Article Published

Article_�We exist � to spread Christ�s name�

Feature News | Tuesday, October 04, 2016

‘We exist ... to spread Christ’s name’

Archdiocesan catechists mark Year of Mercy with Mass, gathering at Shrine

Catechetical leaders pose with Archbishop Thomas Wenski outside the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity after the Mass.

Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC

Catechetical leaders pose with Archbishop Thomas Wenski outside the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity after the Mass.

Terry Walters, catechetical leader from San Pablo Church in Tavernier, prays before the Holy Door at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity.

Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC

Terry Walters, catechetical leader from San Pablo Church in Tavernier, prays before the Holy Door at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity.

Catechetical leaders prepare to enter through the Holy Door of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. At right is Peter Ductram, director of the Office of Catechesis.

Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC

Catechetical leaders prepare to enter through the Holy Door of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. At right is Peter Ductram, director of the Office of Catechesis.

MIAMI | Growing up, Alfonso Balmaceda listened to his father read Bible stories at home. He stayed after Mass with his family for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Those practices helped him develop a deep faith.

Now, as the new catechetical leader at St. Michael the Archangel Church and School in Miami, Balmaceda looks forward to nurturing the spiritual growth and formation of other families, including those of non-Catholic backgrounds.

“I know I owe it to my parents, and to God working through my parents, for my personal faith and sense of Church that I share now,” said the young adult, who also served as a Jesuit missionary and attended seminary. “We’re all working together to bring the Gospel to people’s lives and we’re all in need of the Good News in our lives. I’m excited to work closer with families and students at the school because the first church is the family. We get values and faith from our family.”

Ushering in a new catechetical season during the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Archbishop Thomas Wenski blessed and sent forth Balmaceda and some 60 other directors and coordinators of religious education during a Mass Sept. 23 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. The catechetical leaders passed through the shrine's Holy Door before starting the Mass.

Critical role

In his homily, Archbishop Wenski affirmed catechists’ critical role.

“Peter’s faith is, by the grace of God, our faith — and it is for the sake of this faith, of its being handed on to future generations, that you have accepted to be catechists,” he said. “Our Catholic community does not exist as an end in itself. The Church is fundamentally an evangelical movement… We exist — and our ministries exist (and among these ministries, that of being a catechist should take pride of place) — simply to spread Christ’s name and make it loved by the witness of our lives.”

He acknowledged the challenges that “work against the faith” in a culture promoting individualism, narcissism and consumerism.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski watches as catechetical leaders enter through the Holy Door of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity.

Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC

Archbishop Thomas Wenski watches as catechetical leaders enter through the Holy Door of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity.

Peter Ductram, archdiocesan director of catechesis, speaks during the Mass.

Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC

Peter Ductram, archdiocesan director of catechesis, speaks during the Mass.

“Here in America individualism is very strong,” the archbishop said, “but we want our children and all those we are entrusted to form in the faith to discover, in the light of that same faith, that they are called to live responsibly a specific vocation to friendship with Christ and in solidarity with other persons.”

The Mass coincided with the feast day of St. Pius of Pietrelcina — Padre Pio — whose illiterate parents memorized Scripture to tell Bible stories to their children. His father even travelled to America to raise money for his son’s education so that he could join the Capuchins.

“Perhaps the simple faith of Padre Pio can inspire, but also the confident faith of his poor, illiterate parents should encourage us not to lose confidence ourselves in who we are as Catholics,” Archbishop Wenski said. “We all know those people who say, ‘I am Catholic but…’ Many people settle for a religion of mediocrity and of half-hearted commitments because they have lost confidence in who they are as Catholics.”

Stand with Peter

The answer to such a crisis of faith is to proclaim their belief with confidence. “It is to stand with Peter, upon whom Jesus was to build the foundations of his Church, and to say with him: You are the Christ,” concluded the archbishop.

Later, the catechists mingled at a reception while listening to bossanova, jazz and boleros on piano and guitar. Each received a goodie bag with a copy of “The Joy of Discipleship” by Pope Francis.

Joanne Lambert, catechetical leader at St. Lawrence Church in North Miami Beach, called the Mass a wonderful recognition.

“I have the best job in the world. I love journeying with people on their walk,” said Lambert, who now teaches children of former students. “I loved how he talked about Padre Pio’s parents and what they sacrificed for his vocation. I love the connection. We lose sight sometimes. You get overwhelmed and you don’t know who you are touching.”

While some drift away, Lambert believes that “with a solid foundation they come back.”

But in teaching younger families about sacrificial love, she said, she encounters the cultural message that happiness lies in “giving yourself things” instead of giving to others.

“It’s a huge challenge,” she noted. “If they are going to expend energy for something they want to know what’s in it for them. That is what our culture teaches them.”

Lifelong learning

Daniel Mercado and Alidi Rivera, co-coordinators of religious education at St. Kevin Church in Miami, said they enjoyed the sense of unity in mission provided by the gathering of catechetical leaders. At St. Kevin’s, they encourage lifelong Christian learning.

“That’s something we try to promote, that after (receiving) the sacraments of the Church there is more they can continue to learn about the faith,” said Mercado. “We encourage children after they do confirmation to come back and serve as catechetical aids and in the youth group, different ministries.”

Dahlia Steele-Huie said she never stops learning herself, having started as a catechist as her son Matthew grew up. She is now in her second year as catechetical leader at Our Lady of Mercy in Deerfield Beach.

“The Lord pushed me that way though volunteering when he was in class,” said Steele-Huie. “I took different courses to become a catechist. It’s a continuing education.”

She happily reported that 47 children are registered in the parish’s religious education program, and there is a nascent, growing youth program.

“You’ve got to exercise your belief in God and share that belief in God with others who are younger,” said her son, Matthew.

Peter Ductram, director of the Office of Catechesis, said the Mass was a way to pray for leaders and send them forth on a new academic year. He noted the profound significance of celebrating at the seaside sanctuary, which was built and led by Miami’s late Auxiliary Bishop Agustin Roman.

“Bishop Agustin Roman was known as the catechist of catechists,” Ductram said. “So that’s why it made so much sense to have this celebration here in the shrine.”

 
Archbishop Thomas Wenski blesses the catechetical leaders during the Mass.

Photographer: MONICA LAUZURIQUE | FC

Archbishop Thomas Wenski blesses the catechetical leaders during the Mass.

Powered by Parish Mate | E-system

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply