Francis Sam
NORTHERN ARABIAN VICARIATE, DECEMBER 07, 2011: The Apostolic Exhortation "Catechisi Tradendae" states the following about bishops.
"Your principal role will be to bring about and maintain in your Churches a real passion for catechesis, a passion embodied in a pertinent and effective organization, putting into operation the necessary personnel, means and equipment, and also financial resources. You can be sure that if catechesis is done well in your local Churches, everything else will be easier to do."
The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia has spared no effort in training its Catechist in the education of the Catholic faith, under the guidance of His Lordship Bishop Camillo Ballin MCCJ, Vicar Apostolic of Northern Arabia and through the teaching and untiring efforts of the Vicariate Catechetical Director Fr. Francisco Pereira SDB.
The Office of The Catechetical Director conducts Catechetical Training Courses for lay Catechists. The course comprises of three levels, The Introductory, The Intermediary and the Final level. Each level consists of about eight to ten classroom sessions on various topics dealing with Catholic Doctrine. The Final level of the course was conducted from September 24, 2011 to November 19, 2011 on every Saturday from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
The course was attended by hundred and fifty five catechists from the four parishes and the topics covered were - The New Roman Missal, the Gospel of Mathew, the Gospel of John, Mass Animation, Basic Christian Communities (BCC), The preventive system of Don Bosco, Psychology of the child, The Youcat and The Gospel of Life - A four day programme of the unity congress
Psychology of the child was conducted by Fr. Lionel Braganza sdb, while all the other topics were taken by Fr. Francisco. The courses were conducted with presentations, activities, handouts of relevant material, coffee and snacks. The course was very enlightening and appreciated by all catechists. An assignment was also given to catechists to study the apostolic exhortation, "Catechesi Tradendae" and write in five pages their understanding of the Apostolic exhortation, along with an essay of what do they understand by the term 'Faith'. Certificates will be issued to all successful participants.
We are very grateful to Fr. Francisco Pereira for his dedication and his zeal which spurs us to be ever more vibrant in teaching our Faith to the children.