BIS # 4042 TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR CATECHISTS

by Laura D'souza

WADALA-MUMBAI, JULY 23, 2014: The Catechists of St. Dominic Savio, Wadala, gathered at AMAR Media Centre,  Wadala where Sr. Caroline D' souza FMA, Animator of Auxilium Bandra conducted an encapsulated training for the Catechists on July 13, 2014. Sr. Hilda Braganza, Province Media Coordinator assisted her. The programme was organized by the Parish Priest Fr. Vincent Rasquinha of St. Dominic Savio Church, Wadala, along with Sr. Faustina, the Coordinator for Catechesis.


 The Training programme kick-started with the song,'Make me a lamp' by Joe Medrek. Each of the participants were drawn towards various nuances of the hymn as they reflected on their lives and on their call to be Catechists. Focus, Vision and Experience were the three main areas that they were taught to dwell upon. Moving on to the core area of preparing for a class, Sr. Caroline touched upon narrating a human experience which all the students would be able to connect with, in relation with the lesson that was about to be taught which was called the 'Starter'.


Further they were to take the students to the heart of the lesson. Afterwhich, as the Word of God was proclaimed, the students were to be trained to listen to the Word. The fundamental tasks of a Catechist were discussed and emphasis was laid on getting to know the students and their backgrounds. The home visits by the Catechists to know their families, was stressed upon. Amongst the main areas discussed, Sr. Caroline emphasized on using the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) when they prepared for Catechesis. This, along with the Word of God was to be a double-edged sword for the Catechists.