I am sure you all recall that we named four elements of catechesis as absolutely essential to catechetical ministry. They were:
1) faith knowledge;
2) formation based on faith knowledge;
3) commitment to the Lord as a result of formation and
4) involvement in mission flowing from commitment.

In our discussions, we noted the following points:
1) To approach the people on these four levels, we had to develop new ways to be present to the people and we had to overcome what we ourselves had helped to create, namely an almost exclusively based ‘faith information approach’ to catechesis. 
2) While the older generations still approach us, we have to admit that generally, the younger generations do not manifest the same level of comfort.
3) To go to the people we have to resurrect a traditional pastoral method: personal contact;
4) We must professionalise our communications and public relations departments to confront indifference, produce attractive pastoral programmes and to become interactive as we try to give our people an experience of Church.

There is an interesting related question implied in number 2 above. It has implications for pastoral planning. Why did and why do the older generations approach us. The answer to that question is because we went to them first.

We knew them and they knew us. We have to rebuild that same chemistry with the newer generations. For some reason we have given up our own proven, successful pastoral method. We must rediscover it.

Cultural factors

We are all aware that culture has changed, that values have been undermined seriously by the breakdown of family life and that drugs and violence have affected our society.

These challenges and many others have made pastoral care very difficult. I suggest to you – and I am aware that I am a part of you – that we have to look at the four essential elements of catechesis listed above in a new and complicated context.

The new context is trying to understand cultural complexity and emphassing presence as we try to provide the people with an experience of Church. The challenge of rebuilding Church will certainly require eschatological patience, but rebuilding is what we must work together to do. If we do not patiently rebuild, the numbers will continue to drop.

Substantial success will probably not come in our lifetime but we do have the opportunity to build the foundation for the future. Then we have to trust in God and allow the Spirit to be the Spirit.

The heart of the matter

Let us take a look at what I consider to be the heart of the matter. Consider this question! Why do I continually state the terms of the challenge of lifelong learning as education/formation or faith knowledge/formation?

The reason is because in our documentation we stressed that we are not just talking about faith information, which admittedly is the easiest part of catechesis.

We are talking about faith knowledge that is internalised through formation and affects the quality of our commitment to the Lord and motivates our willingness to participate in the mission of the Church.

What is the major problem we face in implementing the two documents on catechesis that we published? The major problem is a lack of interest throughout the region. Is that lack of interest malicious? No! Does it indicate that people do not recognise or understand the challenge? I do not think so!

In my view, what we will have to struggle with is the unfortunate fact that in the Church we do not have a tradition of adult learning, adult education/formation.

Even our professional people, who continually update to excel in their professions, do not bring the same level of quality motivation to matters of faith and spirituality.

As mentioned above, our pastoral experience is that catechetical programmes were basically pre-sacramental. Even in marriage preparation, when we do relate to adults, in many cases Engaged Encounter and Marriage Encounter have more exposure and input to the people preparing for marriage than does the so called magisterial Church.

Exceptions to the lack of lifelong learning

Are there exceptions to this stated lack of tradition about lifelong learning and adult education/formation in the Church? Yes! There are and there have been for a long time – continuing education programmes for clergy and for members of religious communities. Have there been any significant changes in these programmes over the last ten years?

Yes there have been! What were the changes? Almost all of them have added to what had been an almost entirely academic programme, psychological/spiritual components that encourage and facilitate personal renewal and reenergised commitment to mission.

Why the change? The leadership of the programmes changed because they discovered from their experience of trying to meet the needs of the participants in their programmes, that providing information is not enough.

Many participants were hurting and vulnerable people. All four elements of catechesis had to be addressed to meet the needs of the participants.