Catechetical Ministry
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Mt19:14
Philosophy
Catechetical Ministry is a share in Jesus’ own mission of proclaiming the Reign of God. Catechesis is that activity which enables faith to become living, conscious, and active through the light of instruction — especially sharing God's Word in Scripture and sharing the tradition of the Catholic Church. Catechesis is a life-long process for each individual as well as the work of the entire Catholic Christian community.
The Church teaches that the primary responsibility for the spiritual growth and development of children rests first and foremost with their parents. Parents may share this responsibility with others, but they do not relinquish it.
The Church assists parents in passing on their faith through the ministry of catechesis. Catechists echo the Catholic faith in a way that those being catechized (children, youth, and adults) can understand. Catechists must do more than merely teach about their faith. They help children/youth build and strengthen their relationship with Jesus and the Church. Catechists do this by proclaiming the Word, building a sense of community, which leads to prayer and worship, encouraging loving service to others, and living lives as examples to others.
Our catechists are all volunteers, from many walks of life. They are people who have answered a call to minister to our children/youth and who have prepared themselves in a variety of ways to serve as catechists. Above all, they are people for whom faith is important enough to share.
The catechetical process seeks to open children/youth to the discovery of the goodness and beauty of God as reflected in their world, and help them to experience this world within the Catholic Christian community. It seeks to help them grow further in their faith, their understanding of our Catholic tradition, our unity in Christ, and the many gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The goals of the Catechetical Ministry Program at St. Thomas of Canterbury are:
I. Ongoing conversion to Jesus Christ
II. Full participation in the life of the Catholic Church
