21st Century Catechist—a Religion Teacher, or an Evangelizer?

Abstract

The author, basing on church documents and theological elaborations, presents challenges for the 21^st-century catechist in the context of a changing world and its new (second) evangelization. Modern-day Christians—people who have received the sacrament of Baptism—have departed far from Christ. Hence the need for re-evangelization and re-catechization of nominally believing societies. The purpose of evangelizing catechesis understood in this way is to bring this world back to Christ, to establish relationships with him and to deepen mutual relations: God–human. The material analyzes the shortcomings and errors of the modern catechist. Pastoral suggestions and indications were also given and perspectives for new evangelizers were shown. The church faces a great mission. It is not only the expansion of the Lord's disciples, but also the recovery of the lost who have withdrawn and no longer walk with him (compare John 6:66). The evangelizer, in reality that is constantly secularizing and secularizing, can contrast God’s living Word and his own living testimony. Currently, he has many tools at his disposal to reach the recipients—former disciples who were discouraged by the Church because of its difficult speech (John 6:60), or scandals and abuses of the clergy. The church is determined to constantly reaffirm the irreplaceable role of teachers in its mission. It is also a task for catechists themselves who, identifying with the Teacher of Nazareth, should be aware of the mission entrusted to them by the Church.