Effective Catechesis: More Than Teaching the Faith

As catechists, we are entrusted with an incredible mission: forming disciples. Jesus Himself gave us this mission at the Great Commission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

Those words remind us that our task is about much more than successfully teaching a lesson. We are helping another person come to know, love, and follow Jesus Christ.

In Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus, Sherry Weddell creates a sense of urgency around this mission with the simple reminder that “God has no grandchildren.” The Catholic faith cannot simply be inherited. At some point, each person must choose it for himself or herself.

This reality requires us to take a more apostolic approach to catechesis. The first Apostles went out and shared what they had learned from Jesus and invited others into this life of faith. In much the same way, our catechesis must do more than communicate what the Church teaches. We must invite others to encounter the Person at the center of everything we teach: Jesus Christ.

Begin with Relationship

One of the most important developments in catechesis and evangelization has been a renewed emphasis on a personal relationship with God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “the desire for God is written on the human heart” (CCC 27). God created us for Himself and “never ceases to draw man to himself.”

This should give us great hope as catechists. Before a student ever enters our classroom, parish program, or ministry, God is already at work in that person's heart. We are not bringing God to them. He is already there. Our role is to help them recognize His presence and respond to His invitation.

One of the most important ways we can do this is by teaching people how to pray. Prayer is relationship with God. We should not assume our students know how to pray simply because they have grown up Catholic. We have to model prayer, provide opportunities for prayer, and allow moments of silence in which they can learn to listen for the voice of God.

We should also become increasingly comfortable speaking the name of Jesus. The Catechism reminds us that “the one name that contains everything is the one that the Son of God received in his incarnation: Jesus” (CCC 2666). Speaking about Jesus in the present tense also reminds our students—and us—that Jesus is not simply a historical figure whom we study. Jesus is alive, present, and working in our lives today.

Tell the Great Story

The kerygma, the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ, must be foundational to our teaching. Before students can understand all the details of the Catholic faith, they need to know the great story of God's love for them.

Sacred Scripture reveals this story through salvation history. Again and again, through His covenants, God reveals His love and His plan for His people. As catechists, we should become well-versed in this story and learn to tell it in different ways so that we can reach different learners.

Most importantly, our students should recognize that they are part of God's great story.

Salvation history did not end on the final page of Scripture. God continues to work in His Church and in the lives of His people. Helping students see their own lives within this story can transform catechesis from something they simply learn into something they begin to live.

Meet People Where They Are

Effective catechesis also requires us to recognize that not everyone sitting before us is in the same place spiritually.

Weddell's “Thresholds of Conversion” remind us that each person is on a unique journey of faith. Some may be curious. Some may trust us but not yet trust God. Others may already have a deep relationship with Christ. Understanding where someone is on that journey should influence the way we approach them.

This requires more than a good curriculum. It requires listening.

We need to approach others with friendliness, patience, and a positive demeanor that opens the door for honest conversations about faith. Sometimes the most important thing a catechist can do is create a safe place for someone to ask a difficult question, wrestle with doubt, or simply be heard.

Lead Them to Jesus

Our catechesis should ultimately lead people toward a deeper sacramental life. We can help our students understand the importance of examining their consciences, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and approaching the Eucharist with reverence and proper disposition.

But we should never forget Who they are encountering in the sacraments. They are encountering Jesus.

Our parishes and Catholic schools should provide opportunities for people at every stage of their faith journey to encounter Christ, grow in knowledge of Him, develop a relationship with Him through prayer and the sacraments, and experience the support of a faith-filled community.

We also have the privilege of helping others discover the unique plan God has for their lives. We can encourage our students to recognize their gifts and charisms, discern their vocations, and discover how God may be calling them to serve His Church and the world. This discernment requires encouragement, but most of all it requires prayer—especially the kind of quiet, contemplative prayer that allows a person to listen for God's voice.

Remember What We Are Really Trying to Do

All people must eventually choose the Catholic faith for themselves. We cannot make that decision for our students, no matter how much we love them or how well we teach.

What we can do is create opportunities for them to encounter Christ. We can give them spiritual experiences. We can create communities where they have the freedom to ask questions and wrestle with faith. We can surround them with joyful Christian witnesses, and we can walk beside them as they learn to recognize the God who has been pursuing them all along.

That may be the heart of effective catechesis.

Our goal is not simply to create students who know more about Jesus. Our hope is to form disciples who know Jesus, love Him, and freely choose to follow Him.

For Further Reading

If you would like to reflect more deeply on the call to form disciples and the importance of personal encounter with Jesus Christ, these resources are a great place to begin:

Catechism of the Catholic Church. Second Edition. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2020.
Consider especially paragraphs 27 and 2666, which reflect on our innate desire for God and the power of the Holy Name of Jesus.

Weddell, Sherry A. Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 2012.
Weddell offers practical insight for catechists and ministry leaders who desire to help others move from simply identifying as Catholic toward a personal relationship with Jesus and intentional discipleship.