by Santosh Digal

Bishop of Manila: "gratitude" for the work of these volunteers. An essential activity, which brings hope to society. The example of St. Paul.

Manila (AsiaNews) - The Filipino bishops are expressing "appreciation" for the work of catechists. Gaudencio Rosales, archbishop of Manila, in a letter sent to the catechists of Manila, Cubao, Kalookan, Novaliches, Paranaque, and Pasig, expresses "gratitude to you for the work that you do for the Church. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to this important mission to teaching and forming the young. I wish also to ask you that as you catechize, teach also our children and young people to see goodness around them." "If God, the holy and sinless one, sees goodness in us, then we must also learn to see goodness in one anther. If only we learn to always see and look at the good, there is hope for us and for the world."

Honesto F. Ongtioco, bishop of Cubao, has also expressed "the Church's appreciation" for the work of catechists in contributing to and completing the event of God's salvation. Deogracias S. Iniguez Jr., bishop of Kalookan, "applauds" the efforts of the catechists in educating and instructing children and young people.

Gerardo O. Santos, director of Catholic education and catechesis for the diocese of Manila, encourages the catechists to take their inspiration from the apostle Paul, to "gaze on Jesus, born of woman, through the eyes of St. Paul who was consumed with the person of Jesus. His ministry and letters describe his passion for Jesus, his story and message. The clarion call is sounded: we start afresh from Christ” in order to confront the deceit and violence around us.

Most of the catechists in the parishes, schools, and missionary centers are volunteers who receive no compensation. The diocese of Manila publishes the bimonthly "Ang Katekista,"in English and Tagalog, with interdiocesan information and news in order to help catechists in their activities. It publishes the stories and concerns of the catechists, as a symbol and instrument of unity and solidarity, among themselves and with the Church, at a time in which catechists are confronting social questions and must safeguard the correct teaching of doctrine.

The catechist Eduardo Frando observes that "we are not only teachers in the classrooms but bearers of hope in this bewildered and suffering nation."

• philippines
• catechists
• catechesis
• teaching
• christian
• catholic
• doctrine
• young
• people
• youth
• children
• filipino
• bishops