Spiritual Formation of Lay Catechists in a Secularized

Abstract

In His salutary work God uses people whom we usually call catechists. They are the pupils who follow the Gospel and explain its contents to others. To be able to teach the rules of the new life they themselves have to be subjected to spiritual formation that is a process tending to shape a mature, ancillary and dialogic personality. Postconciliar documents on catechesis especially emphasize the role of lay people in the catechetic process. The present situation of the world, in which the formation of catechists has to take place, is characterized by temporariness, uncertainty of the future, which causes numerous difficulties in its adequate realization. The starting moment for the proper catechetic formation of lay catechists is the family environment, and then it is systematic catechization and the potential contained in religious movements and apostolic groups. A well formed catechist should be characterized by an ancillary attitude and he should represent an attitude that is open to a man’s problems. A catechist's mature personality is expressed by a practical synthesis of his life and service. It is always based on his personal prayer, teacher’s love, participation in the Eucharist, practicing Marian piety and a dynamism taken from following St Paul the Apostle, as the first model of efficient catechists.