More than 20,000 catechists from 115 countries meet in Rome to participate in their jubilee

More than 20,000 catechists from 115 countries have met in Rome to participate in the jubilee of the catechists, from September 26 to 28, one of the great celebrations of the Holy Year.

According to the Dicastery for Evangelization, the main organizer of the Jubilee, delegations from all continents – with a leading presence of Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland, Ukraine, United States, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Philippines, India and Australia – will meet in the Italian capital to live this event, dedicated to those who transmit faith in communities Parish, movements and schools.

The jubilee starts this Friday, September 26 with the pilgrimage to the Holy Gate of the Basilica of San Pedro of the Delegations present. In the afternoon, a prayer vigil will take place in San Pedro, chaired by Mons. Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

The liturgy will be focused on the evangelical passage of the Emaus disciples (Lk 24,13-33a) and will include the testimonies of three catechists: Liliana Russo (Italy), Paulo Agostinho Matica (Mozambique) and Evangelist Torres (Mexico), who will share their service experience.

On Saturday, September 27, in the Plaza de San Pedro, the retirement audience will take place with Pope Leo XIV, who will pronounce a reflection specially dedicated to the catechists present. In the afternoon, participants in this jubilee will go to various churches in the center of Rome to listen to the preaching of several bishops, in Italian, English, Portuguese, Spanish, French and Polish.

The conclusion of the jubilee will be on Sunday, September 28, with the Holy Mass chaired by the Pope in the Plaza de San Pedro. During the celebration, the Pontiff will institute 39 new catechists in the Laical Ministry established by Pope Francis in 2021 and will give them a crucifix as a tangible sign of his vocation for spreading the Gospel.

The candidates come from Italy, Spain, England, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, India, South Korea, East Timor, United Arab Emirates, Paraguay, Philippines, the United States, Mozambique, Peru and the Dominican Republic.

In December 2021, the Vatican published a guide To clarify the profile and role of catechists to facilitate the work to the bishops of each diocese when instituting the new ministry that is limited to the laity.

According to the document, in order to receive the catechist’s ministry, candidates must demonstrate a “deep faith” and be “capable of reception, generosity and life of fraternal communion.” They must also have “the due biblical and theological formation” for the Ministry, which has a “pastoral and pedagogical” cariz.

It also defines the Ministry of Catechist as a “stable service provided to the local Church” that has as its basis “the common condition of baptized” and is therefore “essentially different” from the priestly ministry received in the sacrament of order.