Set catechism alight again

by Letters Editor · October 13, 2011

By Keith Gilchrist, Johannesburg

Chris Moerdyk�s article on teaching young people about the Church, �Marketing the faith for good�, (August 31) raised some important points.

It is very unfortunate that a number of young people leave the Church every year, never to return unless they find themselves faced with a serious crisis.

Until I became too old for the job, I taught catechism to young people in my parish. I used a style which had been developed by two priests, but I cannot remember their names or what the course was called. The method was to put one�s class into comfortable chairs. Then get them to form themselves into two (or more) groups. They would then be presented with a question on a moral or ethical problem. When they had discussed the matter among themselves, they would come up with an answer which the group had reached. Almost every time those opinions would coincide exactly with the teachings of the Church. The course was brilliant!

All of my former students have grown up and moved away from my parish, but after Mass, I sometimes see the parents of some of them. When I enquire how their offspring are getting on, I am happy to hear that many of them still attend Mass regularly.

In contrast, I know of some children who went to catechism classes which were strictly regimented and school-like. Now that they have grown up, they have ceased going to Church.

Could somebody look into the question of reviving the course?