1. We are catechists:
General Directory of
Catechesis Para 231
'...some
lay people feel called interiorly by God to assume the service of
catechist. The Church awakens and discerns this divine vocation and
confers the mission to catechise.'
Bishops, Priests, Deacons,
Catechists are, at different levels of authority, the people mandated by the
Church to teach the faith. We are Catechists. This is the proper
ecclesial title for what we do and what we aspire to do more effectively.
The Church has recognised our qualification and through the Bishop of our
Diocese has authorised us to be Catechists.
Catholic Catechism Para 904
'Lay people
who are capable and trained may also collaborate in catechetical formation,
including the sacred sciences and in the use of the communications media.'
Every time we use the words Our
Lady's Catechists we are proclaiming to others and reminding ourselves that we
are members of that section of the Church's teaching ministry and speaking not
for ourselves but for the Church.
2. We are under the
patronage of Our Lady:
Look at our Logo: Mary, Seat of
Wisdom. Mary is the Seat or Throne on which Jesus stands. Her body, her hands
hold Him up to all people, whom He blesses while His sceptre shows that He is
the King and the world is His Kingdom.
Mary by her YES was the instrument of the
salvation of the world.
The Divine Word is Wisdom. Mary is
not the wisdom but the seat of wisdom. The seat or throne is a symbol of
authorised mission and legitimate teacher whether it is the throne or King,
Bishop or Pope, or the family in the old days, 'your father's chair'. Mary
is crowned by God not for herself but for her role in God's work of
salvation. She carries the lily of purity.
In humility we place ourselves before the
Seat of Wisdom.
Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, pray for
your Catechists. . .
