Diocesan Resources
Catechetical Sunday 2011 For the Pastor
Catechetical Sunday 2011 For the Pastor by Missionary Catechist of Divine Providence Sister Angela Erevia, Director of Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of Dodge City in Kansas (in English and Spanish)
Purpose of the Document:
- A reflection for pastors on their central role in helping the faithful encounter Jesus Christ, especially in the context of Catechetical Sunday 2011, themed “Do This in Memory of Me,” with a focus on deepening appreciation for the Holy Eucharist.
- Pastors are encouraged to explore USCCB Catechetical Sunday 2011 resources and use them to empower parish leaders, recognizing and coordinating their gifts in service to the community.
Key Themes:
- The Pastor as a Mystical Guide
- Pastors mediate the encounter with God amid “conflicting messages” in modern life.
- They proclaim God’s love, call parishioners to deeper relationship with Jesus, and help the faithful see themselves as children of Divine Love
- Encountering Jesus in the Sacraments, Especially the Eucharist
- Jesus is the heart of catechesis; the Eucharist is the central sacrament where believers meet the living God.
- Pastors prepare the faithful to receive the Eucharist with reverence and help rekindle love for Christ.
- Without Jesus, there is no Eucharist, salvation, or Church.
3. The Parish as the Center of Faith Life
- Whether in large or rural settings, pastors serve as shepherds attending to spiritual, moral, and material needs.
- The parish is the primary community where Catholics experience Church—sacraments, God’s Word, unity in diversity.
- Eucharist is emphasized as the sacrament of unity: “We, though many, are one body.”
4. Suffering and the Paschal Mystery
- Human suffering is linked to Christ’s Paschal Mystery.
- The Eucharist helps believers unite their trials with Christ’s love and sacrifice, making their lives an offering.
5. Restoring Sunday as the Lord's Day
- Former cultural supports like blue laws have faded, weakening Sunday worship.
- Pastors are urged to help families reclaim Sunday for Eucharist, rest, and strengthening the “domestic church.”
- Parents are called to nurture faith through prayer, Eucharistic devotion, and family participation in Sunday Mass.
6. The Pastor as a Bridge in the Human Family
- Echoing the theme “We are born to encounter each other,” pastors facilitate encounters with God that foster unity.
- Through the Eucharist, believers discover their identity as one family in Christ.