Issue 24: Spring 2024

Download the pdf version of this issue by clicking here.

The word ‘CATECHIST’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘to echo’. As Catechists or teachers of RE we do not proclaim our own word. We echo the message of Jesus Christ our Lord. This newsletter aims at providing parish catechists and teachers of RE in schools some support in terms of reflections, ideas, useful resources they can use and so on. Feel free to share with other colleagues and friends. There is also a pdf version which you can download by clicking on the thumbnail below.

In this issue

The Parish as a hub for Catechesis

From the General Directory for Catechesis

SDC in London

Catechism websites

The Parish as a hub for Catechesis

The importance of the parish is without doubt key for the very existence of any Christian community - it is the place where the community develops and grows and where its life is expressed, witnessed and lived. The Parish is the place where we were welcomed into the community through baptism, then received preparation for and celebrated the other sacraments of initiation. It is the community with whom we regularly meet to worship.

Times have changed and throughout recent decades parishes have seen so many changes, some due to families moving in or out of the local area, migration of people for different reasons, changes in the personal and financial situation of many people and of course the Covid pandemic and its repercussions.

Notwithstanding these changes and challenges, in may cases, parishes are now not only traditional centres where the community gathers to worship but a place from where Christian witness can be radiated for others to see and from where new evangelisation activities can be embarked on as part of the church’s ongoing effort to make Jesus better known and loved. As living stones of our parish communities, it is our duty to be active participants and help our local parish to flourish and continue to be a light and ray of hope into the future as the current Church Synod also recommends.

From the General Directory of Catechesis

In the parish, all human differences melt away and are absorbed into the universality of the Church.

The General Directory of Catechesis, paragraph 257

SDC in London

Bible Study Group - 2024

As we have now started a new calendar year we’ve embarked on a new programme for this group for 2024. Following our reflections last year on the Bible Timeline, our focus this year is ‘The Virtues’. In January we started with the first Theological Virtue - FAITH. Our meetings continue to be hybrid meetings are open for people to attend in person but also allow others to join us virtually on Zoom. Among the other topics we regularly cover are the History of the Church, aspects of SDC Spirituality, Lives of Saints and current affairs.

SDC Juniors Group

Our SDC Juniors group has now been re-established. Young people in this group are usually of secondary school age and come together to meet for a range of social and formation activities at least twice a month. Recent gatherings included those during the Advent season and then the meeting at the SDC House in Upper Norwood to mark the feast of St Stephen.

Catechism Groups

Catechism sessions continue to take place for different groups of children mainly at the Holy Rosary Parish, Brixton, London and at St Andrews in Thornton Heath. We are blessed to have a number of SDC Friends who help out as volunteer catechists in the various groups.

Preparing for a Pilgramage

We have now started our planning for the Pilgrimage trip to Malta for members of the SDC Friends Group. Everything is now booked for this long awaited trip which will take place for Eastertime 2024 and will hopefully include visits to different places and shrines in Malta as well as taking part in the Holy Week Liturgies and other SDC gatherings there.

Online Resources

Have a look at these Catechism websites

SDC website (sdc.me.uk)

Resources for Catechists and RE teachers. Includes Powerpoints, Worksheets and Lesson Plans for First Communion and Confirmation programmes and a lot more.

CATECHIST (catechist.com)

The website of the American ‘Catechist’ magazine. Provides ideas, reflections and resources for catechists in parish religious education programs, and for teachers of religion in Catholic schools.

Download the pdf version of this issue by clicking here.