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Catechetical Methodology: Communicating the Wonder of the Deposit of Faith

James Pauley asks how we can assist in the recovery of wonder at the Christian faith in a technological age.

In the United States National Directory for Catechesis, the U.S. Bishops make an interesting point about the effects of the entertainment industry upon our young people in their capacity for growing in Faith. While the media certainly presents many opportunities for evangelization and catechesis, there are some important challenges which arise as well, especially when today’s generations are as ‘plugged in’ as they are.

Every catechist who teaches people who are more and more under the influence of television, the Internet, and other communications media knows this challenge very well. Certainly there is nothing inherently evil in these various technologies, but a strong case can be made that the more time people today spend in a ‘virtual’ world of instant messages and entertainment, the less of an attention span they have. After all, what kind of an effect does a high number of hours a day on the Internet or in front of the TV have on our capacity to think, to imagine, and to wonder? What effect does it have on our interest in the mysteries of Faith? How does it impact our capacity for meditation and contemplation?

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Profile image of the Catechetical Review Editor, Dr. James Pauley

Editor, Catechetical Review

Dr. James Pauley is Professor of Theology and Catechetics at Franciscan University and has taught at the university since 2002. He is the author of two books focused on renewing catechesis today: Liturgical Catechesis in the 21st Century: A School of Discipleship (Liturgy Training Publications, July 2017) and An Evangelizing Catechesis: Teaching from your Encounter with Christ (Our Sunday Visitor, August 2020). In 2014, Dr. Pauley was appointed editor of The Catechetical Review, Franciscan University’s journal dedicated to evangelization and catechesis. Dr. Pauley began working as a parish catechetical leader in 1989 and has served professionally in parish, diocesan, and university catechetical formation for more than thirty years. Having received his Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in 2014, he is a frequent speaker in dioceses and parishes nationwide. James is married to Katrina and they are blessed with three beautiful daughters.

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]

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