Catechists from Brazil will receive the Catechist Ministry during the 61st AG of the CNBB

Vatican News

The 61st General Assembly of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) will have a special moment during its holding, between April 10th and 19th, in Aparecida (SP). On April 13, Saturday, the Mass of the bishops’ meeting will feature the rite of institution of the ministry of catechists, in which catechists from all nineteen regions of the Conference will receive the designation of this office.

Catechists from 19 regions have already been confirmed for the celebration, which will be held at the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida, in Aparecida (SP), starting at 7 am.

In preparation for this moment of the 61st General Assembly of the CNBB, a live broadcast will be held next Wednesday, April 3rd, to share with the catechists who will be appointed ministers during the bishops’ assembly. It will be possible to follow it on the CNBB YouTube channel.

The ministry of catechists

Established by Pope Francis with the motu proprio Antiquum Ministeriumon May 10, 2021, the ministry of catechist “is a stable service provided to the local Church in accordance with the pastoral requirements identified” by the bishop, and which must be carried out in accordance with the condition of lay Christians. who receive this ministry.

Pope Francis highlighted that the established ministry of Catechist be conferred on “men and women of deep faith and human maturity, who have an active participation in the life of the Christian community, are capable of acceptance, generosity and a life of fraternal communion”. The pontiff also advised that these faithful must receive the appropriate biblical, theological, pastoral and pedagogical training, “to be diligent communicators of the truth of the faith, and have already matured a previous experience of catechesis”. Another requirement is that “they must be faithful collaborators with the priests and deacons, available to carry out the ministry wherever necessary and animated by true apostolic enthusiasm”.

The work of the Episcopal Conference

In the Motu Proprio that established the ministry of catechist, Pope Francis entrusted the Episcopal Conferences with indicating the criteria and the formative itinerary for the ministry to be granted. Thus, the Episcopal Commission for Biblical-Catechetical Animation of the CNBB prepared a document that meets the Pope’s request, with a view to its application in the Church in Brazil. The text was approved during the 59th General Assembly of the CNBB, in 2022.

Published under number 112, the document “Criteria and Itineraries for the Institution of the Catechist Ministry” contains the proposal for immediate training for those who already work as catechists, as well as more prolonged training for those who wish to be catechists.

Another task of the CNBB in the process of implementing the catechist ministry was the translation of the “Rite of the Institution of Catechists”, produced by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. In this way, the ritual is available for bishops and Diocesan Liturgy Commissions to use, as an expression of the Church’s recognition of so many lay men and women who, for some time, have dedicated their lives to the transmission of faith and the proclamation of the Gospel. The material can be purchased at CNBB Editions.

Source: CNBB