Pope Francis’ Establishment of Lay Catechist Ministry Both Ancient and New
National Catholic Register, 18 May 2021
The move makes three key points: Vatican II’s teaching on mission; the missionary identity of all disciples; and the secular vocation of the laity.
By means of the apostolic letter Ancient Ministry (Antiquum ministerium) Pope Francis established a formal “lay ministry of Catechist.” This new form of an ancient mission gives “recognition to those lay men and women who feel called by virtue of their baptism to cooperate in the work of catechesis.”
The ministry is both ancient and new. Laypeople have been collaborating with bishops and priests in catechesis since the Acts of the Apostles, but a formal “ministry” for laypeople is something new. Hence the Holy Father was at pains to make it clear what is, and what is not, being done:
“It follows that the reception of a lay ministry such as that of Catechist will emphasize even more the missionary commitment proper to every baptized person, a commitment that must however be carried out in a fully ‘secular’ manner, avoiding any form of clericalization” (7).
The rite for formally instituting catechists will follow shortly, but the Holy Father’s letter makes three key points: Vatican II’s teaching on mission; the missionary identity of all disciples; and the secular vocation of the laity.
Vatican II
Pope Francis situates the new ministry of catechist in Vatican II’s document on the missions, Ad Gentes (To the Nations). It’s a good reminder that the fruits of a council can take decades to mature.
“Beginning with the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, the Church has come to a renewed appreciation of the importance of lay involvement in the work of evangelization,” writes the Holy Father. “The Council Fathers repeatedly emphasized the great need for the lay faithful to be engaged directly, in the various ways their charism can be expressed” (4).
Vatican II praised the “army of catechists” who have already build up the Church around the world. That is more necessary today.
“When there are so few clerics to evangelize such great multitudes and to carry out the pastoral ministry, the role of catechists is of the highest importance,” teaches Ad Gentes (17)
One thinks, for example, of the oft-repeated praise of Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea for lay catechists, who were effective in evangelization without compromising the identity of the priest.
“I come from a young Church,” Cardinal Sarah said. “I knew the missionaries going from village to village to support the catechists. I have lived evangelization in my flesh. I know a young Church doesn’t need married priests. On the contrary. She needs priests who will give her the witness of the lived cross. A priest’s place is on the cross. When he celebrates Mass, he is at the source of his whole life, that is, at the cross.”
Cardinal Sarah argued vigorously against married priests for mission lands in part because of his positive experience of the work of catechists. The priest should be wholly dedicated to the ministry of the altar, but that doesn’t mean that the work of mission is his alone.
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