6th Annual Catechetical Congress

On September 5-7, 2008,  lay catechists from IVE parishes in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC joined our priests and sisters at the IVE Retreat Center in Upstate New York for the 6th Annual Catechetical Congress.  The schedule included VIRTUS Training, meetings between the parish groups and their DREs, and formative conferences. 

Over the weekend, priests, sisters, and experienced catechists gave three conferences. Offered in English and in Spanish, the conferences were entitled "What is a Catechist According to the Saints Who were Educators?", "How to Teach Catechesis?", and "Eucharist and Sacraments."  Below is a summary of the third conference demonstrating the necessary relationship between the spiritual growth of catechists and their effectiveness in teaching the faith.   

Mane Nobiscum Domine
"Stay with us, Lord, for it is almost evening" (Lk 24:29). Fr. Alexis Moronta, IVE, spoke about John Paul II's apostolic letter for the Year of the Eucharist, Mane Nobiscum Domine,  in his talk on the Eucharist and Sacraments. John Paul II started by referring to Sacred Scripture and the familiar passage of the two disciples as they made their way to Emmaus.  Although their hearts burned within them as He "explained" the Scriptures, the disciples did not realize they were with Jesus until the "breaking of the bread." And our Lord stayed with them as He stays with us, His Church, in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, the Eucharist.    

Fr. Alexis exhorted the catechists to greater holiness.  As catechists, we have been entrusted with the mission of bringing our Lord and His teachings to others.  But before we can preach His message, we need to know Him, Jesus.  It is through the Eucharist that we receive the light that illumines our intellect to know Him and the light that illumines our will to do His will.  As catechists we need to preach Christ by good example.  Not only should we be receiving the Sacraments frequently but we must also receive them worthily.  This requires the right disposition of being in the state of grace by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation and then by receiving Holy Communion with love and devotion.