CHAPTER
II
Formation for the service of catechesis
Pastoral care of catechists in a
Particular Church
233. To ensure the working of
the catechetical ministry in a local Church, it is fundamental to have adequate
pastoral care of catechists. Several elements must be kept in mind in this
respect. Indeed efforts must be made:
– to encourage in parishes and Christian
communities vocations for catechesis. Today, because the needs of
catechesis are so varied, it is necessary to promote different kinds of
catechists. "There is therefore a need for specialised catechists".
(199) In this respect selection criteria must be established;
– to try to provide a certain number of full
time catechists so that these can devote their time intensely and in a more
stable way to catechesis, (200) in addition to fostering part-time
catechists who are likely to be more numerous in the ordinary course of
events;
– to organize a more balanced
distribution of catechists, among the various groups who require
catechesis. Awareness of the needs of adult catechesis and catechesis for young
people, for example, can help to establish a greater balance in relation to the
number of catechists who work with children and adolescents.
– to foster animators of catechetical
activity with responsibility at diocesan level, in regions and in parishes.
(201)
– to organize adequately the formation of
catechists, both in relation to basic training and continuing formation.
– to attend to the personal and spiritual
needs of catechists as well as to the group of catechists as such. This
activity is principally and fundamentally the responsibility of the priests of
the respective Christian communities.
– to co-ordinate catechists with
other pastoral workers in Christian communities, so that the entire work of
evangelization will be consistent and to ensure that catechists will not be
isolated from or unrelated to the life of the community.
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