Describing as “absolute nonsense” and “a scandal” the fact that 83% of Catholics in T&T were not practising their faith, Archbishop Edward Gilbert has given catechists a mandate to help bring non-practising Catholics back into the churches.

The Archbishop did not mince words as he preached the homily at last Sunday’s National Catechetical Rally Mass and commented on the results of the March 2007 archdiocesan census on church attendance. He said the statistics showed only 17% of those who professed Catholicism practised their faith.

“Nonsense. Absolute nonsense,” the archbishop remarked, before challenging catechists: “It’s a scandal… We have to go after them - the 83% - in a gentle, persevering way.”

He said earlier this year Pope Benedict XVI told a meeting of Latin American and Caribbean bishops that though the Church baptised many people, it might have been failing to evangelise, form and build community. He stated that these tasks must be pursued and, in doing so, the local Church could “cut into the 83%”.

Archbishop Gilbert said some believe that many have left the Catholic faith to join other Churches but contended that most have gone nowhere. “Most of the people are simply not practising,” he said, “and we have to work on bringing them back through the grace of the sacraments and the love of God.”

At the start of the Liturgy, the Archbishop thanked catechists: “I owe you. You do an important ministry in the archdiocese because you reach the many people who would be unchurched, untouched, uncared for….”

Catechists from parishes all over the archdiocese gathered for last Sunday's Catechetical Rally exchange the Sign of Peace at Mass.

He reminded them to use the “Think Four” formula - Knowledge, Formation, Commitment and Mission. He commented that sharing knowledge was the easiest part of their work but the other three steps were not so easy.

He explained that while it was simple to give information, if there was no action on the information, "people will drift away. Your responsibility and my responsibility is not just to give information but lead others to make a firm commitment to the Lord.”

Acknowledging that many catechists might be working “in less than ideal situations”, the Archbishop appealed to them to persevere and remember others, like Mother Teresa, who worked in worse conditions.

He said while fulfilling their ministry, catechists must recognise that they too needed to be ministered to. He added: “You yourself must go through the four steps, so never say ‘it’s a piece of cake’. It is a challenge for bishop, priests, catechists, everyone involved in ministry.... My invitation to you is look at your ministry, but look at your openness to being ministered yourself. Feed yourself.”

Before the start of Mass, Archdiocesan Catechetical Office director Sr Columba Byrne HF delivered some welcome remarks, saying: “This day is to celebrate you. This is a day of solidarity for catechists.”

Susan Romano-Davis chaired the day’s proceedings. The catechists sat in the stifling H Livinus Kelly Hall at Presentation College, Chaguanas, grouped by vicariate and dressed in vicariate colours. The red tee-shirts of the Southern Vicariate seemed in the majority.

Belmont parish priest Fr Herbert Charles CSSp was the feature speaker; his address focussed on the rally theme, Encountering the Living Christ.

Fr Charles defined the word 'catechesis' and spoke of the importance of Sacrament and Word for catechists. He stressed the issues of “availability” in the ministry of the catechists and having a daily prayer life.

Using the gospel reading of the disciples encountering Christ on the road to Emmaus, Fr Charles told the catechists that whenever they felt downcast they should focus on encountering Christ in their lives to become rejuvenated and re-energised.

The post-lunch period was filled with ten-minute cultural items based on the theme and presented by the Southern, Eastern, Northern, Suburban and Central Vicariates, and Tobago. - RS