Excellent response to call for catechists

There has been an excellent response to the Archdiocese’s call for people to become catechists in their parishes.

Last month Archbishop Porteous established the ‘Order of Catechists’ and called for interested people to undertake formation starting next year.

In early November, Archbishop Julian and Director of the Office of Evangelisation and Catechesis Dr Christine Wood offered an online information session to outline the process. So far, 45 people have registered their interest in the formation program.

“I’m thrilled to see so much enthusiasm from our parishioners to become catechists. The response has been amazing. Obviously, the Holy Spirit is inflaming the hearts of a number of our parishioners with a desire to participate in the work of the new evangelisation,” said Dr Wood.

Archbishop Julian said a catechist understands that their desire to hand on the faith comes ultimately from the Holy Spirit.

Ruth Sternberg is discerning whether the Holy Spirit is calling her to this apostolate.

“I feel that there is a calling from within me to do this. I have always had a yearning to understand my faith so much more than what I do, and to be able to share that with someone who is considering being Catholic will be the next big step in that journey.”

The catechist formation program will be offered through the Archdiocese of Hobart’s Verbum Domini Biblical & Catechetical Institute beginning in February 2021. The Institute already offers courses to parishioners on Scripture, philosophy, and theology, and aims to help form people to become ‘missionary disciples’.

“I have already learnt so much from all the Bible study courses I have done with the Verbum Domini Institute and my faith has grown much deeper since then,” said Ms Sternberg.

Becoming a catechist is a process of falling in love and growing in intimacy with Jesus Christ.

For further information about the catechist formation program, please contact christine.wood@aohtas.org.au or 6208 6236.