photo/Assumption Parish Media Team
By Herald Malaysia
June 13 2022
KUALA LUMPUR – A two-day online consultation meeting to discern the institution of the lay ministry of Catechist in the dioceses of Asia was held on June 8 and 10.
This was in response to the Apostolic Letter Antiquum Ministerium issued by Pope Francis on May 10, 2021, where he formally established the lay Ministry of Catechist.
In this letter, the Pope directly invites “the episcopal conferences to render effective the Ministry of Catechist, determining the necessary process of formation and the normative criteria for admission to this ministry and devising the most appropriate forms for the service which these men and women will be called to exercise in conformity with the content of this Apostolic Letter.” (AM 9)
About 106 delegates, composed of bishops, clergy, religious and lay people from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand, participated in the meeting organised by the Office of Education and Faith Formation (OEFF) of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC).
On June 8, the meeting began with an opening address by Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunyamin OSC, Bishop of Bandung and Bishop Chairman, FABC OEFF. This was followed by the keynote address by Most Rev Julian Leow Beng Kim, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur – Bishop Member, FABC OEFF.
In his address, Archbishop Julian pointed out that in announcing the Institution to the Ministry of Catechist last May, Pope Francis opened a new path before us.
He said it calls for us to stop and ponder, and to discern and decide where our next steps should take us. While it may seem easier to remain on the well-trodden path, Antiquum Ministerium has given us pause — to reflect on the current practices in catechetical ministry and to consider what might make it more effective.
Some key questions Archbishop Julian raised during his keynote address included: What is the identity and role of the installed lay person? He said, “Only when we have some basic ideas as to the description and role of a person to be installed, can we truly discern and decide on the relevance of the ministry for our diocese.
Also, the word “installation” with regards to this ministry must be addressed. An “installation” indicates a more permanent nature of service. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments (CDWS) states that the Ministry of Catechist is first, a “stable form of service rendered to the diocese”, and secondly, the bishop will identify whether the installed catechist can render that service to the diocese.
“This brings us to enquire what “a stable form of ministry” means. What are the pastoral and practical implications that would arise for the community and the catechetical ministry in installing a person to the ministry? Crucially, what difference would this lay ministry bring to the diocese, since most of our catechists are lay people, already serving voluntarily in the parishes”.
Ultimately, it is the task of the episcopal conferences and individual bishops to clarify the description, the role, and the most appropriate forms for the exercise of the ministry of catechists. This includes defining what a stable ministry means, the age and qualifications of the catechists to be installed, and other matters.
The second question the archbishop raised was, “What criteria will be used to determine who qualifies for this ministry?
He said, “Paragraph eight of Antiquum Ministerium only gives a general description as to qualities and qualifications of the person who is to be installed. It states they “be men and women of deep faith and human maturity, active participants in the life of the Christian community, capable of welcoming others, being generous and living a life of fraternal communion.” It also indicates that it is the task of the diocesan bishop to discern the call to the ministry of Catechist by assessing the needs of the community and the abilities of the candidates.”
And finally, how will the selected individuals be formed and prepared for installation to the Ministry of Catechist? Quoting paragraph eight of Antiquum Ministerium once again, the prelate said, “Those selected to the ministry, “… should also receive suitable biblical, theological, pastoral, and pedagogical formation to be competent communicators of the truth of the faith and they should have some prior experience of catechesis.” Therefore, adequate formation programmes for candidates must also be defined by the episcopal conferences and the individual bishops.”
Archbishop Julian recommended that participants at the meeting be tasked to propose general guidelines concerning the above-mentioned questions, as well as other questions that may arise during the workshop. And hopefully, the guidelines will help the bishops discern the installation of laypersons to the Ministry of the Catechist in their dioceses.
In conclusion, the prelate said that while on this synodal journey, the Church of Asia has been actively using the word ‘dialogue’. “May we take the step of faith and travel together during the coming days by praying, dialoguing with, and listening to one another, and learning from and supporting each other as companions on a journey. – Herald Malaysia
