Languages

Franciscan at Home

Forming those who form others

Reclaiming the Evangelistic Moment in our Catechesis

Eric Westby offers sound, practical advice for ways in which we can evangelize in our catechetical work.

I know I am not the only catechist who has prepared what I thought was the greatest catechetical session since the Sermon on the Mount, only to have it help the participants cure their most recent battles with insomnia. Over the years, as I have seen little impact from what I thought were well-planned sessions, it has forced me to look more closely at the process of conversion, specifically that which we do to prepare a person to hear the Good News. In Catechesi Tradendae 20, Pope John Paul II describes catechesis as a maturation of the process of evangelization. As a catechist, the better I assisted in the process of evangelization (the better I helped a person know, love and follow the Lord Jesus) the easier it became to catechize that person. In this article, I would like to offer practical ways we can evangelize in our catechetical endeavors, and in doing so, prepare the foundation for catechesis and lifelong conversion.

The rest of this online article is available for current Guild members.

Join the Guild today!

Eric J. Westby, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Theology and Catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. He completed his doctoral studies at the Maryvale Institute of Birmingham, England, offering a critique of seminary formation in light of priestly catechetical ministry. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Theology and Christian Ministry from Franciscan University, from where he was the first student to complete the certification in catechetics. He also holds a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies from the Center for Ministry Development, and has been involved in parish catechetics since 1988. He is a regular presenter at the summer St. John Bosco Catechetical Conference at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is the founder of ymcentral.com and rciacentral.com. He directs the Institute of Catholic Theology in Phoenix, Arizona. More importantly, he is husband to Nikki and father of five beautiful girls.

 

This article is from The Sower and may be copied for catechetical purposes only. It may not be reprinted in another published work without the permission of Maryvale Institute. Contact [email protected]

Issue: 

Current Issue: Volume 10.4

Designed & Developed by On Fire Media, Inc.