The pandemic revealed the truth about the world, the Church, and humanity; She also exposed the shortcomings in the formation of adult Christians – including priests and catechists – said Archbishop Wiktor Skworc of Katowice on Saturday (September 12) during the mass inaugurating the new catechetical year in the archdiocese.
Archbishop Wiktor Skworc, Metropolitan of Katowice
/Michal Dubiel/REPORTER /Reporter
Saturday Mass in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Katowice, she gathered methodologists of teaching religion, as well as catechists representing individual deaneries and those starting work at school. This year, due to the epidemic threat, the inauguration of the year was more modest than in previous years, without the participation of all catechists working in schools and parishes.
– Make “missionary trips” towards young people who leave religion lessons and their parents; Do not discourage them (which may happen) with exorbitant requirements, way of being or relating to young people – said the Metropolitan of Katowice to catechists.
In his homily, he referred, inter alia, to to changes in social, family and ecclesial life forced by the COVID-19 epidemic. – In the “sick world” we had to adapt the entire pastoral ministry, including teaching religion, to the new and unforeseen reality. It wasn’t easy. It required making difficult, unpopular and often incomprehensible decisions by some, said Archbishop Skworc.
– The pandemic revealed the truth about the world, the Church and humanity. She also exposed the shortcomings in the formation of adult Christians, including priests and catechists. The theological astray of some priests did not help the faithful because they caused confusion and a painful lack of unity – he added.
The hierarchy cited the opinion of a serious – as he assessed – author who pointed out that on the Internet you can come across numerous, often contradictory, interpretations and religious attempts to explain the origin of the coronavirus – often completely irrational.
– Preachers, venting various conspiracies, completely ignore the results of painstaking laboratory tests, opinions of specialists or voices of scientific authorities. They give unambiguous answers, arguing in such a naive manner that they ridicule themselves and distort the essence of faith and God’s revelation – quoted the Metropolitan of Katowice in his homily.
– God bless you and all those who, in this difficult time, read with understanding the texts of the ordinances and followed them; they were in communion with their bishop and parishioners. They remembered the two wings of the Christian faith: fides et ratio (faith and reason), the archbishop said to catechists.
Quoting the communiqué from the recent plenary meeting of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, the hierarch praised all those “who saw the difficult time of the pandemic as a pastoral challenge and a chance for evangelization”. “Words of appreciation are also addressed to teachers of religion and catechists, who have taken up the difficult challenge that remote teaching has become for all teachers, serving not only to transfer knowledge, but also to strengthen ties with students” – reminded the metropolitan.
– We are aware of how much personal commitment it cost you to master and efficiently use new technologies; for many it was like learning a new language or visiting an unfamiliar city without the help of an experienced guide. Therefore, God bless you that, despite the difficulties and obstacles, you tried to stay in close contact with the students, often looking for them like the Good Shepherd, said the archbishop, encouraging us to use the established relationships and individual approach to catechists and their families in further work.
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