Catechists
Who is a Catechist?
“Catechists are specialized workers, direct witnesses and irreplaceable evangelizers who represent the basic strength of Christian Communities especially in the young Churches (mission territories) – Encyclical Redmptoris Missio.
“At the origin of the Catechists’ vocation apart from the Sacrament of Baptism and confirmation, there is a specific call from the Holy Spirit a special charism recognized by the church and made explicit by the Bishop’s mandate to play a decisive role in missionary activity”
A Catechist is every baptized Catholic who is personally called by the Holy Spirit to make her or his contribution to the coming of God’s Kingdom, within the Lay state (Lay-apostles).
A Catechist is among the laity who becomes an evangelizer. A Catechist has a place of honour in the Church. The decree on the missionary activities of the Church speaks of them as “that Army of Christ” or “pride of the missionary Church”
The Code of Cannon Law describe Catechists as lay members of Christ’s faithful who have received proper formation and are outstanding in their living of the Christian Life. Can 210, 773 - 780, 785
Catechists are animators who educate or facilitate maturation of the faith which the Catechumen obtains with the help of the Holy Spirit and spread of the Church.
Catechetical Structure
- Diocesan Pastoral Section
- Diocesan Catechetical Commission
- Deans/Deanery Chaplains/Deanery Catechists’ Coordinators
- Priests
- Trained Catechists
Categories Of Catechists
Fulltime Catechists: Those fully trained for one or two years and are working on fulltime basis. They receive P1 scale remuneration.
- Must be a Catholic and witness of what he/she teaches
- Hold a diploma or certificate from a recognized catechetical training centre
- K.C.S.E, K.C.P.E, certificate of education or equivalent
- Approved by the local community and confirmed by the Parish Priest
- Self motivated/commited
- Able to work under minimum supervision
- Have leadership qualities
Part-time Catechists: Part time Catechists can be fully trained or partly trained. A Part-time Catechist render his/her services to the parish on part time basis at least 2-3 days a week. They can be those trained for less than a year or attended Deanery /Zonal Courses. They should receive a salary according to the agreement of the Parish Pastoral Council,
- Must be a Catholic and a witness of what he/she teaches.
- Holds a certificate from a recognized catechetical training centre, range from 4 months and above
- Have at least secondary or std 8 certificate K.C.P.E, K.C.S.E
- Approved by the local community and confirmed by the Parish Priest
- Able to work under minimum supervision
- Displayed leadership qualities
Duties Of Catechists
- Collaborate with Priests in planning and implementing Pastoral activities in the Parish
- To form and teach Christians for Sacraments and Sacred Liturgy
- Form, nurture and sustain Small Christian Communities
- Lead the Community in Sunday Services in the absence of a Priest. (Pastoral guidance)
- Apostolate to the sick/aged, other Pastoral visits and works of Charity
- Distribute Holy Communion when commissioned to do so
- Be a member of the Church and Parish Councils
- Teach P.P.I and offer other Pastoral Care in Catholic owned and sponsored schools
- Leader of Biblical Apostolate groups and animator of other apostolic groups
- Trained Catechists to Prepare and form untrained Catechists in the Parish and in the Deanery levels
- Perform any other Pastoral or Social work he/she is requested /mandated to do by the Priest in-Charge or Parish Pastoral Council
Full Time Catechists’ Benefits
- He/she will receive a salary according to the agreement between the Diocese and the Parish and/or Parish Pastoral Council.
- A full Time Catechist will work within the Parish or within the Diocese with consultation with the Director through Diocesan Catechetical Commission
- He/she is entitled to 21 working days annual leave and 2 days off per week, 5 days compassionate leave in one Calendar year. Leave allowance paid by the parish
- He/She shall be supported by the Parish with means of transport while on duty whenever possible
- He/She is entitled to a House or House allowance if not housed by the Parish, the house allowance will be paid by the parish
- Full time Catechists will be deducted all statutory deductions N.H.I.F, N.S.S.F or P.A.Y.E if applicable
- Diocesan deductions are amust i.e Pension, Waumini Sacco, Catechists Welfare Fund
- He/she is entitled to retirement benefits on retirement age (60 yrs); eg Pension, N.S.S.F
- He/she should receive lump sum Gratuity of KES 10,000 for every year served if one retires honourably.
