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by Raymond L. Burke, D.D., J.C.D.
The Universal Church is manifested in geographical divisions called dioceses and, in a few cases, territories like a diocese. Each manifestation of the Universal Church is called the particular Church. The most common manifestation is the diocese, in my case the Diocese of La Crosse. The organization of catechesis in the particular Church is essential if it is to be a true manifestation of the Universal Church. In the diocese, the bishop as the head of the community of the faithful which makes up the diocese and as the chief teacher of the faith for them is responsible for the service of catechesis. He fulfills his responsibility chiefly through the diocesan catechetical office, in the case of the Diocese of La Crosse, the Office of Catechesis and Evangelization (General Directory for Catechesis, No. 265).
The principal responsibilities of the diocesan catechetical office are the following:
To fulfill the important responsibilities assigned to it, the diocesan catechetical office must have an adequate staff (No. 267).
Interdiocesan Cooperation
When two or more dioceses have neighboring geographical areas and have similar populations, the service of catechesis can be much enhanced through their sharing of personnel and material resources. Much good is also accomplished by the staff of the catechetical office coming together to share their experiences in carrying the mission of catechesis (No. 268). In Wisconsin, catechists gather regularly for such sharing.
Conference of Bishops
The Conference of Bishops may also establish a catechetical office to assist the individual dioceses. Our United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, for instance, has an office to oversee the use of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It has been very helpful in uncovering weaknesses in catechesis, and in studying various texts and supplementary materials for their conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The office of the Conference of Bishops, in general, has a twofold function:
The Conference of Bishops may take on other responsibilities for catechesis but always at the service of the dioceses.
The Holy See
The Holy Father as bishop of the Universal Church has a basic responsibility for catechesis. He fulfills it principally by his teaching. The Holy Father addresses specific questions and concerns regarding catechesis through the Congregation for the Clergy, one of the many offices which assist the Holy Father in his pastoral ministry to the Church throughout the world.
The responsibilities for catechesis which the Holy Father has confided to the Congregation for the Clergy are:
- the promotion of the religious education of the faithful of all ages and conditions;
- the issuance of norms for catechetical lessons so that they are carried out according to a correct program;
- the oversight of catechetical instruction so that it is suitably provided;
- the granting, with the assent of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, of the required approbation for catechisms and publications pertaining to catechetical instruction;
- availability to catechetical offices and interna-tional initiatives on religious education, for which it coordinates activities and, if necessary, gives assistance.
The Importance of Coordination of Catechesis
If the unity of the faith is to be transmitted through catechesis, coordination of catechesis within the Church is necessary. When catechesis is effectively coordinated, the unity of the particular Church with the Universal Church is safeguarded and promoted for all.
On the diocesan level or the level of the particular Church, two services of coordination are essential:
- a single, coherent, process of Christian initiation for children, adolescents and young people,
- a catechetical program for adults (No. 274). These two programs must be organized in coordination with each other, so that there is a coherence in the pre-sentation of the faith throughout the diocese. If the program of adult catechesis is well-organized, it will provide the key and direction to the organization of the catechesis of children, adolescents and young adults (No. 275).
With regard to catechesis through educational programs of the parish, deanery and diocese, it is important that all catechetical measures find their unity in the unity of the faith and its practice (No. 278).
On the diocesan level, it is essential that the catechetical office have a realistic picture of the needs of catechesis in the diocese which it reviews regularly. The General Directory for Catechesis indicates that there must be a clear awareness of:
- how catechesis is situated within the process of evangelization;
- the balance between the various catechetical sectors (children, adolescents, young adults, adults, the aged);
- the coordination of catechesis with Christian education in the family, in schools and elsewhere;
- the content and methodology of the catechesis imparted;
- the characteristics of catechists and their formation. To carry out its responsibility, the diocesan catechetical office must have a sense of the religious situation of the faithful in the diocese and also of their sociocultural situation (Nos. 279-280).
Finally, the General Directory for Catechesis underlines the importance of the development of catechisms which are the most important aid for carrying out the work of catechesis. At present, there is discussion about the development of a catechism through the Conference of Bishops. As has been mentioned before, the two points of reference for a local catechism are the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the content and the General Directory for Catechesis for the methodology. In order that the unity of the faith be served, local catechisms require the approval of the Apostolic See before publication (Nos. 284-285).
I conclude my commentary on the General Directory for Catechesis. Meeting the challenges of catechesis is fundamental to the soundness of the life of the Church. That challenge is addressed daily in the diocese by the diocesan catechetical office, by deaneries and parishes, and by parish priests and catechists. I close with words of prayer from the conclusion of the General Directory for Catechesis:
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The Church, which has the responsibility of cate-chizing those who believe, invokes the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, begging him to give fruit-fulness and interior strength to the toil which is everywhere undertaken for the growth of the faith and the fellowship of Our Savior Jesus Christ (No. 290).
Bishop Burke is the Bishop of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
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