Title of the Column: ALWAYS

Title of the Article: “Love (for Catechesis) begins with One Hello”
by: Erwin Joey E. Cabilan
John XXIII Catechetical Center

Hello! Last 9 May 2008, Friday, Sem. Rene Ribac and John Frances Fuentes of the Davao
Catholic Herald came to see me at my office at the John XXIII Catechetical Center to offer a
proposal. They invited me to write for the said weekly paper on topics regarding Catechesis.
Because Catechesis has a great significance in the life of the Church and for all people of goodwill, a
special column is devoted on this matter. I think this is the start of my journey as a catechist-
columnist.

Aside from teaching, I also love writing. When I took the offer of these two gentlemen of
DCHerald, I began to ask myself: Do I have time to write? Reflecting on this question, I came to
realize that what is more important in accomplishing any task is not so much on being pressured by
time but the value of love that moves every human being to fulfill his/her endeavors in life. Since this
task is driven by love, let this be the opportunity of the Catechetical Ministry to faithfully fulfill what we,
as Church, have received from Jesus, the catechist par excellence, “Go forth and teach that God is
love!”

What is the title of this column on Catechesis? I started recalling some words that are
associated with this ecclesial task. I thought of the Greek word katekein (katekein, which means “to
echo”) from which the terms such as catechesis, catechist, catechism and Catechetics are derived.
But, I have a feeling that it sounds esoteric for hoi polloi. I even considered the Latin term docete
(which means “to teach”) but it’s the official title of our national catechetical journal. After consulting a
colleague, I opted for the former but I never gave up the idea of finding a word or a phrase that can
appropriately express the raison d’etre.

On my way home, I read an advertisement in which the word “ALWAYS” is in caps. I reflected
on it. I allowed the word to speak to me until I discovered a reality of our faith-life experience: God’s
faithfulness with us, His love for us and His hope in us, regardless of who we are, what we have
and where we come from, are beautifully summed up in the words of Jesus, “…… I am with you
always until the end of time.”(Mt. 28:20) Jesus said these words when he ascended to heaven. His
ascension is not about His absence but a special moment for us Christians to faithfully continue His
mission of love and hope for all. St. Augustine defines a Christian as “alter Christus” (the other
Christ). To put it in a catechetical fashion, we can say that as Christians, we are the head, the heart,
and the hands of Jesus. Indeed, every Christian is a catechist, an echo of the spoken Word of God,
not only in words but also in good deeds!

The whole Church is a catechist. Every parish, BEC, family, Catholic school, and every
community that is Christian is a catechist. Because this identity has sprung from Jesus, so this must
always gush forth in order that we can reach out to all. Indeed, catechesis is a way for all of us to
keep our built-in antennas of faith, hope and love always sensitive to God and to all the things that
are of God. Catechesis is an experience of allowing all of us to discover and to re-discover that God
is always journeying with us through His creation, the signs of the times, His Word, His teachings, the
Church’s liturgy, sacraments and even the acts of mercy that bring justice and peace into fulfillment.

Poverty, conflicts of all kinds, hunger, moral decadence and many other realities that beset our
lives cannot be disregarded. As we struggle with these challenges, our catechesis is not only about
denouncing these obstacles but to always proclaim the message of Jesus as Good News that saves
and that liberates.

There are many ways that God can be encountered. In catechesis, when our experiences are
illumined by the Gospel, we can exclaim like John the Beloved who said, “It is the Lord!” Therefore,
we can discover that God’s nearness is not proximity but love, for God is always love; nothing less,
always more! In God, “always” means fecundity. With God, “always” means fidelity. For God,
“always” means ecstasy. Let us be echoes of Jesus to all in many ways, always…..always……
always!

For June 8, 2008 issue of DCH