Catechetical Sunday is September 18

“Life is Christ” this year’s theme

by Sr. Beth Ann Dillon

Catechetical Sunday will be on Sunday, September 18, 2005. This year’s theme is Life is Christ! It is drawn from the Gospel parable (Matt. 20: 1-16) of the open invitation to new laborers by the generous vineyard owner! The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) resource booklet has some great material for planning: a CD with media announcements, bulletin inserts, seasonal clipart, the weekly texts for catechist group prayer, a Retreat, and the Catechetical Sunday Commissioning Service. Also, the text is presented in English and Spanish. The new feature Car Chats is an option for parents to have conversation starters with their kids about Life is Christ during the Advent and Lenten seasons!

Life in Christ is also an invitation for you to receive God’s invitation to deepen your relationship with him - to be open to God’s ways in your life. For we cannot give what we do not have! The Lord is generous to all. Thus, letting God into our busy worlds, letting him interrupt our plans by his grace can often be a real challenge. So summer reading and planning can be a time for you to blossom and grow as well.

Here are some thoughts to stimulate your reflections! The Catechetical resource manual suggests:

- Make a personal commitment to grow in your faith.

- Focus on your need to grow in the knowledge of the faith.

- Live what you believe, and believe what you know!

- Maintain awareness of God’s daily blessings.

- Pursue holiness in justice.

- Pray to accept life’s difficulties.

New Catechetical Directory

Along with the Resource Booklet for Catechetical Sunday, the New National Directory for Catechesis (NDC) has just arrived fresh off the press from USCCB Publishing. This is a great resource that provides the inspiration for all catechesis in the United States and the reference point for formation of catechists and preparation of catechetical materials. A companion to the General Directory for Catechesis, the NDC builds on its themes and contextualizes catechesis within the life of the church in the United States, paying close attention to ongoing social and cultural challenges.We are beginning to plan regional gatherings for next year on the implementation of the document! It is our plan for fulfilling the mandate of being a community that lives and invites all to evangelizing catechesis. This means we evangelize and catechize the whole community – wherever and whenever the community gathers!

For further information on the New National Directory for Catechesis or other related resources, call 800-235-8722 or visit www.usccb.org/publishing/ndc.shtml.

Sr. Beth Ann Dillon is Director of the Office of Religious Education for the Diocese of New Ulm.