HONG KONG (SE): The ad-hoc working group for the establishment of the ministry of catechist invited existing teachers of Sunday School and baptism classes to discern their vocation for being a catechist during a series of briefing and consultation sessions in mid October.
The ad-hoc group, formed on 1 April 2022, headed by vicar general, Father Peter Choy Wai-man, was formed after Pope Francis instituted the ministry through the apostolic letter, Antiquum Ministerium [Ancient Ministry], on 11 May 2021 and asked all bishops worldwide to establish the ministry in their dioceses.
The working group consists of around 20 members, including priests, religious sisters and lay people. After a year and a half, the group came up with a consultation paper presented in three sessions at the Catholic Diocese Centre on October 12, 13 and 14.
Father Choy began the first briefing with some highlights from Antiquum Ministerium which says the ministry of Catechist in the Church is an ancient one which can be traced back to those “teachers” in the early Church mentioned in the New Testament. Pope Francis pointed out that beginning with the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, the Church has come to a renewed appreciation of the importance of lay involvement in the work of evangelisation. The apostolic letter says that the ministry is set up in line with the principles of the Second Vatican Council and reaffirms the contributions of the catechists and the concern about them by letting the laity to take part in catechetical teaching.
Father Choy said that after the new ministry is set up, the word “catechist” will only refer to those who are in the new ministry, while those who teach in Sunday school and baptism classes will be called “teachers”.
Pope Francis pointed out that beginning with the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, the Church has come to a renewed appreciation of the importance of lay involvement in the work of evangelisation
He pointed out that catechists and teachers are complementary. The same person who has received the Church’s ministry as a catechist can continue to serve as a teacher at the same time without any contradiction.
He further explained that existing Sunday school teachers normally serve only in their own parishes, while catechists will serve at the diocesan level, across parish boundaries, or in venues belonging to other diocesan institutions or organisations, in accordance with the pastoral needs of the diocese, as well as the realities and needs of other places as a peer, a collaborator and a liaison.
He pointed out that, while the diocese has excellent lay participation in catechism classes, the present teachers, who devote their extra time to teaching, tend to focus on their present classes, without considering the need or the long-term development of the catechetical teaching of the parish.
With the new ministry, a parish can receive support in developing a wider scope for the growth of catechetical teaching and evangelisation in the parish, “The catechists or Sunday school teachers, apart from serving in their specific classes, will be able to support the whole catechetical mission of the parish and work together to build a Church that ‘reaches out’,” he said.
He emphasised that a catechist’s deep commitment has to be motivated by their vocation. “It is very important to start from a deep relationship with God. If it is not driven by God or his calling, it is very difficult for one to have such a commitment,” he said.
The catechists or Sunday school teachers, apart from serving in their specific classes, will be able to support the whole catechetical mission of the parish and work together to build a Church that ‘reaches out’
According to Father Choy, the requirements for being a catechist include the two-year catechism course, 10 years’ experience teaching Sunday School or baptism class, and being 35- to 65-years-old.
They should have a mature personality and enthusiasm for evangelisation, as well as a sense of mission for catechetical teaching. They should also be able to lead and build up a community, as students graduating from classes are encouraged to join a community to deepen their relationship with God.
While discerning the vocation for the ministry, Father Choy said the person will have “a sense of God’s call, a heartfelt passion or joy for catechetical teaching, and a desire to exercise God’s grace.”
The vicar general further explained that the formation of a catechist will focus on the nature of the ministry, the roles and responsibilities, the integration of personality, communications in catechetical teaching, group building, etc, aiming to help a catechist’s personal growth and the development of their social and ecclesial sense. The process may take at least a year.
Father Choy said that the diocese attaches great importance to the existing teachers in Sunday school and baptism classes and recognises their long-term contribution to the diocese. “This project is not intended to replace the existing good foundation, but to provide, on an ongoing basis, vocational development in catechesis for aspiring catechists, so that they can develop a deeper relationship with God and the Church,” he explained.
Father Choy said that the diocese attaches great importance to the existing teachers in Sunday school and baptism classes and recognises their long-term contribution to the diocese
He also hopes that the new ministry, with people of different professional skills, may have a new way of expressing faith in a changing society.
A questionnaire concerning the views on the responsibilities, discernment, and formation of catechists, parish work and vision of the development of the ministry were distributed and participants were invited to submit their responses before November 15.
The first briefing was attended by the retired bishop of Hong Kong, John Cardinal Tong Hon; vicar general, Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu; parish priests; deacons; religious sisters; teachers and volunteers of baptism classes or Sunday schools, president of pious associations, and so on.
Deacon Anthony Sin Yiu-fat told the Sunday Examiner that he appreciated the dedication of the existing teachers, but he could see a need for a coordinating body to introduce new input into the classes, so he welcomes the establishment of the new ministry.
During the question and answer session, some expressed concerns about the new ministries’ overlapping roles with pastoral sisters or even parish priests, as well as how a catechist could find time to make a living with total commitment to the Church.
Father Choy replied explaining that, to avoid conflicts, a catechist’s ability to work in harmony with the parish is one of the main selection requirements. He also said a catechist may not have salary, but the diocese will consider a stipend, in the same way as with permanent deacons.
On the other hand, Connie Chung To-hing, director of the Diocesan Catechetical Centre, shared that the project offers baptism class teachers a valuable chance to reach out, which she had no chance to do during her long-service at St. Margaret’s, Happy Valley.
“If our heart can feel a desire to join the project, then we can certainly take one more step,” she encouraged.
