By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 11/20/03)

"Most of you do not consider yourselves as important as you are," Washington Auxiliary Bishop Kevin Farrell (pictured at left with Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington) said to a group of catechists. "You are essential to the transmission of the faith to this generation. The Church can never repay you for the sacrifice you make every day by being a catechist in the Church."

More than 450 catechists and directors of religious education gathered at the Sheraton Premiere in Tyson’s Corner last weekend for the annual diocesan Religious Education Conference. This year’s conference saw an increase in participation by the Hispanic community, and included a session given in Spanish by Father Ovidio Pecharroman, director of the Spanish Apostolate.

The conference began with a Mass concelebrated by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde; Father Paul deLadurantaye, director of the office of sacred liturgy and secretary for diocesan religious education; and Oblate Father Mark Mealy, episcopal vicar for pastoral services.

"What a privilege you are given by the Lord to lead His people closer to Him in living communion through your witness of life and your teaching the faith," said Bishop Loverde in his homily. "People are more convinced by witnesses than by teachers, and if they are convinced by teachers, it is because they were first witnesses."

Following a short coffee break after Mass, Bishop Farrell delivered the keynote address on the role of catechetics in today’s world.

Bishop Farrell reflected back on the catechist he remembers most, Sister Agnes Marie, his eighth-grade religion teacher. Although he did learn a lot about his faith from his parents, and he knows he initially received the faith in baptism, Bishop Farrell said, "When I transmit the faith, I believe I owe more to that lady. I always go back, not to the books, but to the basic elements of faith that [Sister Agnes Marie] taught me."

Bishop Farrell discussed the challenges of teaching the faith in today’s world. He explained that 30 years ago, everyone, Christian or not, knew about the Bible. "Today," he said, "only thanks to Bing Crosby do we know Jesus was born in Bethlehem."

He said that while 75 percent of Catholic children in 1950 went to Catholic parochial schools, only five percent attend eight years of Catholic school today. "We can no longer assume they have the basic Christian culture." Bishop Farrell emphasized the importance of teaching the catechism fully, and making sure there is a system so that all students learn the fundamentals and background of their faith.

He ended his talk by adding that while it is necessary to teach the fundamentals, to simply read and have students memorize facts is not enough. "Unless we can explain the scripture so that people’s hearts burn within them, then we will fail," he said.

He paraphrased the Holy Father when he said, "What we need are not people who profess to be Catholic, but people who are convinced of the faith."