1. QUOTABLE QUOTES on the Goal of Catechesis –  from Directory for Catechesis (DC, 2020).

                                                                            

   The quotes highlight the central aim that the 5 tasks of making missionary disciples serve:

   • The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity. (DC #75)
   • Catechesis makes the initial conversion ripen and helps Christians to give a complete meaning to their existence, educating them in a mentality of faith in keeping with the Gospel, to the point of gradually coming to think, feel and act like Christ. (DC #77)
   • This pedagogy of Jesus then moulded the life of the Christian community: “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42, DC #79)
   
   

   The 5 Fundamental Tasks of Making Missionary Disciples through Catechesis

   Here are quotable phrases that summarize the importance of each of the five tasks.

   1. Leading to knowledge of the faith [DC #80]

   Catechesis has the task of fostering the knowledge and exploration of the Christian message. (DC #80)

   In this way, it helps the believer to know the truths of the Christian faith, introduces him to the knowledge of Sacred Scripture and of the Church’s living tradition, fosters knowledge of the Creed (Symbol of the faith) and the creation of a coherent doctrinal vision that can be used as a reference in life. (DC #80)

   2. Initiating into the celebration of the Mystery [DC #81- 82]

   Through this task, catechesis helps the believer to understand the importance of the liturgy in the Church’s life, especially the sacrament of the Eucharist, source and summit of the life and mission of the Church. (DC #81)

   3. Forming for life in Christ [DC #83-85]

   The catechetical task of educating the believer to the good life of the Gospel involves the Christian formation of the moral conscience, so that in every circumstance he may listen to the Father’s will in order to discern, under the guidance of the Spirit and in harmony with the Law of Christ, the evil to be avoided and the good to be done and putting this into practice with diligent charity. (DC #84)

    

   4. Teaching prayer [DC #86-87]

   Catechesis has the task of educating the believer for prayer and in prayer, developing the contemplative dimension of Christian experience. (DC #86)

   When catechesis is permeated by a climate of prayer, the assimilation of the entire Christian life reaches its summit. (DC #86)

   This task implies the teaching of both personal prayer and liturgical and community prayer, initiating the believer into the permanent forms of prayer: blessing and adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise. (DC #87)

   5. Introduction to community life [DC #88-89]

   Catechesis, in reference to preparation for community life, therefore has the task of belonging to the Church; teaching the sense of ecclesial communion, promoting the acceptance of the Magisterium, communion with pastors, fraternal dialogue; forming believers in the sense of ecclesial co-responsibility, contributing as active participants to building up the community and as missionary disciples to its growth. (DC #89)

    

    

1. 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.

1. CATECHESIS SESSIONS @ The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Penang

   Catechism classes (Sunday School) are an integral part of a parish community. In every issue, we have featured one parish and the catechesis that takes place there. Here, we highlight a parish in the Penang Deanery.

   Name of Church:  Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

   Address: No. 1, Tingkat Besi Satu, Green Lane, 11600 Penang

   Telephone: 604-658 4909

   Website: https://chs-penang.seedlings.dev/

   Rector: Fr. Raymond Raj

    

   Catechism Coordinator (English): Anne Ho

   Assistant Primary Coordinator (English): Maria Yeap

   Assistant Secondary Coordinator (English): Christopher Siddharth

   CLOW Coordinator (English): Kenneth Ho

   Number of CLOW ECs (English): 6 groups (with 4 members in each group)

    

   Time of Catechism: Saturday, 4 pm (English)

   Profile of Catechism Classes in 2025

   Classes	Pre-School to Year 6	Form 1-5
   Enrolment	90	100
   Number of ECs & Helpers	19	16

    

    

   Anne Ho, the Catechism Coordinator at CHS, Penang, shares her experience.

    

   1. What we found works for us:
   • Camps (with outreach activities).
   • Praise & Worship and Devotion time before class begins.
   • Engaging with parents, whenever possible.
    
   2. What we are thinking of introducing this year:
   • More outreach activities.
   • Sports day or something similar.
   • Bible quiz.
    
   3. Challenges we face
   • Students prioritising exams and tuition over faith formation.
   • Negative influence via social media.

   We would like to share one of our past events.

   Last Christmas (2025), the Ministries under the Formation Cluster in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit came together to organize an outdoor Christmas Crib for the parish.

   The Formation Cluster comprises the Catechism, CLOW, RCIA and Parish Formation Ministries. Not only was a different sort of Nativity scene presented, but the Formation Ministries put together videos and reflections to help parishioners prepare themselves for Christmas.

