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)

Dear Evangelizing Catechists,

Shalom. May the peace of the Lord be always with you.

In the teaching of the faith, we are asked to adopt the pedagogical approach of Jesus, our first Evangelizer. In answering questions posed to Him, He adopted the use of storytelling through His parables. In this way, He used the experiential approach by relating real-life experiences and the lessons derived from them. To form a closer relationship with the community, He showed an understanding of the problems they faced and provided signs in the way of miracles. He taught them the faith through example and gave them the opportunity to live by His example.

As ECs, we often ask, “What would Jesus do?” How do we go about passing on the faith using the examples He set. In some places, the anthropological approach used proposes the following three steps:

1. through the evocation of the human experience and reflecting on it.
2. through the interpretationof its fuller meaning in the light of our faith with the help of Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the teachings of the Magisterium.
3. its application to life through the five tasks of Catechesis namely, the knowledge of our faith, our prayer life, our moral life, our liturgical life, our community life and service as missionary disciples.

However, these five tasks need to be carried out integrating the four pillars of Faith. These four pillars according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#13) refers to the Creed, Sacraments, Morality and Prayer. This often poses a challenge as not all topics can fit easily in this way.

It is important to develop this holistic relationship with Christ because if we fail to do so, the result would be like the proverbial story of the six blind men examining only one part of an elephant and coming up with a narrow view of the faith. As such, we would have failed as catechists.

In order to see more clearly the challenge we have before us as ECs, we first need to clearly understand how the five tasks of Catechesis can be carried out in the story-telling of life experiences of those under our care.  

May God continue to bless us all abundantly for serving in this ministry,

Dr. Ivan Filmer