the Church, “ said Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C., chairman of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. “From the earliest days of the Church, the Holy Spirit has strengthened men and women to share in the mission of spreading the Gospel.

“Catechists,” he continue, “under the guidance of their pastors, help to initiate and advance the encounter with Christ, the Word made flesh, so that the believer may be brought to a deeper communion with him in the life of his Body, the Church.

Catechetical Sunday is a time to celebrate the work of the catechist and renew our gratitude for these faithful men and women who persevere in the labor of passing on the faith.”

Many parishes in the Archdiocese of Denver will observe Catechetical Sunday with a rite of commissioning for its catechists, as is encouraged by the U.S. bishops. As part of these celebrations, parents and guardians will be blessed for the important role they play in handing on the faith to the next generation.

Don Schneider, director of Evangelization and Catechesis for Western Slope, Northern Area, and Eastern Plains parishes within the Archdiocese of Denver, noted that Catechetical Sunday highlights a central ministry within the Catholic Church.

“The work of these catechists—most of whom volunteer their time—is vital to the life of the Church. This celebration gives us a chance to recognize the importance of those who share faith with so many in our parishes.”

For more information call 303-715-3107 or 303-678-0900.