   Info-boards provided a brief understanding of the various Advent scenes. They also allowed parishioners to view heart-warming videos of what Christmas means to us, especially to our children.

1. TAIPING CATHOLIC CHURCH – Shared by Anne Choong, Catechism Co-ordinator at Taiping Catholic Church
   

    

Celebrating a Sacerdotal Anniversary

The parish of Taiping celebrated Rev. Msgr.  Stephen Liew’s 44^th Sacerdotal Anniversary at the Flemington Hotel on 3 September. They also had a potluck at the IJ terrace after Sunday Mass on 7 September 2025. 

Each Sunday School class gave him a special ordination anniversary card to express their gratitude for his service in the mission of the Church.

In Malaysia, the academic school year for 2026 began on 12 January 2026 for most schools, and with that Sunday School or Catechism classes for school-going children also resumed. Students attending these sessions went up a level higher in their Sunday school or Catechism class and may have new Evangelising Catechists (ECs) who will share their faith with them for the year.

The work of an EC is a very challenging one mainly because ECs are faced with children who come from all walks of life and today, these children spend the bulk of their time on social media and the handphone.

In most parishes, if not all, ECs are commissioned at the start of the school year. Here, Dr Ivan Filmer shares with us what happened at the Church of the Divine Mercy.

Commissioning of Evangelising Catechists at CDM

The Church of Divine Mercy (CDM) at Sungai Ara in Penang held the commissioning of 68 Evangelising Catechists (ECs) on Sunday, 11 January 2026, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The group comprised 35 Catechism teachers, 15 RCIA facilitators, and 18 members from the Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) group.

The ceremony was held at the end of Mass, during which the ECs pledged their commitment to serve in this ministry for another year. The congregation was also invited to pledge its support and to contribute towards the faith journey of their children and new converts to the faith. As a token of appreciation, each EC was given a souvenir key chain.

Catechism classes had begun the previous Sunday, and Fr Michael Raymond, the parish priest, visited each class to give both the children and their teachers a blessing at the start of the new year of faith instruction.

After Mass on the day of the commissioning, Fr Michael met with all parents while their children attended Catechism. He emphasised that Catechism is not a tuition class and encouraged parents to ensure their children attend Sunday Mass and Catechism classes faithfully. He reminded parents about the essential role they play in their children’s faith formation.

Fr Michael made a special note to parents of Year 4 and Form 5 students, as these are the years when children receive the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. Acknowledging the many challenges faced by parents today, he stressed the importance of supporting families in their role as the first educators in faith. The Parish Council later agreed that this support would be carried out collaboratively by the Family Life Ministry and the Catechist Ministry.

PROVERBS 16:3: “COMMIT TO THE LORD WHATEVER YOU DO, AND HE WILL ESTABLISH YOUR PLANS.”

The rapid evolution of technology continues to reshape how we communicate, learn, and share our faith. Recognizing this shift, the Penang Diocesan Catechetical Commission (PDCC) recently took a significant step forward in integrating AI tools with spiritual formation.

A Successful Pilot: AI for Tech-Savvy ECs

In December 2025, the PDCC organized a virtual training titled “AI for Tech-Savvy ECs.” This two-half-day sessions brought together 30 enthusiastic ECs to explore the intersection of AI and catechesis.

The training opened with a foundational discussion on the Church’s perspective on AI. Participants explored how these tools, when used ethically and intentionally, can serve as an assistant, enhancing the way we present the Gospel without replacing the essential human touch of accompaniment. The core of the workshop was a deep dive into practical AI applications. Our ECs didn’t just watch; they participated in hands-on sessions using a suite of powerful tools:

• Chatbots (ChatGPT & Gemini AI): For lesson planning, brainstorming creative analogies, and simplifying complex theological concepts.
• Visual & Presentation Tools (Gamma AI & Canva): For creating stunning, engaging slide decks and visual aids in a fraction of the time.
• Magisterium AI: A specialized tool designed to provide quick, reliable access to Church documents and teachings.

The Next Step: Scaling Up the Mission

Building on the success of the December pilot, the PDCC is excited to announce plans to expand this training to a wider range of ECs across the Diocese.

To ensure the training is accessible yet effective, we are adopting a unique “Hub and Spoke” virtual mode:

1. Centralized Virtual Training: The main sessions will be conducted online by lead trainers.
2. Parish Satellite Centres: ECs will gather physically at designated parishes to foster community and collaborative learning.
3. Peer Mentorship: Some ECs trained in the December session will step up as facilitators, providing on-ground, one-on-one assistance to their peers during the hands-on portions of the workshop.

