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Volume 3, Number 1 September 14, 2021
Pastors and Catechetical Leaders
As we get ready to launch a new academic year, we look forward to seeing you at on the meetings we have scheduled to introduce the new safe environment program, Circle of Grace, and the revised inventories. These meetings are for catechetical leaders. Priests are also welcome to attend. If you have not already done so, please sign up for one of the following:
- Tonight, Sept. 14, 7 pm at St. Leo Parish, Leominster
- Wed., Sept 15, 10 am at St. Denis Parish, Douglas
- Tues., Sept 21, 7 pm at Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Worcester
- Wed. Sept 22, 2 pm at Christ the King Parish, Worcester
CATECHETICAL SUNDAY -- September 19, 2021
Prayer for Catechists
Copyright © 2021, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Image:
Loving Father, we pray today for our catechists. We thank you for their gift of ministry in your Church. Grant them your wisdom that they may grow in the understanding and teaching of your Word. Grant them also your love that they may be fruitful heralds of your Word and lead others to love you. Pour forth your Holy Spirit upon them to grant them wisdom about what is important; knowledge of the truths of faith; understanding of their meaning; right judgement about how to apply them in life; courage to persevere even in the face of adversity; reverence before all that is sacred and holy; and that loving zeal which leads others to a transforming encounter with your Son. We pray this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
A Catechist's Prayer
Loving Father, pour forth your Holy Spirit upon me that I may be a good catechist of your Word, your Son, Jesus Christ. Render my mind and heart so open, receptive and responsive to your Holy Spirit that, like Mary, I might become a living instrument of your Word to others. Help me to be a faithful witness to Gospel life so that your Church may become ever more alive. Let the fire of your love so enkindle my heart that I may be an instrument of drawing others to love of you in the Church of your Son. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Copyright © 2021, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved
Christ Healing the Blind, ca. 1570
“This image by the famed artist, El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos), illustrates the Gospel account of Christ healing a blind man by anointing his eyes.
The past year has highlighted the urgent need for healing--physical, spiritual, emotional--in ourselves and in our world. As our world struggles to heal, complete healing is not possible without Jesus as the Divine Physician. When our souls heal, all heals, despite our suffering.
The words we pray at Mass, “Say the Word and My Soul Shall be Healed”, have the power to remind us of, to open our eyes to, the healing that Jesus offers us in the Eucharist which is essential, eternal, and ever open to us. We humbly ask him to say the word, and with that prayer, we have faith that, with the fantastic and improbable prospect of Jesus entering under our roof, our souls shall be healed.”
From the USCCB website – usccb.org
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Catechist Training and Enrichment
A colleague once commented that many of our volunteer catechists, while faithful and generous Catholics, cannot articulate an “adult faith.” This can lead to a tentative presentation and over reliance on the printed page of the student text. As catechetical leaders, we have a responsibility to nurture and support their efforts.
This fall, the Office of Religious Education will be offering Introduction to the Ministry of the Catechist – in two different formats -- to help our volunteers understand their ministry and get them started. For more information and registration, go to: Introduction to the Ministry of the Catechist - Diocese of Worcester - Worcester, MA (worcesterdiocese.org)
The parable of the sower and the seed is a foundational text for the ministry of catechesis. Joe Paprocki comments that “too many of our efforts . . . go into finding ways to either throw more seed or find bigger better seeds to throw, when what we really need to be doing is preparing the soil.” In the latest addition to his Toolbox series, he explains how applying nine strategies from the marketing and advertising world to our ministry can help “loosen the soil” and foster growth. This is not a new program or curriculum but a way of approaching what we do in our contemporary context.
The entire Toolbox series would make a wonderful addition to your catechist enrichment library – and it is currently on sale!
The book that started it all, The Catechist’s Toolbox, is given to all who take the Introduction to the Ministry of the Catechist.
Level I, Part 1 Adult Formation Course
September 24, 25, 26 and Nov. 19, 20, 21
9 am to 5 pm
St. John, the Guardian of Our Lady Parish
80 Union Street, Clinton, MA 01510
80 Union Street, Clinton, MA 01510