Formation Of Catechists
It has been and it is still a dire need by the entire fraternity of CDoN that ongoing formation of Catechists should be among the prioritized activities. Basing on the Vision and Mission Statement of the Diocese, we as a Christian community, came from far, are still far and we are heading far. Therefore empowering our self -sacrificing laity will motivate them more in serving our Lord and saviour.
Catechists need to be formed so as to create an intimate relationship between them and Christ whom they serve. Special commitment is needed to create chances of permanent formation among them, as they operate on daily or weekly basis in the name of the Church.
The Diocesan Pastoral department in collaboration with the Catechetical Commission, Deans, Priests in-charge and Trained Catechists will provide the necessary assistance required to ensure that those untrained acquire the needed skills of catechesis for better evangelization.
If the formation succeeds, there is going to be a unified form of teaching catechesis within the diocese, hence providing a deepened faith bearing in mind the cultures and the need of today’s generation catechesis. The unified form of teaching will then make easy other pastoral activities forming a harmonious community as entailed in the Mission statement.
Colleges Where We Train Our Catechists
- St. Augustine C.T.C Nyeri 2 Years
- Bikira Maria C.T.C Mbitini 1 Year
- Mitume C.T.C Kitale 4 months
- Diocesan Centre in Oltepesi Mashuuru (pending)
Each Deanery is given a slot every year to select one Catechist to be send to Nyeri for a diploma course and partially sponsored by the Catechetical program of the diocese. Parishes takes full responsibility of sponsoring Catechists attending other Residential Colleges. Also ABLE Parishes to sponsor their Catechists fully while attending Nyeri C.T.C.
Parish Catechists’ Activities
- Parish Catechists’ meetings
- Parish Catechists’ planning meetings with Priests and other Pastoral agents
- Parish based courses/seminars ranging from 2 – 5 days
- Parish Catechists’ spiritual activities (Masses, retreats/recollections, pilgrimages)
Deanery Catechists’ Activities
- Deanery planning meetings with Deans and Deanery Catechists’ Coordinators
- Deanery courses in the deaneries
- Deanery Catechists’ spiritual activities (Masses, retreats/recollections, pilgrimages)
- Deanery Refresher courses.
General Guide Lines
The Catechists are employed by the Parish with consultation with the Diocesan Catechetical Commission
The Catechists shall make their grievances and suggestions known to the high authorities through the Catechists’ Director with a copy to the Diocesan Catechists’ Coordinator, Diocesan Catechetical Commission and Priest in-charge or Parish Pastoral Council.
All Priests in-charge will see to it that full time Catechists together with part time Catechists will hold at least one (1) monthly meeting of 1-3 days to discuss Pastoral/ Catechetical matters.
All salaries shall be supported by the Parish with the ultimate aim of self-reliance
Diocesan subsidy for Catechists is deliberated by the Diocesan Finance Committee with consultation with Diocesan Catechetical Commission and the Priests in-charge.
Catechists Requirements
- Catechists need financial support (fund raising for the program)
- Moral support by their pastors
- Spiritual support
- Psychological support
Welfare
- Catechists should have social security (NHIF, NSSF, Pension) at Parish and Diocesan levels.
- They should be covered by Insurance policy
- Development fund or Income generating projects
- A Welfare fund to support their livelihood
- St. Joseph’s loan fund applicable to those in the Diocesan payroll
- Parish support in cases of need that require urgency
Achievements
- Positive response on Parish contribution in some deaneries
- Cooperation with the Priests by sending Catechists to residential courses
- Support of Trained Catechists on training /nurturing others.
- Ongoing formation at all levels.
Constraints
- Vastness of the Diocese
- Growing demand on training of Catechists in the deaneries and parish levels
- Lack of means of transport for Catechists (Bikes) from station to station
- Poor Infrastructure
- Lack of regular and reliable sources of income from the parishes and diocese to support the work of Evangelization eg. Catechists salaries
- External funding is diminishing/donor fatigue
- Lack of support from some parishes
- Catechist’s retirement due to economic pressure
- Lack of proper collaboration between some Catechists