Introduction to Catechetical Sunday

Catechetical Sunday was inspired by the Vatican document Provido sane consilio (On the Better Care and Promotion of Catechetical Education) published in 1935.

This document asked every country to acknowledge the importance of the Church’s teaching ministry and to honor those who serve the Christian community as catechists.

In the United States, Catechetical Sunday was first observed with national catechetical congresses held in conjunction with the Vatican celebration.

Beginning in 1971, the USCCB’s Department of Education began producing materials to help parishes celebrate the event at the local level. When the Committee on Catechesis, now named the Committee of Evangelization and Catechesis, was named by the Conference as a standing Committee, it continued to publish Catechetical Sunday materials each year.

Those whom the Community has designated to serve as catechists will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the third Sunday in September as Catechetical Sunday.