First Heralds of Faith gathering brings Western Vicariate catechists together
During his first meeting with Emily Filippi, director of Christian formation for the Diocese of Richmond, Bishop Barry C. Knestout asked when he could meet his catechists. The result was the Heralds of Faith/ Heraldos de la Fe program, an annual gathering of catechists with the bishop and formation office staff, the first one taking place at Our Lady of Nazareth, Roanoke, on Saturday, Sept. 18.
“We chose the title to try to express what is the role and responsibility of catechists in cooperation with the bishop, who is the chief catechist,” Filippi said. “We wanted to bring catechists together to thank them, to bless them and to support them in a variety of ways.”
About 100 people involved in youth and adult formation from 20 parishes in the Western Vicariate took part in the bilingual event. Keynote presentations were given virtually in English and Spanish, and the combined choir from St. Gerard and Our Lady of Nazareth, Roanoke, and Holy Spirit, Christiansburg, sang in both languages. The Gospel at the opening Mass, the Parable of the Sower and the Seed, was proclaimed only in Spanish.
“Our efforts to make a very pleasing English-Spanish experience I think was pretty good for the first time out the door,” Filippi said.
Delayed a year due to the pandemic, Heralds of Faith featured personal stories from catechists, some expert advice and a chance to chat with fellow teachers and the bishop.
“I came to meet more people, for the fellowship, for the encouragement,” said catechist Iris Lopez of St. Joseph, Martinsville, after the meeting. “What it infuses me with is joy, energy, happiness. The Lord takes all this and confirms that I’m doing a good job and a very important job.”
In his homily, Bishop Knestout focused on the idea that the world listens more to witnesses than to teachers, an insight he said that was promoted by St. Paul VI and one that each of that pope’s successors has endorsed. The bishop said that even if their students don’t seem to be moved by personal stories of faith, catechists should keep at it.
“God assures us that by being witnesses as well as teachers we can turn the tide, overcome whatever those obstacles are,” he said. “Our work is to persevere with the patience of the sower of the seed, rejoice in those occasions where we see the fruit of our labor but never give up on all of those areas where they seem to be kind of barren.”
The keynote speaker in English, Loyola Press faith formation consultant Joe Paprocki, also encouraged the catechists to bring their personal experiences into the classroom.
“Heralds of faith, if we’re going to be presenting Good News,” he said, “we need to tell stories not only about how God was good to people 2,000 years ago when Jesus walked the Earth, but how God is good to us now, and how God has been good to me, how Jesus has changed my life.”
Each of the three catechists who spoke did just that.
Kenia Aguilar, leader of adult faith formation at Blessed Sacrament, Harrisonburg, gave her presentation in Spanish. She said later that one thing she told the group was that she enjoys this ministry “because it helped me grow in my own spirituality and learn about the Bible, and it helped me to love Jesus more.”
Isaura Muñoz de Márquez, a youth ministry catechist at St. Gerard, Roanoke, told how “the pandemic has taught me that we should always be willing to open up ourselves, to try new things, to enrich families and children as we spread the Word of God. This year I am very thankful to God for keeping me alive and healthy and for giving me the opportunity to go back to the classrooms face-toface with everyone.”
“It was a lot of work, doing the virtual classes,” said Rani Wood, a second grade catechist at St. Andrew, Roanoke, in her talk. “I spent a lot of time looking for videos and books that I could read to them and make videos. They really were a light in the darkness. It just brings me great joy to be a catechist and be able to spend my time with these kids and just seeing the excitement in them as they learn the Word of God.”
Reflecting on the witness talks, Bishop Knestout told the group that “it doesn’t require a huge intellectual background or degrees to be effective as a teacher and a catechist because it is at heart a witness of our faith to those around us.”
Participants said they appreciated the support from the bishop and diocesan staff.
Francesca Brownsberger of Sacred Heart, Big Stone Gap, has degrees in theology and has worked in parishes before.
“This was a big jump coming to this Appalachian region,” she said. “And I feel like it’s a gift, a call to missionary activity, and I really just want to be ready. Theology isn’t something you just drop. You have to constantly be learning. This isn’t like any other subject. This is an encounter with Christ.”
“It’s helping our youth and young adults and adults develop that relationship with Christ, through sharing of the faith and through action,” said Kaky Bowden, director of faith formation at Holy Cross, Lynchburg. “You can’t learn about the faith unless you know Christ. But to know Christ is to want to go deeper into your faith and to do those Corporal Works of Mercy.”
“As catechists, we need to give witness to the parents,” added Linda Contreras, also from Holy Cross, Lynchburg. “It’s not just checking off a test. It’s not just finishing the work in the book. It’s the parents being empowered to help their children to live the faith. It’s making the faith come alive.”
The next Heralds of Faith gathering with Bishop Knestout is scheduled for the Eastern Vicariate in September 2022.