Catechetical Conference Challenges Catechists to Teach by Example

By Irene M. Lagan
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 11/21/02)

"We live in interesting times. The Chinese have a saying that is meant as a curse: ‘May you live in interesting times’. But these times are not cursed," said Father Richard Hogan (pictured at right), keynote speaker the annual diocesan catechetical conference held last week at Tysons Corner. "Rather, the Holy Spirit is pointing at Pope John Paul II. He has given us a third way, a third vision – another use of philosophy – to help us understand and pass on the faith. The Holy Father is a genius. He has given the world a seminary course in theology."

The conference, titled "Living for the Lord," was sponsored by Arlington Diocese Office of Catechetics. Over 450 catechists from around the diocese attended the conference, which offered various workshops focused on developing a life of prayer, spirituality and practical teaching tips for communicating the Faith to others.

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde was the celebrant and homilist for the opening Mass.

Father Hogan is a well-known speaker who serves as consultant to the Family Life Office for marriage preparation and as the assistant director of natural family planning outreach. Trained as a historian, Father Hogan outlined the extraordinary features of our current pope’s career in light of Church history and the significance of his theology for modern times.

"The influence that Pope John Paul II has had and will continue to have on the Church is unbelievable," Father Hogan said. Prior to becoming pope, Cardinal KarolWojtyla was one of the very few bishops who spoke at the Second Vatican Council. "To speak before 2,000 bishops and cardinals as an auxiliary bishop in Latin, you have to have something important to say."

Pope John Paul II, he said, was the principal author of one of the constitutions from Vatican Council II, Gaudium et Spes, and a main contributor to another, Lumen Gentium. Both constitutions, the highest form of document to come from the council, followed by declarations and decrees, are the most frequently cited. Prior to his participation in the Second Vatican Council, Cardinal Wojtyla’s book Love and Responsibility served as an inspiration for the release of the encyclical Human Vitae, a document that continues to create controversy.

In 1983, Pope John Paul II issued a new Code of Canon Law, the third in the entire history of the Church, as well as a new universal catechism, the first since the Council of Trent 500 years ago. The pope also has instituted liturgical changes and has added new mysteries to the rosary.

"All of this is unimportant compared to his theological legacy. John Paul II is another St. Thomas or St. Augustine," Father Hogan said. "He is not restating things in a traditional way, but has given us a third way, a new synthesis of the same truths."

Comparing the whole doctrine of faith to a diamond with many facets, Father Hogan said, "St. Augustine looked at the diamond from a 90 degree angle, St. Thomas from 180 degrees, and our Holy Father is looking at it from 270. It is the same diamond, the same truths put in a different way."

Father Hogan said the theology of John Paul II is necessary to reach the culture. "Young people respond to him. The Gospel is attractive to them because we are made for the truth. The pope speaks their language in a mindset they understand," Father Hogan said.

In the past, both St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas drew upon philosophy to articulate the Faith in a way that the culture was able to grasp and assimilate. Thought proceeded objectively by way of principles and deductive reasoning. Culture, he said, has changed.

"We think differently. Our culture is subjective, inductive and experiential. The Holy Father has taken the content of the Faith and put it into a new language. He is teaching the world a new synthesis, beginning with the very first line of his first encyclical and continuing up to the present day."

Other presenters included Father Paul F. DeLadurantaye diocesan secretary for religious education, Kevin Bole, diocesean director of the Office of Youth Ministry; Father John Riley, pastor of St. Louis Church in Alexandria; Father Brian Batista, promoter of vocations for the Diocese of Arlington; Irene Murphy of the Benziger Publishing Company; teachers Rose Marie Griffith and Julia Neely; Jeanette Suflita, a leader in faith formation and adult education; JoAnn Paradise, a contributing author and consultant for Sadlier Publishing company; Dianne Elliot, special services coordinator at the Arlington Office of Catholic Schools; and Sal Ciresi, former co-host of the radio program CrossTalk and HERALD columnist.

Father deLadurantaye was "very pleased" by the number of participants. "It shows a great desire on the part of our catechists for deepening their own formation and leading others to Christ," he said.

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