Bishops's Message

THE MAKING OF MISSIONARY DISCIPLES IN CATECHESIS – By His Eminence Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang

As the first catechist in the diocese, I, as the Bishop, hold the primary responsibility for promoting and guiding catechesis. I am called to foster a real passion for catechesis, allocate necessary resources, and ensure the adequate and ongoing formation of catechists across four dimensions:  

• being (spiritual maturity),
• knowing-how to be with (relational identity and missionary awareness),
• knowledge (biblical-theological formation), and
• savoir-faire (pedagogical skills).

This comprehensive approach ensures that the diocese, inspired by the Holy Spirit, continually serves the new evangelization by transforming the faithful into joyful and competent missionary disciples.

The Directory for Catechesis (2020) presents a compelling call for the renewal of the Church’s evangelizing mission, rooted in a pastoral conversion that affects all ecclesial activity. This renewal pivots on the formation of the missionary disciple—the central figure through whom the Gospel message is transmitted and lived.

The Missionary Imperative and Kerygmatic Focus

The Directory for Catechesis anchors catechesis within the broader, dynamic process of evangelization. This activity must adopt a posture of ‘missionary going forth’, viewing the missio ad gentes as the paradigm of all pastoral action. Catechesis is fundamentally redefined to incorporate the primacy of the kerygma, meaning the essential proclamation that ‘Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you’. Catechesis must therefore be consistently kerygmatic, leading to a deepening and existential encounter with Christ.

The ultimate goal of this catechetical process is profound: transforming the baptized into authentic missionary disciples. The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not just in touch, but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ. This shifts the understanding of the faithful from passive recipients of instruction to active participants in the catechetical initiative itself, sent out to proclaim the Word, thereby embodying ‘a permanent state of mission’.

The Five Tasks of Missionary Discipleship Formation

Catechesis pursues its central goal—communion with Christ—through five interconnected tasks, following the example of Jesus as he formed his disciples (teaching them mysteries, prayer, values, communion, and mission):

1. Leading to knowledge of the faith: This task explores the truths of the Christian message, integrating understanding of Sacred Scripture and the Church’s living Tradition to create a coherent doctrinal vision. This knowledge ensures the missionary disciple’s commitment is rational and deeply rooted in the deposit of faith.
2. Initiating into the celebration of the Mystery: Catechesis helps the faithful comprehend and experience liturgical celebrations and sacramental life. It focuses particularly on the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of the Church’s life and mission. This initiation shapes the believer’s identity by instilling attitudes like joy, communal sense, and appreciation for liturgical signs.
3. Forming for life in Christ: This task calls Christians to holiness by demonstrating that a filial way of life follows the Beatitudes (the ‘Christian’s identity card’). It forms the moral conscience, educating believers to follow Christ’s example of love and discern specific vocations, thereby actively fostering the coming of the Kingdom of God.
4. Teaching prayer: Prayer is first and foremost a gift from God. Catechesis develops the contemplative dimension, teaching the believer to pray with and like Jesus. A climate permeated by prayer enables the assimilation of the entire Christian life, providing the necessary spiritual foundation for missionary labour.
5. Introduction to community life: This task develops the essential sense of belonging to the Church, promoting fraternal dialogue and communion with pastors. By forming believers in ecclesial co-responsibility, this dimension directly leads the faithful to become active participants—missionary disciples—in the growth and mission of the community.

Conclusion: A Call to Pastoral Conversion and Missionary Action

The Directory for Catechesis is a profound summons for all of us to embrace a deep pastoral conversion. This conversion is not merely a change in programs; it is a fundamental shift in posture—a commitment to missionary outreach as the very paradigm of all pastoral action.

The goal before us is clear and transformative: to move the faithful from being passive recipients of instruction to becoming active participants in the Church’s life and mission. The five tasks of catechesis are the scaffolding for this work, ensuring that our people are not just taught about Christ, but are brought into communion, into intimacy, with Him.

By fostering the four dimensions of catechist formation—being, knowing-how to be with, knowledge, and savoir-faire —and by prioritizing the primacy of the kerygma, we ensure that every person in our diocese is equipped to live in a “permanent state of mission”.

Let us, therefore, with a real passion for catechesis and in the power of the Holy Spirit, dedicate ourselves to this evangelizing vision. It is through the formation of these joyful, competent, and authentic missionary disciples that the Gospel message will be transmitted, lived, and truly renewed in our time. The Kingdom of God is at hand; let us go forth and proclaim it.