Looking Ahead

By empowering our catechists with these digital competencies, we aim to make our classrooms more dynamic and our preparations more efficient, allowing more time for what matters most: building relationships and fostering an encounter with Christ.

Stay tuned for upcoming announcements regarding dates and registration for the next phase of training at your local parish! “The use of AI in the Church is not about replacing the Spirit, but about sharpening the tools we use to share the Word.”

In spite of their busy lives, many ECs have taken up the challenge to pursue courses which will help them build up their faith knowledge in order to enable them to better share their faith as servants in God’s vineyard. We highlight some graduates who have completed their courses in 2025 as they reflect on their journey. Warmest congratulations to all of them!

A. Testimoni Peribadi: Perjalanan Iman Bersama Katolisitas.org melalui Program FOCUS

Darryl Ashly Motiung

Joining the FOCUS formation course by Katolisitas has been genuinely transformative for me as a regular Catholic looking to deepen my faith. The curriculum gave me a much clearer understanding of the Church’s teachings, sparking a renewed love for the faith and a stronger commitment to prayer. I discovered that there were a lot of things I did not even know although I was raised a Catholic. I especially appreciated the structured reading materials, which were perfectly organized for different levels of study – even providing deeper insights (Catechist level) for those who want to explore more profound questions.

Marlyne Fran Anak Kansi

Program FOCUS Katolisitas adalah pengalaman yang mencabar tetapi bermanfaat (challenging but rewarding). Kursus ini benar-benar memberikan pemahaman yang lebih baik tentang ajaran Gereja Katolik. Secara khusus, pemahaman saya tentang Ekaristi menjadi jauh lebih mendalam, dan soalan-soalan yang sebelum ini meragukan saya telah dijawab dengan jelas. Kualiti pengajaran yang diberikan secara atas talian (online) sangat

membantu dan terperinci, menjadikannya satu kursus yang mesti diikuti bagi mana-mana Katolik yang ingin mendalami iman mereka.-Marlyne

Both Darryl Ashly Motiung and Marlyne Fran Anak Kansi are ECs from CDM on Penang Island.

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On 10 October 2025, the Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Kulim, Kedah, successfully conducted a community outreach program supporting 10 families in the local area.

The initiative demonstrated the church’s commitment towards the welfare and interfaith harmony of the community. The beneficiary group included three families with catechism students from the church and seven Hindu families from the wider community.

This effort highlights the church’s inclusive spirit, extending support beyond its immediate congregation to assist neighbours of different faiths.

The RCIA journey has been a meaningful and transformative experience for me. What began as a desire to learn more about the Catholic faith has grown into a deeper understanding of God’s grace and a renewed sense of spiritual direction.

Under the dedicated guidance of Mrs. Saleth Mary, each session became an opportunity to reflect, question, and grow. Her clear explanations and patient teaching helped me appreciate the richness of the Catholic traditions and the purpose behind its teachings.

RCIA also introduced me to a supportive faith community. Sharing this journey with others reminded me that the path to God is not walked alone. The fellowship and openness within the group have been both encouraging and uplifting.

Through this process, I have also experienced personal healing. Learning about mercy, forgiveness, and God’s unconditional love has helped me approach life with greater hope, humility, and trust. As I continue preparing for full communion with the Church, I carry with me the lessons, friendships, and spiritual growth gained through RCIA. For this, I remain truly grateful.

“Faith is not a destination, but a journey where every step brings us closer to God’s heart.”

Up until December 2025, there were about 280 RCIA ECs and helpers, with about the same number of RCIA candidates in our diocese. The candidates comprised of those preparing for both full and partial rites of initiation.

THE RITE OF ACCEPTANCE

The Rite of Acceptance was celebrated on the First Sunday of Advent in most churches. However, at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Kulim, Kedah, it was joyfully celebrated on 30 November 2025 at the 5.00pm Mass, with 5 participants (3 Tamil-speaking and 2 Chinese-speaking catechumens). The Rite was conducted in Bahasa Malaysia by Rev. Fr. Nelson Joseph. It marked the beginning of a spiritual journey that will lead them to full communion with the Catholic Church.

We wish our new catechumens a warm welcome! This is a season of growth. Allow yourself to learn, to question, and to be filled with grace. As you walk towards becoming a child of God and sharing in His eternal life, be assured that God is with you, guiding you with His wisdom and love. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” (Isaiah 41:10)