Letters

Encouragement (letter)

John F. Doran

Contents - Jun 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Church reform: from Stage One to Stage Two - Michael Gilchrist Archbishop Pell installed in Sydney - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Basic Ecclesial Communities: Adelaide's 'new model of church' - Michael Gilchrist Annual women priests protest in Adelaide - AD2000 Report Denver document addresses challenges to Catholic marriage teachings - AD2000 Report US missionary risks death in Colombia - Zenit News Service Anglican defence of Catholic inter-Communion ban - Fr Geoffrey Kirk How a small rural parish survived against the odds - Paul Newton Light to the Nations 2001 - Young Australian Catholics celebrate their faith - Mary-Jane Donnellan Letters: Archbishop Pell (letter) - Godwin Brown Letters: Ballarat Diocese (letter) - Fr Gerry Baldock Letters: Encouragement (letter) - John F. Doran Letters: Consecrated life (letter) - Therese O'Rourke Letters: Indian appeal (letter) - Kevin L. Fernandes Letters: Annunciation (letter) - Andrew Scholl Letters: Altar (letter) - Stuart J. Blackwood Letters: Science and Christianity (letter) - Mrs Carol V. Phillips Letters: Sexual abstinence (letter) - Errol P. Duke Letters: 'Lest we forget' (letter) - Marion Craig Books: The Turin Shroud: Past, Present and Future, International Scientific Symposium - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: 'As One Struggling Christian to Another: Augustine's Christian Ideal for Today' - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: 'Blessed Columba Marmion: a Short Biography' by Mark Tierney OSB - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: 'The Wedding Present' by Viscountess Margaret Long - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Heaven in Stone and Glass: Experiencing the Spirituality of the Great Cathedrals - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: 'The Doctors of the Church' by Bernard McGinn - Angela Joseph (reviewer) Books: 'Praying The Psalms: A Commentary' by Fr Stanley L. Jaki - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: 'Praying with Thomas Aquinas' by Houle, Monshau and Norris - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Reflection: The priest: mediator between God and man - Archbishop George Pell

I know at least one catechist who will take encouragement from Bishop Matthys' "Systematic instruction in the Faith", the letter to his Armidale Diocese (May AD2000).

This particular catechist teaches composite Years 5-6 primary classes in two NSW schools.

He does not use the CCD's Joy for Living program because it is so lacking in specific Catholic content that a modern minimalist Protestant would be quite comfortable with it.

Though limited to thirty minutes each week, his results have been efficacious. In fact, one pupil transferred from his denomination's Scripture class converted to Catholicism.

This catechist's classes begin with a decade of the Rosary (beads supplied by kind favour of the Apostles of Mary) and his curriculum is based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, teaching such topics as transubstantiation, etc.

Annual tests (with a copy given to the parish priest) are given with year-end prizes for the most successful. Last year's exam asked questions about Original Sin, the Theological Virtues, the Four Last Things, the Consecration, Confession, night prayers, an Aspiration and the Apostles Creed.

Sixty percent passed and four reached the nineties.

The majority are not receiving the sacraments regularly, but in God's good time, perhaps, they will come to realise what they are missing.

JOHN F. DORAN
Berowra Heights, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 5 (June 2001), p. 13