Issue 28: Autumn 2025

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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

Two Young Witnesses of Faith

The Jubilee of Catechists

SDC in London

Social Media

Two Young Witnesses to the Faith

Most people have heard of Carlo Acutis and Piergiorgio Frassati, two young Catholics who were officially declared a saints by Pope Leo on Sunday 7th September 2025 at the Vatican.

These two young people - a young man from the early 20th century and a teenager from the time of the new millennium, were two people who discovered Jesus and were ready to give everything for him. Pier Giorgio encountered the Lord through school and church groups and bore witness to God with his joy of living and of being a Christian in prayer, friendship and charity. Carlo Acutis also encountered Jesus through his family as well as school but above all in the sacraments celebrated in the parish community. He then expressed his commitment to his faith through prayer and everything else he did - sport, study and charity work.

These two young saints are now being presented to us as role models. Age is not what matters here. Yes they were young and their lives were cut short, but for us they are great witnesses of Discipleship that translates itself into the fundamentals of the Christian faith - Prayer, Devotion to the Holy Eucharist, Devotion to Mary our mother and learning from other saints and then expressing all this in acts of love of neighbour and charity work.

In his homily during the mass of Canonisation, Pope Leo stressed that Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis are an invitation to all of us, especially young people, not to squander our lives, but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces. Their lives and commitment to their faith are being presented to us as a simple formula and a type of witness we are called to follow in order to enjoy life to the full and meet the Lord in the feast of heaven.

The Jubilee of Catechists

As catechists you are those disciples of Jesus who become his witnesses. The name of your ministry comes from the Greek verb katēchein, which means “to teach aloud, to make resound.” This means that the catechist is a person of the word – a word that he or she pronounces with his or her own life.

Pope Leo - Jubilee of Catechists - September 2025

SDC in London

SDC Friends Group

Away Days - Lake District

During the May half term week a trip to the Lake District area was organised as an opportunity for the group to spend a few away days for reflection on the Jubilee Year of Hope as well as visiting places of interest in the Cumbria and Lancashire areas.

We left on Thursday morning and first stopped in North London for mass. We then proceeded to the North but made a stop over in Sheffield. On Friday and Saturday we attended mass in different parishes and explored the area including a number of towns and villages in the Lake District and beyond. Every evening we met for prayers and our daily reflections on the theme of Hope. On our way back to London on Sunday we stopped for Mass at Lancaster Cathedral, one of the designated Jubilee Year shrines for the diocese of Lancaster.

Reflecting on Francis of Assisi and the Virture of Poverty"

Our most recent away day trip took place on the 4th October, memorial feast of St Francis of Assisi we focused on the life of this saint and particularly the virtue of Poverty. We first stopped for mass at St Joseph’s parish church, Epsom. We then proceeded to Maryfield convent in Hook, where we spent time together which included reflections on the life of St Francis, a Bible session on the episode of the Rich Young Man, the Rosary prayer and other prayers in the convent chapel.

Social Media by SDC

Have a look at our Social Media platforms

Videos on RE themes to use in catechism sessions
Short videos for prayer and reflection
Other videos on St George Preca and SDC
Links to other resources for catechists and teachers

Download the pdf version of this issue by clicking here.