Answering the Call of Catechesis

INTRODUCTION

Catechesis comes from the Greek word meaning “to echo the teaching.” A young religious educator who is passionate about teaching the faith shares his journey of discernment.

WRITTEN BY

SHARE THE WORD

PUBLISHED ON

“Vocation does not come from a voice out there calling me to be something I am not. It comes from a voice in here calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given me at birth by God.” – Thomas Merton

Christian Living or CL has always been the favorite school subject of Carlos Ma. Francisco Estrella. Coming from a middle-class family, Carlos and his younger brother were raised by devout Catholic parents who brought them up in the faith. After finishing elementary and high school in the Salesian-run Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati, he entered the Don Bosco Pre-novitiate Seminary in Canlubang to discern whether the priesthood was God’s will for him.

After five years as an aspirant and pre-novice in the seminary, he realized that he was not yet prepared to live the life of a religious and that he needed to continue his journey of discernment elsewhere.

Vocation And Mission
As part of the Salesian seminary’s apostolate on catechesis, he taught CL to public high school students. With his seminary education deepening his knowledge about God and the Catholic faith, he felt more determined to apply this knowledge in life and pass it on to others through catechism. Leaving the seminary to experience more of the world, Carlos was drawn to teaching.

“I really enjoy teaching, it defines me. More than a job, teaching is a vocation, a mission,” says the 30-year-old Carlos who currently teaches CL to grades 5, 6 and 8 students of the Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Parañaque (IHMCP).

He followed his passion for teaching and enrolled in Don Bosco College, Canlubang, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Secondary Education degree, majoring in English. He passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) in 2013. After working as a call center agent for a year, he was hired by IHMCP as a CL teacher for grades 5 and 6 students.

“Aside from giving me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, teaching enables me to interact with people from different walks of life–my students, my co-teachers, and the nuns in IHMCP. I share my life with them as they share their lives with me,” says Carlos.

Coming from Catholic schools and a seminary whose apostolate is catechesis, the young religious educator thought he was adequately prepared to serve as a CL teacher. But after his first year of teaching at IHMCP, he realized that he still had a lot to learn about the faith. “There were basic questions from my students that I found difficult to answer,” Carlos admits.

Wanting to learn more about the faith, Carlos took up classes in Master in Religious Studies, Major in Youth Ministry at the Don Bosco School of Theology (formerly Don Bosco Center of Studies) where he is currently on hiatus. “Through these classes, my knowledge deepened about different aspects of our faith such as the sacraments and morality. Interacting with my teachers and classmates, as well as hearing Mass and praying daily, also helped make me a better CL teacher.”

His journey of discernment, however, has not been without tribulations. In 2019, Carlos left teaching and returned to the corporate world as a call center agent. “I consider those two years working as a call center agent as my purification years and the darkest period in my life. My decision to leave teaching was a big mistake. I was depressed and knew that being at a call center was not for me.”

The mistake led Carlos to clarity. “I realized what I really wanted to do in life: to learn more about the faith and pass this knowledge on to my students. I felt at peace when I returned to teaching CL in IHMCP.”

Support
The 21st century is known as the Information Age of which access to and the control of information is the defining characteristic. Unfortunately, it also ushered in the rise of misinformation and disinformation.

“Some people try to discredit our faith. This challenged me to know more about our faith so that I could defend it,” says Carlos.

He admits that teaching was easier before the COVID-19 pandemic when face-to-face classes were still allowed. With the shift to online learning, he had to find ways to make his virtual CL classes both substantive and interesting. Fortunately, there are a lot of technological tools available to help him prepare his lessons.

“In my online classes, I incorporate educational videos posted on Catholic websites and the latest online information about the faith. Of course, I have to be careful in checking the accuracy and reliability of my online references,” he explains.

Carlos and his co-teachers are thankful for the continuing improvement of the country’s COVID-19 situation. “After more than two years, we were able to join our students face-to-face for their First Communion in March and Confirmation in April this year.”

They are also grateful for the support of their school and parish church. “IHMCP gave us the opportunity to attend teaching seminars and be actively involved in preparing our students to receive First Communion and Confirmation. The Mary Help of Christians Parish provided the venue for these religious activities, while the Salesian priests conducted the recollection for the parents and heard the confession of our students.”

Lay Cooperation
Catechesis comes from the Greek word meaning “to echo the teaching.” It is an interactive process in which the Word of God resounds between and among the catechist, the catechized, and the Holy Spirit, according to an article in the Catholic News Agency (CNA).

Quoting Matthew 28:18-20, CNA pointed out that Jesus empowered the Church to continue His mission when He said, “Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of time.”

On May 11, 2021, Pope Francis established the lay ministry of the catechist in the Catholic Church. In the apostolic letter Antiquum Ministerium (“Ancient Ministry”), Francis explained that the establishment of this lay ministry recognizes “those lay men and women who feel called by virtue of their baptism to cooperate in the work of catechesis in support of the mission of the bishop who is the primary catechist in his diocese.”

The decree paves the way for many of the more than three million lay women and men catechists around the world to be formally installed by the local bishop into this ministry.

“The establishment of lay ministry of the catechist encourages me to continue my role as a religious educator whatever my situation may be in the future–a CL teacher or a priest,” says Carlos.

