THE CATECHETICAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH

 

The catechetical system of the Syro-Malabar Church is organized in four levels: Synodal, Eparchial, Forane/regional, and Parochial.

1. AT THE SYNODAL LEVEL

At the Synodal level the organizational system has three main factors: i. the Synodal Commission for catechesis, ii. The Syro-Malabar Catechetical Committee which serves as an advisory body to the Synodal Commission, and iii. The catechetical centre which function as the catechetical office for the whole Syro-Malabar Church

The Synodal Commission for Catechesis

The commission consists of three bishops appointed by the Major Archbishop for a period of five years. One of them serves as the chairman of the commission as designated by the Major Archbishop himself. The main function of this commission is to coordinate, animate, and foster the catechetical ministry of the Syro-Malabar Church. This commission shall have a secretary appointed by the chairman in order to assist the commission in its functioning.

The Syro-Malabar Catechetical Committee

In order to assist the commission there shall be a committee consisting of representatives from each eparchy. This committee is known as Syro-Malabar Catechetical Committee (SMCC).The committee shall include from each eparchy the eparchial catechetical director and two representatives of the catechists, one religious sister and one lay catechist, together with the catechetical experts nominated by the Synodal Commission. This committee has to meet at least once in a year, in order to evaluate the catechetical activities of the Church, to find out solutions for the problems in the catechetical ministry of the Church, and to plan the catechetical programs for the future.

Syro-Malabar Catechetical Centre

Besides the Syro-Malabar catechetical Committee, both the Synodal Commission and the SMCC shall have an office at the Major Archbishops Curia Kakkanad. And this office shall be known as the Syro-Malabar Catechetical Centre. The secretary of the Synodal Commission for the Catechesis shall be responsible for the management of this centre. Its address shall be Syro-Malabar Catechetical Centre, Mount St.Thomas P.B.No.7, Kakkanad, Kochi 682021, Kerala, INDIA.

II AT THE EPARCHIAL LEVEL

Apart from the Synodal level, catechetical ministry of the Church is also organized at the eparchial level. It is actually at the eparchial level that the catechetical ministry is in its real action. At the eparchial level also it is organized under a department headed by a director and a council which assists the director to co-ordinate the catechetical activities of the eparchy.

Eparchial Catechetical Department

Each eparchy should have a catechetical department in order to co-ordinate animate and foster the catechetical ministry in the eparchy. This department should have a director appointed by the Bishop, and adequate staff for the running of the department.
The eparchial catechetical department shall be responsible for the animation of the catechetical activities of the eparchy, especially in the parishes and the Schools. It shall also be responsible for the formulation of syllabus and curriculum for the year for conducting examinations and issuing certificates at the eparchial level, and for the formation of catechists in the eparchy.

Eparchial Catechetical Council

The diocesan catechetical director shall be assisted by an eparchial catechetical council consisting of Forane catechetical directors, Forane secretaries, representative of the promoters and headmasters and five nominees of the Bishop. This council shall meet at least once in a year to evaluate, plan and organize the catechetical activities of the eparchy.

Eparchial Catechetical Centre

Each eparchy should have a center for the efficient conduct of the catechetical department. This centre shall be known as the eparchial catechetical centre. At this centre the catechetical department functions under the directorship of a priest appointed by the Bishop and with the help of the staff working at the centre. It functions as the animation centre for the whole catechetical apostolate of the eparchy.

III FORANE / REGIONAL LEVEL

Within the eparchy, catechetical activities can be further organized under the Forane or regional levels as per the need and size of the eparchy.
Forane / Regional Catechetical Director, Secretary and Promoters
Each Forane or region should have a director appointed by the bishop after getting the opinion of the priests from the Forane. In order to assist him in the catechetical activities of the Forane there should be a secretary, preferably, a religious sister. In order to help them promoters may be appointed by the eparchial catechetical director after getting the opinion of the Forane/ regional catechetical council. The director, secretary, promoters, and the representatives of the headmasters together with the Forane vicar shall be responsible for the co-ordination and animation of the catechetical activities of the Forane or the region.

