Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kuala Lumpur (Agenzia Fides) - In the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur lay catechists and volunteers are a precious presence to serve the local Church. More than 200 catechists from the Sacred Heart Cathedral and the Church of Mary Immaculate in Kuala Lumpur renewed their commitment and pastoral mandate for the ministry of Catechesis on January 23, Sunday of the Word of God, during the Eucharistic celebration held in the Sacred Heart Cathedral. The rite was organized in view of "Catechetical Sunday 2022", set by the diocese for January 30, the day on which an announcement of faith and catechetical paths of various kinds will be presented in all churches, parishes, ecclesial associations, on the central subject "Life in the family and the path of holiness".
Fr. Paul Lo thanked the catechists for their service to faith formation through the teaching of catechesis and the sharing of the Word of God. In particular in Malaysia, a multilingual and multiethnic state, the ministry of catechesis is conducted by the different churches in three languages: Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and English. Fr. Lo said: "Through baptism, we children of God are entrusted with the mission of spreading the Good News of salvation and love to children, young people and all those who wish to join Jesus Christ and the Church". In this sense, he continued, "catechists are teachers and ministers of the Word of God for the good in the Church", recalling that the Catechism of the Catholic Church provides the main resource for teaching faith.
Catechists and volunteers renewed their commitment to enter into a closer relationship with Jesus and to share teaching, witness and sharing the faith with others. "The catechists, as collaborators in the pastoral ministry, help the faithful, children and adults, through their words, actions and through life", he continued, expressing joy in seeing so many lay people come forward to serve in the catechetical ministry. He therefore exhorted them to "serve with joy, because the Lord himself will reward you with abundant blessings". Furthermore, the Archdiocese intends to organize a special day of prayer, meeting and fraternity dedicated to catechists on September 17, 2022, on the occasion of the feast of St. Roberto Bellarmino, patron saint of catechists.
Christianity in Malaysia is a religion practiced by 9.2% of the population (according to the 2010 census). Two thirds of the 2.6 million Malaysian Christians live in eastern Malaysia, made up of the provinces of Sabah and Sarawak (on the large island of Borneo), where they make up 30% of the population. (SD-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 29/1/2022)
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