For young people who are considering a life as a religious educator or lay catechist, Carlos offers this advice, “Discern your decision. If you know in your heart that this is your calling, answer it. Do not be afraid. God is with you every step of the way.”

Share Your Thoughts

All comments are moderated

From The Same Issue

The articles and content about this issue

From The Same Issue

The articles and content about this issue

From This Topic

The articles and content about this topic

From This Topic

The articles and content about this topic

WM Special

Still up in arms

Explore Other Topics

Browse other coverage

Explore Other Topics

Browse other coverage

WM SPECIAL

Presents, discusses and draws readers to reflect on issues of outmost relevance to the world today.


FRONTIERS

Very often, mission is carried out in frontier situations around the world. Those who embrace these situations have much to share.


UNITY IN DIVERSITY

Writer Ilsa Reyes will be exploring the richness of Pope Francis’s latest encyclical Fratelli Tutti with a view of helping our readers to get a grasp of the this beautiful papal document.


FRONTLINE

Puts to the front committed and inspiring people around the world who embrace humanitarian and religious causes with altruism and passion.


IN FOCUS

Focus on a given theme of interest touching upon social, economic and religious issues.


FAITH@50

As the Philippines prepares to celebrate 500 years of the arrival of Christianity. Fr. James Kroeger leads us in this series into a discovery journey of the landmark events in the history of faith in the Philippine archipelago.


INSIGHT

Aims to nurture and inspire our hearts and minds while pondering upon timely themes.


FILIPINO FOCUS

The large archipelago of the Philippines, in its richness of peoples and cultures, offers varied and challenging situations for mission.


FOLLOW ME

Reflections and vocation stories that shape up the lives of young people.


MISSION IS FUN

As humor and goodness of heart are qualities of Christian and missionary life, the new column “Mission is fun” will be publishing some anecdotes and stories that have happened in a missionary context to lighten up the spirits and trigger a smile in our faces.


LIVING COMMUNION

To help readers of World Mission live this year dedicated to Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples, Tita Puangco, writer and lecturer, shares in this section insights on the spirituality of communion.


WINDS OF THE SPIRIT

A historic view of the Catholic movements that emerged from the grassroots as an inspiration by the Holy Spirit.


BRIDGE BUILDERS

On the Year of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples, radio host and communicator Ilsa Reyes, in her monthly column, encourages Christians and people of good will to be one with their fellow people of other sects, religions and tribes.


INTERVIEW

Questions to a personality of the Church or secular world on matters of interest that touch upon the lives of people.


WORLD TOUCH

News from the Church, the missionary world and environment that inform and form the consciences.


CARE OF THE EARTH

A feature on environmental issues that are affecting the whole world with the view of raising awareness and prompting action.


EDITORIAL

The editor gives his personal take on a given topic related to the life of the Church, the society or the world.


YOUNG HEART

A monthly column on themes touching the lives of young people in the Year of the Youth in the Philippines by radio host and communicator I lsa Reyes.


SCROLL

A missionary living in the Chinese world shares his life-experiences made up of challenges and joyous encounters with common people.


EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Life stories of people who deserve to be known for who they were, what they did and what they stood for in their journey on earth.


ONE BY ONE

Stories of people whom a missionary met in his life and who were touched by Jesus in mysterious ways.


INCREASE OUR FAITH

Critical reflection from a Christian perspective on current issues.


SPECIAL MOMENTS

Comboni missionary Fr. Lorenzo Carraro makes a journey through history pinpointing landmark events that changed the course of humanity.


PROFILE

A biographical sketch of a public person, known for his/her influence in the society and in the Church, showing an exemplary commitment to the service of others.


WM REPORTS

Gives fresh, truthful, and comprehensive information on issues that are of concern to all.


LIFE'S ESSENTIALS

A column aimed at helping the readers live their Christian mission by focusing on what is essential in life and what it entails.


ASIAN FOCUS

Peoples, events, religion, culture and the society of Asia in focus.


THE SEARCHER'S PATH

The human heart always searches for greatness in God’s eyes, treading the path to the fullness of life - no matter what it takes.


INDIAN FOCUS

The subcontinent of India with its richness and variety of cultures and religions is given center stage.


AFRICAN FOCUS

The African continent in focus where Christianity is growing the fastest in the world.


JOURNEY MOMENTS

Well-known writer and public speaker, Fr. Jerry Orbos, accompanies our journey of life and faith with moments of wit and inspiration based on the biblical and human wisdom.


IGNATIUS STEPS

On the year dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyala, Fr. Lorenzo Carraro walks us through the main themes of the Ignatian spirituality.


THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS

Fr. John Taneburgo helps us to meditate every month on each of the Seven Last Words that Jesus uttered from the cross.


INSIDE THE HOLY BOOK

In this section, Fr. Lorenzo delves into the secrets and depths of the Sacred Scriptures opening for us the treasures of the Sacred Book so that the reader may delight in the knowledge of the Word of God.


CONVERSATIONS

Reflections about the synodal journey on a conversational and informal style to trigger reflection and sharing about the synodal path the Church has embarked upon.

Shopping Cart