Forane / Regional Catechetical Council

In order to assist the catechetical activities of Forane or region there shall be a Forane or regional catechetical council. The council consists of Forane vicar, director, secretary two representatives of the parish priests, catechism promoters from the Forane, and all the headmasters of the Sunday schools. Other representatives may be co-opted if need arises. They have to organize catechetical activities within the Forane/ region according to the directions given from the catechetical department of the eparchy. This council has to meet at least once in six months and have to evaluate plan and organize the catechetical activities of the Forane

IV. AT THE PARISH LEVEL

At the parish level, catechetical activities are organized under the directorship of parish priest. In order to assist the parish priest in the co-ordination and animation of the catechetical activities, every parish should have s team of zealous and competent catechism teachers. In the same way, every parish should have also a Headmaster or Headmistress in order to facilitate the catechetical activities of the parish. The parish priest and all the catechism teachers of the parish together form the staff council of the parish. 

Director, Headmaster, and Teachers 

The parish priest by his office is the director of catechism at the parish level. He has to co-ordinate and animate the catechetical activities of the parish in accordance with the directions of the eparchial catechetical department. In order to help the director in the catechetical activities of the parish, there shall be a team of catechism teachers appointed by the director. In order to co- ordinate and facilitate the catechetical activities of the parish as per the eparchial customs a capable catechism teacher is to be selected and appointed as the Headmaster or Headmistress of the Sunday School by the parish priest after due consultation with the staff council. Besides, another teacher is elected by the staff council as its secretary. He I she will be in charge of the official correspondence and keeping the minutes of the council meetings. 

Parish Catechism Council and Office 

The parish catechism Council consists of the parish catechism director, assistant parish priests (if any), headmaster I headmistress, secretary, kaikarns of the parish, superiors of the religious houses, at least two representatives of the catechism teachers, and a minimum of two representatives of the parents. This council has to meet at least twice in a year in order to plan and to evaluate the catechetical activities of the parish. Besides the staff council, there can be a Parents Teachers Fellowship (PTF) or Parents Teachers Association (PTA) in order to promote the catechetical activities of the parish. 

In the same way, every parish shall have a catechism office in order to keep the catechism registers, charts, teaching aids, and other reference books. Together with this, as per the eparchial regulations, a particular percentage of the income of the parish is to be set aside for promoting the catechetical activities of the parish.

 

CATECHISM

 
MINISTRY OF CATECHISM 
 
The first priority was on imparting faith education to the children and the youth, who are the live presence of the church and the future leaders of faith. The practice of catechism in the Apostolic Visitation was intended always to serve as an important safeguard against heresy and helps to mitigate the problems associated with the private interpretation of the Scripture. Above all the new generation irrespective of their situations, are always haunted by secularism, modernism, individualism, relativism, hedonism, consumerism and atheism especially in these European countries. So systematic Faith Education is an antidote to these ideologies governing the modern world. The practice of catechism emphasized two-way approach.
 
 
FAMILY CATECHESIS
 
The first of these emphases was centreed around the catechism in home. The Apostolic Visitator through his pastoral visits to the different communities accentuated the catechism in the homes especially through his sermons, he always highlighted the ways of encouraging faith in the family namely lex orandi, lex credendi, lex celebrandi and lex vivendi. In many Mass Centres, parents are given orientation classes before the catechism year starts. There are also occasional seminars for parents in the communities. In some parishes, input sessions on nurturing faith, use of mass media, new developments in the fields of science and technology, impact on modern generation etc. are given to mothers who bring their children to the catechism classes. Through different catechetical sessions given to parents, Biblical retreats, Adult Bible quiz Program, Seminars to Parents of catechetical students, discussions with Apostolic Visitator regarding the teachings of the Church during the Visits are the ways by which we could realize this aim.
 
 
CATECHISM IN THE PARISH (SUNDAY CATECHISM)
 
The second emphasis of catechism is centreed on the role of the local church (parish). Here the role of the pastor and catechism teachers, through Sunday school program, is to further and support those efforts at catechism ideally begun in the home. The Visitator had stressed the role of parents again and again in the faith formation. Parents should not assume that the church's role is to supply the catechetical instruction that they as parents make little or no effort to provide at home. Too many times Christians, labor under the false assumption that the church and itsvarious youth programs, will make up for a lack of instruction in the home. The Visitator always insisted and encouraged to study the basic Christian teachings based on the notes given by the Dicastery forthe Doctrine of Faith.
 
