Developing a parish religious education program is an awesome and exciting challenge. Catechesis is one of the central tasks of our parish community and critical to our growth as Christians. "Catechesis is nothing other than the process of transmitting the Gospel, as the Christian community has received it, understands it, celebrates it, lives it and communicates it in many ways” (GDC, no. 105). Much of what we do as a community is centered on these fundamental tasks of receiving, understanding, living, communicating and celebrating the Gospel. “While all ministries require support, we know that by strengthening the catechetical ministry we also strengthen the Church's internal life as a community of believers and her external activity as a missionary church” (CT, no. 15).
In light of understanding the significance of parish catechesis it is important to underscore the primacy of adult religious education. All Christians, young and old, are called to continued conversion and development of their faith, however, “Adults have the greatest responsibilities and the capacity to live the Christian message in its fully developed form" (CT, no. 43). The religious education program has a responsibility to spread the Gospel to all, but our mission to form one another in the faith must first and foremost begin with adults.
A vision of catechesis, with its critical emphasis on adult formation, finds its roots in the Gospel story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35). The exchange between Jesus and the disciples on the way to Emmaus is a wonderful model of religious education and liturgical celebration. By looking at the encounter between the disciples and Jesus we find direction for our own parish vision of catechesis and the primacy given to continue forming adults in the faith (see, Our Hearts…, no. 7-12). The two followers had already experienced Jesus, and yet were, like us, still in need of conversion. We find, in the encounter, three important elements of catechesis.
The first element is Information. Jesus initiates contact by walking with the grieving and displaced disciples. During their journey on the road, he asks, “What are you discussing as you walk along” (17)? A good catechetical process will ask some form of this question: What have you been discussing along the way? What has been going on in your life? Where are you on your journey? If we are going to engage in effective catechesis at OLA, we need to ask each other these important questions. In so doing, we exchange information about our lives, our families, our work, our hopes and our dreams.
After meeting people where they are, Jesus acknowledges that they do not recognize him. It is not enough to simply talk about ourselves. We must also attempt to look for Jesus in the events of our lives. The disciples do not see Him, even though he is standing in front of them. So, Jesus incorporates the second element of catechesis: Formation. He shares the living word with them and that word helps to form a viewpoint about the events. “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures” (27).
Even though the disciples are able to recite articles of faith (19-21), their creedal statements alone do not help their own faltering faith. Even though the disciples were present when the women reported the empty tomb (22-23), they still wondered and doubted. It is only after Jesus interprets his life as the fulfillment of all God’s promises, illustrated throughout the entirety of the Scriptures, are they formed; It is only after he breaks bread, are they enlightened (see, Karris 43:196).
In the sharing of the word and the Eucharist the disciples understand Jesus to be in their midst. “With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him…” (31). Jesus opened the eyes of the unfaithful disciples and now through forgiveness and enlightenment they have vision. As a result of this encounter their hearts are inflamed! “Were not our hearts burning within us as he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (32). We also need this personal engagement with word and sacrament. Because of this instructive and prayerful formation the disciples literally have an about face. They turn away from Emmaus and head back to Jerusalem to be with the community of believers (see, 35).
In their turning around and recounting their experience of Jesus to those gathered in Jerusalem, the two disciples enter the third, and final, element of catechesis: Transformation. The initial hospitality they showed Jesus along the road has proven to be an opportunity for conversion. The action of turning around on the road illustrates the effect of being formed by Jesus; they are ready to be witnesses to the faith, once again converted by Christ. It does us little good to share information or to engage in formation through study of the scriptures and participation in the Eucharist, if we do not allow these actions to transform us. Our faith is a process of ongoing conversion and so too is the focus of our catechetical mission.
The Emmaus story is a sterling example of catechesis. It can help inform our parish’s vision of faith formation. As the religious education program for adults continues to grow, the elements of information, formation and transformation are helpful directives, guiding us as we plan workshops, classes, retreats and study programs. Each day brings varied opportunities for ongoing conversion. The OLA Religious Education and Formation Ministry seeks to be an integral part of that conversion process for all adults who are on the journey of faith. Please give serious consideration to the ongoing process of information, formation and transformation, and the role our parish catechesis plays in your spiritual life.
Works Cited
General Directory for Catechesis, Congregation for the Clergy, Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1998.
Karris, Robert J. (1990). “The Gospel According to Luke.” The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Edited by Raymond E. Brown, S.S., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, Roland E. Murphy. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
On Catechesis in Our Time (Catechesi Tradendae), John Paul II, Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1979.
Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation, Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1999.
The New Jerusalem Bible. (1995, c1985). Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.
