Forming Catechists @ 72

Over the years, Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) is always at the frontline in providing High Quality Catholic Education to its students. As an Archdiocesan Catholic College, HCDC takes part of the evangelizing mission of the Catholic Church especially in the Archdiocese of Davao. Mindful to its Vision-Mission, HCDC is doing catechesis in the school setting by offering Catechetical Studies subjects and catechetical formations. The college commits to form Professional Catechists by offering a course that serves as a channel of the said program. Countless professional catechists are now serving in the different parishes, schools and mission institutions all over the world.

HCDC believes the potential mission of the Catechists in revitalizing the gifts of being, becoming and belonging to the ministry of these front liners in the Catechetical Ministry. Seeing the important role of the catechists, HCDC provides a holistic formation for the parish based catechists as well as to the student volunteer catechists through the Catechists’ Monthly Formation Program in partnership with the John XXIII Catechetical Center.

Through the lens of HCDC, catechists are potent and silent workers or volunteers of the Church doing catechesis from preparation of the faithful through baptismal catechesis to the reception of the funeral mass for the faithful. The Ministry of the Catechists is wide and vital for the acceptance and nurturing of faith dimension of the believers. Catechetical Ministry is an important part to both Catholic educating communities like Holy Cross of Davao College and to parishes in realizing the evangelizing mission of the Church.

In the context of synodality, the Catechists are co-journeyers of the school and parish’s catechetical mission and ministry in order to prepare the believers in Being and Becoming as solid defenders of the Christian Faith.

Pope Francis stressed the very important role catechists play in the Church, calling them “a sign of the Church’s responsibility to so many people: children, young people and adults who wish to make a journey of faith.” He explained that he instituted the Ministry knowing the great role it can play in the life of the Church. He encourages catechists to never get tired of their ministry, to avoid a ‘school lecture’ type catechesis, and to strive to offer a “living experience of the faith that each of us wish to pass on to the new generations.”

As a response to the challenge of Pope Francis, HCDC as an Archdiocesan and Catholic educating community, continues to form and produce volunteer and professional catechists to be agents of social transformation. (Armand Dura | Photos by JCC FB Page)