Issue 30: Summer 2026

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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

The Role of the Catechist

Quotes from the Directory

The Year of St Francis

Happy Birthday

SDC In London

The Role of the Catechist

There are many roles and different ministries in the Church. Crucial among them is the ministry of the Catechist.

A catechist is someone who is called to help in the proclamation of the word of God to others. This is normally a ministry carried out within parish setups when catechists lead groups of children, young people or adults for sacramental preparation and other formation groups. The Directory for Catechesis outlines three roles every catechist should have, namely:

A Witness

Being an example of someone who is a true follower of Christ in real life situations; someone who has already ‘encountered’ Jesus and is therefore a sign of hope for others.

A Teacher

On the example of Jesus the teacher, a catechist helps transmit the content of our Faith to others and introducing them to Christian life and its beliefs, practices and liturgy.

An Accompanier

Someone who becomes a travelling companion on the journey every Christian is called for. This is done through listening and being there to support under the guidance and promptings of the Spirit.

Quotes from the Directory of Catechesis

The catechist is a Christian who receives a particular calling from God that, when accepted in faith, empowers him for the service of the transmission of faith and for the task of initiating others into the Christian life.

From DIRECTORY OF CATECHESIS, paragraph 112

In the multiplicity of ministries and services with which the Church realises her mission of evangelisation, the ‘ministry of catechesis’ occupies a significant place, indispensible for the growth of the faith.

From DIRECTORY OF CATECHESIS, paragraph 110

The Year of St Francis

This Year 2026 has been designated as a special Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi. This is to mark the eighth centenary from the death of Saint Francis who passed away to eternal life on the 4th October 1226.

The young Francis went through a conversion process over a number of years. Growing up within a rich and business minded family, he first had normal worldly ambitions, including ones related to wealth and worldly glory. When he realised such thoughts and ambitions were not really fulfilling for him, he turned his attention to the Gospel values and being a disciple of Jesus rather than a wealth and partying.

The event of Jesus’ call to Francis, ‘Rebuild my Church’ was the spur which convinced him of God’s real call form him. Once convinced by this divine call, he started his community. Other young men joined him in his ‘Friar Minors’ community, embracing the virtue of poverty and working in the most simple and charitable way among those who most in need. For him every human being was a brother or a sister!

Today Francis of Assisi is also known for his thoughts on God’s love for us through what he’s created for us. His Hymn of creation ‘Canticle of the Sun…’ is renowned the world over.

Later on new communities were established in so many countries, not just for the Friars but also for the ‘Poor Clares’ a community of Franciscan women as well as the lay movement known as the ‘Third Order’.

This year is an invitation for us all to think about and discern on who we really want to follow on our life journey. Is God the one I am really following or am I just wandering aimlessly having lost the right direction that leads to the one that can truly be the source of fulfilment in life?

Happy Birthday

Pentecost is often described as the Birthday of the Church. It was when the Holy Spirit descended on the small group of Apostles, 50 days after Easter Sunday.

As evidenced in the Acts of the Apostles, on that day, about 3000 people were baptised. This amazing day should therefore be a day in which we reflect and celebrate.

We celebrate and rejoice for being part of this wonderful One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and we ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire us all in being missionary members of this community of followers of Jesus Christ.

SDC in London

Away Day

Our Lent Away Day for the SDC Associates Group this year took place on Sunday, 15th February 2026.

The day started with mass at the parish church of St John the Baptist in Purley. We then proceeded to the convent of the Poor Clares just outside Arundel where we gathered for a Bible reflection in the common room and prayer in the convent chapel. As this is the year of St Francis, our reflections were on the theme of Joy and this special saint.

On our way back we stopped for some time in the small village of Billinghurst. Superior General Roberto Zammit who was visiting our London centre at the time, also joined us on this trip.

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