杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淐atechists have an invaluable mission for the transmission and growth of the faith,鈥� says 杏MAP导航 Francis in The 杏MAP导航 Video for December.

Each month, the prepares The 杏MAP导航 Video, in which the Holy Father reveals his special prayer intentions for that month.

For December 2021, the 杏MAP导航 is praying 鈥渇or the catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God: may they be its witnesses, with courage and creativity and in the power of the Holy Spirit, with joy and much peace.鈥�

A vocation and a mission

In his video message, 杏MAP导航 Francis says, 鈥淭he lay ministry of catechist is a vocation; it鈥檚 a mission鈥� It鈥檚 an entire way of being.鈥� He said the Church needs 鈥済ood catechists who are both companions and teachers.鈥�

Earlier this year, 杏MAP导航 Francis formally restored the lay ministry of catechists with the Apostolic Letter , issued 鈥渕otu proprio,鈥� or on his own initiative. In this month鈥檚 video, the 杏MAP导航 explains that even today, 鈥渋n many dioceses, on many continents, evangelization is fundamentally in the hands of a catechist.鈥�

Proclaiming the Gospel with their lives

So, he said, the Church needs 鈥渃reative people who proclaim the Gospel, but who proclaim it neither with a mute nor with a loudspeaker, but rather with their life, with gentleness, with a new language, and opening new ways.鈥�

An example of this 鈥渘ew language鈥� for catechesis is seen in The 杏MAP导航 Video for December, which shows catechists and young people working together on a mural representing the washing of feet.

An elegant gesture

In his message, 杏MAP导航 Francis invites the faithful to 鈥渢hank catechists for the interior enthusiasm with which they live this mission at the service of the Church.鈥�

Fr Frédéric Fornos, S.J., International Director of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 Worldwide Prayer Network, commented on this month鈥檚 intention: 鈥淔rancis dedicating this last message to catechists in the same year in which he instituted their lay ministry and in which the synodal journey began 鈥榓s the pilgrim and missionary People of God鈥� is an eloquent gesture.鈥