Catechesis touches both head and heart

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Sept. 13, 2007

There are many ways to define catechesis but in simple terms it is to teach the faith.

Mark Thomason, director of catechesis, evangelization and RCIA, said that because catechesis has to do with teaching, many inaccurately associate it only with academics.

"In academia, you reach plateaus. After addition and subtraction, comes division and multiplication and you build on it. But with catechesis of Jesus Christ, you can never reach a plateau," he said.

Catechesis, he added, is not just head knowledge but is also heart knowledge. With that in mind, it is a much bigger concept than parish religious education classes, religion classes that are taught in Catholic schools or any type of faith formation.

"Every moment should be a catechetical moment - a chance to share and deepen your faith," said Thomason.

He referred to the definition of catechesis found in the General Directory of Catechesis: the clear, complete presentation of the message of Jesus Christ.

Tied closely to catechesis is evangelization, which is the proclamation of that message.

"The two - catechesis and evangelization - are twins. They are so closely related," said Thomason. "We evangelize the unconvinced and we catechize the convinced."

At the same time, he added, even convinced believers should continually be evangelized.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who is now Pope Benedict XVI, stated that the permanent evangelization of the church is the Mass. The church evangelizes to all members through the Eucharistic liturgy. At the same time, Catholics are called to evangelize others.

Thomason said that in Matthew 28:19 which states, "Go and make disciples of all nations and baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit," Catholics are called to be evangelists. That means they should tell others how much they love being Catholic.

"Both catechesis and evangelization continually draw us to a deeper conversion. Conversion is not a one-time event, it is a lifetime event," said Thomason. "Once you convert one thing to another it changes. The conversion process is new - it is a new life over and over again - deepening my faith, growing more in love. Essentially, this is a love story, a love story between God and us."

While the heart knowledge can have a powerful impact on the faithful, he said there is a need for the head knowledge as well because things take on more meaning when they are understood.

"Intellectual formation helps my head to know my heart," he said.

Some people, added Thomason, might back away from evangelizing because they don't know the faith knowledge well.

"I think also that maybe they don't really love it," he said. "When you are overjoyed, you just can help telling people."

He said the head part of catechesis including formal parts such as religion classes are like music lessons or practice in preparation for game day. The learning is important, but Thomason stressed the essential part "is having people fall in love with it - to want to play guitar, to want to play football. Once you have the desire, you go to practice because you want to get better at it."

Cardinal Ratzinger said that to evangelize was to show the path - Jesus Christ.

"If evangelization is to show the path, catechesis is to help people on the path," said Thomason.

His predecessors had the title of director of catechesis, but with Thomason's appointment in January the title was changed to director of catechesis, evangelization and RCIA. The new title stresses the importance of these elements of the faith.

"We have to become a church on mission again - a church of evangelists. We have to reclaim that a little more boldly," he said.

He encourages the faithful, especially adults, to take ownership of their faith rather than looking to the church to do it for them. They may wish to start a Bible study group, a rosary group, men's spirituality group, pro-life group or volunteer as a catechist or for other faith groups.

"Take a hold of your faith and learn it," said Thomason. "There are a thousand ways to do things in the church and everyone by their baptism is ready to go - part of the family."