Catechetical materials on Faith Engaged! Web site

In this year of “Faith Engaged! Sharing Christ’s Message since 1559,” the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee encourages Catholics to learn more about the history and heritage of Catholicism in northwest Florida.

FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF REPORT

Published: 10.23.08

PENSACOLA | Get the word out! Tell all the faithful of the diocese! We stand on ground hallowed by 450 years of continuously living by faith. Spreading that message is the intent of the hallmarks of the year of Faith Engaged!: faith formation activities, for all ages, in every parish, telling the good news in northwest Florida.

“The four themes of the year – Eucharist, evangelization, St. Paul and the heritage of faith – are all better understood with excellent catechesis for all ages,” said Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Sister Margaret Kuntz, director of Christian Formation for the diocese and chief organizer of the year of Faith Engaged! effort. “I hope these materials will help catechists in the parishes participate in the year of Faith Engaged!”

A committee of volunteers under the chairmanship of Lisa Kurnik, diocesan director of Youth Ministry, has pulled together and created materials that can be used for prekindergarten through high school groups. The materials are available on the Faith Engaged! Web site.

The group’s first efforts focus on Eucharist.

“In developing the children’s materials for the Web site, I wanted to help enkindle a sense of what John Paul the Great called ‘eucharistic amazement.’ Seeing a child glow with a love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and a desire to make a difference in their world is such a wonderful experience,” said Katinka Ritz, director of religious education at St. Mary Parish in Pensacola. Additional members of the catechical group included Barbara Younger, director of youth ministry for St. Mary Parish, Fort Walton Beach; Jane Brim, Diocesan Tribunal; and Maxine LeBoeuf, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults team, St. Paul Parish, Pensacola.

Adult materials will be reviewed for distribution to parishes and missions in November, in time for Advent study and reflection groups.

“Everything we know about how the faith becomes relevant in the lives of people tells us that evangelization and catechesis necessarily go together,” Sister Kuntz said. “Catechesis is one very important moment in the whole process of evangelization. The work of catechesis in every parish, mission and school is always so important, and in this diocese it’s vital to the success of our festival year.”

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