At a recent conference in Rome focused on “Christian Initiation and New Evangelization”, attended by Bishop Devine and Michael McGrath, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, spoke of the challenges and opportunities offered to all involved in catechesis today.

In the homily which he preached during the celebration of Mass on Tuesday 8th May 2012, Cardinal Piacenza referred to recent comments by Pope Benedict XVI:

The Holy Father reminded us during his homily at the Chrism Mass that we are before a “growing religious illiteracy found in the midst of our sophisticated society. The foundations of faith, which at one time every child knew, are now known less and less. But if we are to live and love our faith, if we are to love God and to hear him aright, we need to know what God has said to us – our minds and hearts must be touched by his word.” (Pope Benedict XVI Homily Chrism Mass 2012) 

Catechesis, and above all that of Christian initiation, has the great task of overcoming religious illiteracy, teaching “what God has said to us”! Without allowing ourselves to be paralysed by unending methodological questions!