On 24 April 2024, the Catechesis Section of the CCEE Evangelisation and Culture Commission organised a webinar for the national directors from the European countries entitled: Synodality Formation in Catechesis.
The event was attended by 35 delegates from 23 European Bishops’ Conferences. Among the participants were H.E. Msgr. Zbigņevs Stankevičs, President of the Evangelisation and Culture Commission, H.E. Msgr. Duro Hranić, Head of the Catechesis Section, and Rev. Eugenio Bruno, official of the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelisation.
The first session was addressed by H. Em. Card. Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, who emphasised the catechetical aspect as it emerged during the work of the first session of the Synod last October. To do this, Card. Grech drew on previous synods and concluded that a synodal Church is founded on a ministry that is the direct result of the sacrament of Baptism – a baptismal ministry. His address was followed by a time of discussion with the participants.
The second session was delivered by Fr. Rinaldo Paganelli, a Dehonian priest and lecturer at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome. Fr Paganelli focused on the formation of the catechist to synodality. He began by outlining the challenges of remaining in tune with contemporary society. From here he drew those qualities necessary for today’s catechists in the light of synodality: valuing interlocutors; instilling a sense of trust and the importance of dialogue. These are the cornerstones of a catechesis that goes beyond the simple transmission of the message to accompany others. The working session ended with a discussion by the participants on this theme.
The webinar concluded with some announcements from Rev. Eugenio Bruno from the Dicastery for Evangelisation, who updated the participants on the preparations for the celebration of the Jubilee of Catechists that will take place from 26 to 28 September 2025.
