CATECHETICAL SUNDAY 2018
A friend of mine recounted an experience on a recent trip to Israel. Traveling through the arid countryside, his tour group paused to admire a section of verdant pasture. There, he observed two shepherds conversing with one another.
As the shepherds spoke, their flocks of sheep merged together, forming a large, single flock. As he was pondering how the shepherds might identify their respective sheep, each shepherd called out in his own special voice.
To my friend’s astonishment, the sheep responded to what they knew to be a familiar and trusted call. They separated once again into two flocks and followed their shepherds.
As Christians, our vocation — literally a “call” — is from Jesus, the Good Shepherd. It is a call to holiness and a way of life in service to him. To serve as a catechist is to hear and respond to the Good Shepherd in a unique way by formally transmitting the faith to others.
Our diocese is blest by the presence of hundreds of volunteer catechists who dedicate themselves to this sacred ministry through word/lessons and by example.
This year, the church will celebrate Catechetical Sunday on Sept. 16. The 2018 theme is “Enlisting Witnesses for Jesus Christ.” Those who the community has designated to serve as catechists are to be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry.
Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith, helping others “attune their ears” to the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and being a witness to the Gospel.
Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith.
Free, downloadable resources for Catechetical Sunday are available at www.usccb.org.
Jayne Ragasa-Mondoy is the director of the diocesan Office of Religious Education.
