Saturday 22 May 2021

Pope formally institutes ministry of catechist

Year of Saint Joseph, Month of Mary | May 22 - 23 2021: PENTECOST SUNDAY |
75th Anniversary Year


Pope formally institutes ministry of catechist


Pope Francis has formally instituted the office of catechist as a ministry within the Church.
With an apostolic letter entitled Antiquum Ministerium, released on May 11, the Pope established the lay minis-try, and announced that the Vatican would soon publish a ritual for the commissioning of catechists.

The papal document — issued in the form of a motu proprio — does not clearly define the role of the catechist. Instead the Pope says he will “invite the episcopal conferences to render effective the ministry of catechist, determining the necessary process of formation and devising the most appropriate forms for the service…”

In his apostolic letter the Pope stresses that the role of the catechist should be “carried out in a fully ‘secular’ manner, avoiding any form of clericalization.” He underlines the importance of lay people in bringing the Gospel message into their everyday lives, “interwoven with family and social relationships.” But he calls for recognition of a class of lay people who have a special commitment to evangelize. “It is the task of pastors to support them,” he says.

Describing the ministry that he has recognized, the Pope writes:

“Catechists are called first to be expert in the pastoral service of transmitting the faith as it develops through its different stages from the initial proclamation of the kerygma to the instruction that presents our new life in Christ and prepares for the sacraments of Christian initiation, and then to the ongoing formation that can allow each person to give an accounting of the hope within them (cf. 1 Pet 3:15). At the same time, every catechist must be a witness to the faith, a teacher and mystagogue, a companion and pedagogue, who teaches for the Church.”

“The ministry of Catechist in the Church is an ancient one,” the Pope writes at the opening of his apostolic letter. He emphasizes the crucial role of lay people in passing along the faith, and the variety of gifts within the Church. From the earliest days of Christianity, he says, “we can see that certain baptized persons exercised the ministry of transmitting in a more organic and stable form related to different situations in life the teaching of the apostles and evangelists.”

With the Second Vatican Council, the Pope continues, the Church gained “a renewed appreciation of the importance of lay involvement in the work of evangelization.” He notes that Pope Paul VI encouraged episcopal conferences to recognize the role of catechists.

In some countries, particularly in mission territories, lay people work regularly as catechists, in many cases on a full-time basis. How the newly recognized minis-try functions in other countries will be determined by the nations’ episcopal conferences.

Catholic World News May 11, 2021
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“The Madonna wants us to honour her under this title of Mary Help of Christians. The times are so sad that we definitely need the help of the Most Blessed Virgin to conserve and defend the Christian faith.”

Don Bosco, December 1862.
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Saturday 15 May 2021

Pope recalls 40th anniversary of assassination attempt on JPII

Year of Saint Joseph, Month of Mary | May 15-16 2021: | Ascension of the Lord |75th Anniversary Year 


Pope recalls 40th anniversary of assassination attempt on JPII

The Polish Pontiff was certain Our Lady of Fatima saved his life on her feast day.

\Pope Francis recalled the 40th anniversary on May 13 of the assassination attempt on Pope Saint John Paul II. “He was certain that he owed his life to Our Lady of Fatima,” Francis said, noting that “this makes us aware that our lives and the history of the world are in God’s hands.”



The Argentine pope mentioned the anniversary at the end of the May 12 general audience, in his special greetings to Polish-speaking pilgrims.
Pope John Paul II was shot as he passed through St Peter’s Square during the general audience on Wednesday, May 13, 1981, on the liturgical feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
All to the Immaculate Heart

“Let’s entrust the Church, ourselves and the whole world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Let’s pray for peace, for the end of the pandemic, for a spirit of penitence and for our conversion,” Pope Francis said.

And recalling tomorrow’s feast day dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, he said: “Let us place ourselves with trust under Her maternal protection, especially when we find ourselves in difficulty during our prayer life.” The topic of the audience today was the difficulties encountered in prayer.
Rosary relay

The pope also urged praying the Rosary, especially in this month dedicated to Mary.
A Rosary Marathon is underway, which Pope Fran-cis began on May 1 and will conclude May 31. A different shrine each day is leading the Rosary for the general intention of the end of the pandemic, as well as a specific related intention.

Kathleen N. Hattrup – Aleteia, 12/5/21
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"The power of Christ's Cross and Resurrection is greater than any evil which man could or should fear." Pope JP II
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