What Does It Mean To Be A Catechist?

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The primary instrument of God and his grace in the teaching of the faith is….THE PERSON OF THE CATECHIST! This is true whether the catechists are the parents, who are called upon by God to be the first and primary educators of their children, especially in the ways of faith, or the volunteer parish catechist in a parish religious education program, or the Catholic school teacher. In his Sept. 29, 2013, homily to catechists, Pope Francis spoke the following: “A catechist is a Christian who puts this remembrance at the service of proclamation, not to seem important, not to talk about himself or herself, but to talk about God, about his love and his fidelity. To talk about and to pass down all that God has revealed, his teaching in its totality, …show more content…

One of our most important responsibilities as catechists is to help our students deepen their relationship with the Lord. Prayer is key to that process. It is usually better to plan prayer at the beginning of your session, as it allows time for a meaningful experience. Move the kids out of their chairs to a standing or kneeling position near their desks or around the prayer table. Allow for a moment of silence before beginning any prayer experience. Don’t be afraid to bless students or have them bless one another by tracing the sign of the cross on a classmate’s forehead. Invite them to exchange a sign of peace when appropriate. During the Easter season or a lesson on the Sacraments of Initiation or the Holy Spirit, use holy water to remind the children of their Baptism. Vary the types of prayer you share together. Help students experience prayers of intercession, when we pray on behalf of others; prayers of praise that give glory to God; prayers of petition, in which we pray for our world, country, the Church, those who are sick and dying, and our own needs; and prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings in our lives, especially

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