Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - "Do not lose hope, remain consistent and obedient in your pastoral work. You will encounter challenges as you begin your pastoral ministry as catechists. Your responsibility is to preach the Good News and make it easier for people to understand the Word of God, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in living the faith. It is God who works to change the hearts of the faithful, drawing them towards Him and blessing your missionary commitment": with these words Mgr. Sebastian Francis Shaw, Archbishop of Lahore addressed the new catechists of his Archdiocese, who in 2020 completed three years of studies and formation at the "St. Albert" National Catechist Training Center in Khushpur (Faisalabad), and now are ready to begin pastoral service in various parishes of the Archdiocese. Now, on the occasion of the publication of Pope Francis' Motu Proprio “Antiquum ministerium”, the Archbishop tells Fides: "In the midst of the dark times of the world pandemic, the new young catechists offer the Catholic Church in Pakistan rays of hope", The St. Albert Formation Center for Catechists is the only national formation Center in the country that offers a three-year formation program for lay people who feel the vocation to become catechists. The Center, which began its activity in 1952, has trained over 1,000 lay people over the years who have then committed themselves to pastoral service in the various dioceses. In addition to the training work carried out at the National Center, the various dioceses periodically organize refresher courses for the more than 500 catechists currently working in the Catholic Church of Pakistan (in the Archdioceses of Karachi and Lahore, in the Dioceses of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad and in the Apostolic Vicariate of Quetta). Fr. James Castellino, Director of the Catechists Commission of the Diocese of Hyderabad, speaking to Fides about the important role of catechists in the mission of the Catholic Church in Pakistan, points out: "Catechists are heralds of the Gospel; they play an important role as a bridge between priests and the faithful, preparing them to receive the sacraments and offering catechetical formation at all levels and for all ages". The priest adds: "Often on missions in difficult or disadvantaged circumstances, they travel far and wide, reaching door to door villages and families that, living in remote places, no one can visit. Their work is crucial for the formation in the faith of the laity". Fr. David John, Director of the Commission for Catechesis in the diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, appreciating the commitment of the catechists, tells Fides: "The catechists make home visits to preach the Catholic faith and pray with the people, to facilitate and coordinate the various groups of the Church as ministers, readers, for the choir at liturgies, for spiritual preparation for the Sacraments. These are fundamental tasks that they carry out or to help priests in their parishes to strengthen the Church mission in Pakistan". (AG-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 11/5/2021)