Thus, we started Sunday Catechism wherein the communities had Holy Qurbana on all Sundays, Bi-monthly and monthly. Sometimes it was very tough to get halls for imparting faith education. Sometimes halls were very small to accommodate the children. The problem of weather, mainly the winter season, has affected the catechism classes. There were no heating facilities in some places.
 
In certain places, the lay people were reluctant and hesitant to continue the catechism methodology. Usually, the catechisms were held before the Holy Qurbana but in certain places due to the non-availability of the hall, they have done the other way that is Catechism conducted after the HolyQurbana. Sometimes long distance makes the travel impossible for the family to come to the Church especially during the winter and the absence of proper conveyance makesthe matter much difficult. Very rarely parents discourage catechism for other motives.
 
Fr. Roy George Vattakkatt is the Director of the Catechism for the whole Europe. Nation-wise directors are elected or nominated by the Apostolic Visitator. There is a National Catechism Council and Mass Centre-wise Catechism Councils. Generally, the priest in charge is the Director. Head Master or Mistress will be in charge of the ordinary activities of the catechism. As there are 12 classes there will be one teacher for each class. In certain places, due to the work commitments, 2 teachers are arranged for each class. Different topics of each class for Sunday Catechism are the following; 1. God the Creator, 2. God the Saviour, 3. God the Life Giver, 4. Streams of Life, 5. People who awaited the Redeemer, 6. People who Experienced Jesus, 7. Teachings of Jesus, 8. Church: The People of God, 9. Church: The Worshipping Community, 10. Church: The Missionary Community, 11. Christian Life in the Church and Society Vol.1, 12. Christian Life in the Church and Society Vol.2. There will be Yearly Written or Oral Exams forthe students. Those who pass the exam are promoted to the next class. There are Scholarship exams conducted for each class for the students who excel in the exams and they will be awarded with special prizes.
 
The Annual Bible Quiz (Biblia) program is set up for growing in true wisdom of the Word of God. The age wise competition is a must watch scene where the contestants learn by heart almost all the related words of the Bible of the related topic. Tough healthy competitions always occur. Quiz programs are conducted based on the ecclesial years e.g., in the year of St.Joseph a quiz program was conducted on the basis of topic St. Joseph in the name Santa Sophia at the Visitation Level. About 1000 participants attended the program. During Easter and Christmas season Online Quiz Programs are conducted based on the topics of the occasions.
 
Catechism Pilgrimage is yet another program for visiting important holy places of Europe. This is arranged both for students as well as teachers. Parents and Teachers Meet are conducted in certain places at the beginning of each year. Annual Catechism Day celebrations or Bible Fest conducted at the parish level present the report of all the catechetical activities of the year and itis also an occasion for the Christian artistic and cultural expressions. Students are encouraged to lead the Food Fest and Auctions during Mission Sunday in view of collecting money for the charity endeavors and missionary ventures. Alpha Theological Course has helped for the general formation of catechists. Sapientiatraining program is given further emphasis for the special formation for the catechists. Catechism Teachers Convention is yet another occasion to energize and animate the teachers for engaging oneself for new methodologies in catechetical instruction. Children are always encouraged to join in the different associations like Holy Childhood, Little Flower Mission League, SM Teens, Altar Servers and Choir.
 
The Systematic of Sunday Catechism is taking place in Ireland since in most of the centres they have Holy Qurbana on all Sundays. There are more 3605 students 507 catechism teachers in Ireland for the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Next comes Rome and other mass centres of Italy. The German Speaking area also has earnestly started engaging to this very important part of faith formation. In other countries when they get chance to gather in the Church, they dooffline catechism otherwise they complete the topics through online. “Sine Domenico non possumus” Citing the words of Pope Benedict (Pastoral Visit of His Holiness Benedict XVI to Bari for the Closing of the 24 th Italian National Eucharistic Congress on Sunday 29 May 2005), the Visitator always encourages every Syro-Malabar Communities to be more open and serious towards imparting faith education. He always insists that catechism as the memory of God which should be translated to the posterity with Christian fervour and spiritual flavor.