Commissions

Biblical, Catechetical

As per 2017 Directory

 

1. Biblical, Catechetical
Director : Rev. Fr Francis Fernandes
‘SUBODHA’, DBCLC
Sacred Heart Cathedral Campus
B. H. Road, Shimoga - 577 201
Cell : 9448545842
Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


The Bible is the source and centre of Christian life. "Catechesis is an education in the faith of children, young people and adults which includes especially the teachings of Christian doctrine imparted in an organic and systematic way with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life" (CT 18). Liturgy is "the summit towards which the Church's actions tend and at the same time the source from which comes all her strength" (SC 10).

VISION
A celebrative and Worshipping Community

MISSION
Towards achieveing full and active participation of all the faithful in liturgical celebration

OBJECTIVES
We, the Christ's faithful of the Diocese of Shimoga take up the mission of witnessing Christ. We shall do so by:

1. Being a dynamic and evolving Church firmly rooted in revitalised faith    and witnessing Christian values in the context of a changing society;
2. Fulfilling its call to be a witnessing Church through its:
        * religious leadership,
        * animation through spiritual guidance and counseling;
        * institutional work in  education, health and social welfare; and
        * integrated pastoral service  especially to the youth, women, the aged and the physically challenged;
3. Fostering dialogue with other Churches and ecclesial communities with ecumenical purpose;
4. Holding firmly to the Christian values in its inter-faith milieu;
5. Developing the human, material and financial resources to facilitate missionary work.


BIBLICAL MINISTRY

The Bible is the source and centre of Christian life. The reading of the Bible must lead the faithful to pray, meditate and concretely put into practice the message that they receive to spread the Kingdom of God. The motto of every Christ's faithful must be to know the Bible and serve the people. In a world threatened by new movements towards indifferentism the Word of God must "pierce through the bones and marrows" (Heb. 4:12) to establish God's Kingdom with all its demands by establishing a new society of love, peace and justice. In this way the Biblical ministry must be a truly prophetic ministry.

Action Plan

  1. Every family should have a Bible and Bible reading during family prayer and prayer service. Every child should possess a copy of Children's Bible.
  2. Parish level Bible Sunday celebrations are to be organised with special courses, prayer meetings and competitions.
  3. Systematic Bible study programmes which are ecclesiastically approved and supervised such as the Ministry of the Word and Bible classes, courses and seminars for the school children, youth, adults, Small Christian Communities and Parish Pastoral Councils are to be fostered and utilised in the service of God's Word.
  4. Bible quiz, Bible exhibition, Bible enactment, Bible seminars and Bible convention could be held at parish, deanery and diocesan level. Movies on Biblical themes could be shown at the parish level. Gospel message could be propagated by modern means like radio and television for the younger generation.
  5. More trained personnel both among clergy and the lay faithful are required to make the Biblical ministry a real mass movement.
  6. Establishment of a Bible Bank (Biblical Literature Distribution Centre) would help instil knowledge of the Bible in the people.


CATECHETICAL MINISTRY
     

"Catechesis is an education in the faith of children, young people and adults which includes especially the teachings of Christian doctrine imparted in an organic and systematic way with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life" (CT 18). No form of catechesis can be successful unless it is integrated into a total pastoral approach that covers all the aspects of human togetherness, belonging and well-being. Such a pastoral approach motivates and equips people for a transformation of society and for the liberation of all people irrespective of language, caste or religion. An integrated pastoral approach demands an integrated catechesis i.e. a catechesis in which the parents and elders in the family (CT 68), the Pastoral Team in the Parish, the Catechetical Team in the Parish (CT 64), those in the educational institutions (CT 69), the Bishop and the Catechetical Commission work together.
      

Action Plan

  1. The need of the hour is to develop a catechesis which will be aimed at the family and which will involve adults in the believing community. The illiterate sector of our people can be reached most profitably through audiovisuals and through person-to-person contact. Media resources and media equipment must be made available to facilitate the catechetical programme.
  2. Sunday catechism must be arranged for all Catholic children more specially for those attending non-catholic schools in accordance with the syllabus prescribed by the Diocesan Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre. There is a need to have Catechism books for children with sufficient illustrations.
  3. Just as Sunday catechism classes are given importance at the parish level, School catechism should be given to the school going children at the schools. Two periods of catechism for the Catholic children and the same number of hours for the value education of children of other faiths should be included within the regular timetable of the school curriculum. Integrated value education should be introduced in our schools.
  4. A Catechism Day is to be conducted at the parish level towards the end of the academic year. Summer catechetical camps at parish and deanery level could be arranged to catechise the children on all issues.
  5. An appropriate catechism should be developed for adults such as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults especially through Sunday sermons and faith formation programmes. A real need is felt to have teaching aids and programmes for youth and adult catechesis. Whenever possible catechetical instruction must be given for all before the Mass on Sundays.
  6. Pastors must make it a point to arrange faith formation classes, retreats, workshops and various orientation courses for pious associations. Diocesan Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre could make use of Small Christian Communities as a basic forum for adult catechesis.
  7. Efforts must be made to have trained and committed catechists and catechism teachers. Regular training programme should be organised for catechism teachers in Catechesis and value education at the diocesan level. There is a need to form Catechism Teachers Team at the parish level.
  8. Diocesan Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre is responsible for the periodic evaluation of parish and school level catechism. Diocesan level exams and awards are to be organised for those studying in the seventh and tenth standards by the same Centre.