The Changing Landscape of Catechesis

Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. Matthew 10: 16-19

As a Catholic catechist who tries to stay true to Church teaching, I have always found this passage of Scripture particularly consoling.

Why this passage you ask? If you have ever stood before a class of today’s young people and tried to answer their questions regarding the moral teachings of our Church, you will know why I am referring to a passage that so clearly references persecution.

But I would like to change your perspective a bit, from a focus on the difficulties faced by the teacher, to the difficulties faced by the young people who are trying to navigate their way through today’s confusing moral landscape.

The goal of Catholic catechism has always been to partner with parents in teaching the faith. Catechists like me are well aware we will make little headway in conveying Church teaching to young people who are not learning the faith at home or seeing it practiced by their parents.

Consider these few examples of what a type of the circumstances and attitudes I have encountered in teaching over the last 10 or so years.

• Many of my students report their families have “spotty” church attendance, and some feel a bit helpless when I discuss that at least weekly Mass attendance is the responsibility of a practicing Catholic. During one particular discussion on the opportunities for liturgical celebration during Holy Week (incidentally the holiest time in our Church year) one boy indicated his desire to go to Mass, but that sadly, other vacation activities would be the priority in his family. To such students I always tell them to patiently wait for the time when they will make this decision on their own – for example, when they get a driver’s license – and that in the meantime, their desire to attend Mass is pleasing to God.

• During a one-day workshop I was leading on the Theology of the Body at an area high school, I was discussing how in vitro fertilization was not compatible with Church teaching, and one student came up to me to say, a bit sheepishly, that he was conceived in such a manner. I quickly said that despite how he was conceived, he was wanted by God and obviously, by his parents, and that the actions of his parents are not his responsibility. (That was a tough one…)

• During one class session, a student asked me what the church taught about homosexual “marriage,” which I answered truthfully, much to the disagreement of my entire class. I asked the parish DRE if I could pass on a well-written article by Chair of Life Ethics Janet Smith from Sacred Heart Seminary to the students to share with their parents, and the DRE said he would do this himself if he got any questions from the parents directly. He told me later he did get phone calls, mostly from parents who wanted a clarification of Church teaching. But one mother told him, “I am not upset that she answered the question about what the Church teaches. What upsets me is that she said she agrees with it!”

These are only a few examples of the type of questions I have received from students, and the diversity of their situations. Consider that a high percentage of today’s students are likely living with family situations in total contradiction to Church teaching regarding co-habitation, divorce and remarriage, homosexual relationships, and more.

A recent blog from Jimmy Akin points out these diverse circumstances and the thoughtful way Pope Francis is asking us to address this changing landscape of catechesis.

I try to handle these teaching opportunities with lots of help from above. I try to educate myself on Church teaching to the best of my ability, though it is close to impossible to be prepared for all the questions one might be asked, or the reaction one will receive.

I also try to remember to pray the Regnum Christi prayer to Holy Spirit before I teach:

Holy Spirit,

inspire in me what I should think,

what I should say,

what I leave unsaid,

what I should write,

what I should do and how I should act,

to bring about the good of souls,

the fulfillment of my mission,

and the triumph of the Kingdom of Christ.