“Above all the Gospel must be proclaimed by witness. Take a Christian or a handful of Christians who, in the midst of their own community, show their capacity for understanding and acceptance, their sharing of life and destiny with other people, their solidarity with the efforts of all for whatever is noble and good. Let us suppose that, in addition, they radiate in an altogether simple and unaffected way their faith in values that go beyond current values, and their hope in something that is not seen and that one would not dare to imagine. Through this wordless witness these Christians stir up irresistible questions in the hearts of those who see how they live: Why are they like this? Why do they live in this way? What or who is it that inspires them? Why are they in our midst? Such a witness is already a silent proclamation of the Good News and a very powerful and effective one.” Evangelii Nuntiandi, 21

The vocation – the call – of the catechist is to accompany others on their journey of faith, to bear witness in both words and in their way of life to the centrality of Christ in their life and to connect those they teach with the community of faith, the Church.

One who is called to this ministry will be supported in their own journey of faith and formed for the mission of catechesis through a systematic process of formation which equips them to bear witness and to mediate the teachings of the Church appropriately for various age groups and contexts.

The equipping and forming of catechists is one of the primary aims of the Lumen Christi Institute and beginning the path to Basic Certification as a catechist is the first step for a new catechist.