Catechetical Sunday 2020: Commissioning Our COVID-Era Catechists

Catechetical Sunday

This year, like any other year, we celebrate Catechetical Sunday on the third Sunday of September. This year, however, is unlike any other year as we will be commissioning catechists to teach during the COVID-19 pandemic and to cope with all of the complexities that go with it. Some will be teaching in person, others will be teaching remotely, some will be doing a mix of both, and others may be assisting parents in teaching their children at home. Whichever way you end up teaching, may you and those you teach stay safe and healthy!

This year’s theme is “I Received from the Lord What I Also Handed On to You.” According to Bishop Robert Barron, Chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, “This theme focuses on the essential work of catechesis, which is an invitation to a whole new life given by Christ Himself. It emphasizes that living faith necessitates movement, inspiring all those who hear the Word to share it as witnesses of the true and living God.”

This year, I humbly suggest that a great resource gift for catechists on Catechetical Sunday will be my newest book, Preparing Hearts and Minds: 9 Simple Ways for Catechists to Cultivate a Living Faith. Further, here is a link to a number of other resources from Loyola Press to assist you in celebrating Catechetical Sunday.

May the Holy Spirit strengthen, guide, and inspire you to proclaim the Word of God with eagerness, enthusiasm, and creativity!

About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

1 Comment

  1. thank you for the noble work you are doing.
    We leave in EastAfrica and the challenges to Catechesis may be more serious than AMERICA and Europe.
    I would like to be directed to website/links that share Issues of Catechist’s journey in SubSaharan Africa

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