Vatican News
Catechists from around the world are gathering in Rome to celebrate the Jubilee of Catechists from Sep 26 – 28. Over twenty thousand pilgrims from 115 countries are arriving in Rome from all over Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland, Ukraine, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, the Philippines, India, and Australia. The Jubilee events are dedicated to those who daily engage in catechesis, teaching the faith to people of all ages and walks of life. They represent diocesan and national catechetical offices and the Episcopal Conferences of their home countries.
The Jubilee started on Friday morning with the catechists starting their pilgrimages to the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Later in the day a Prayer Vigil will take place in the early evening inside the Basilica, presided over by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. In the second part of the Liturgy of the Word, focusing on the passage of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-33a), three catechists from Italy, Mozambique, and Mexico will share their personal stories of service in their local communities.
On Saturday Sep 27 the catechists will participate in the Jubilee Audience in Saint Peter’s Square with Pope Leo XIV, who will greet them. In the afternoon at 4:00 pm the catechists will gather in various churches in central Rome for catechesis in language groups with their bishops. These will be held in Italian, English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Polish.
The Jubilee will culminate on Sunday Sep 28 with Mass in Saint Peter’s Square presided over by Pope Leo at 10.00 am, during which he will commission 39 new catechists. The candidates for the lay ministry of catechist, who will each receive a crucifix from the Pope as a sign of their special vocation, come from Italy, Spain, England, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, India, South Korea, East Timor, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, the United States, Mozambique, Brazil, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. – Vatican News
