A New Vision for Catechesis
Moving from Information to Transformation
For decades, many Catholic parishes measured successful catechesis by how much information people learned. Did students memorize the prayers? Could they explain Church teaching? Did they complete the program?
Those things matter—but they're not enough.
The Church is calling us to something deeper: not simply teaching about Jesus, but leading people into a life-changing relationship with Him.
That was the focus of a recent webinar with Julianne Stanz and Stephen Sarpino. Together we explored what the Church's new vision for catechesis means for parishes today—and why this shift may be one of the most important opportunities for parish renewal in our lifetime.
The Problem Isn't Bad Catechists
Most catechists have served faithfully for years.
They've loved children, sacrificed countless hours, and sincerely wanted to pass on the faith.
The challenge isn't their dedication.
The challenge is that the world has changed.
Many of us grew up in a culture where Catholic faith was reinforced at home, in school, and throughout the community. Today, that's no longer the reality for many families. Parents often feel disconnected from the Church themselves, and young people are shaped by a culture very different from the one previous generations experienced.
A model built primarily around classroom instruction simply isn't enough anymore.
As Julianne Stanz observed, we've often been very good at catechizing people without first evangelizing them. Many Catholics know facts about the faith but have never experienced a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
From a School Model to a Discipleship Model
The old model largely asked:
What should people know?
How do we teach it?
The new vision begins with different questions:
Who is Jesus Christ?
How can someone encounter Him?
How do we accompany people as they grow into disciples?
Knowledge remains essential. Church teaching matters. Sound doctrine matters.
But information serves transformation—not the other way around.
The goal isn't simply well-informed Catholics.
The goal is missionary disciples whose lives have been changed by Christ.
Jesus Already Gave Us the Model
This "new" vision isn't actually new.
It's the same method Jesus used.
Dr. Steven Serafin of Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries uses the Road to Emmaus as a great model for catechesis today:
Jesus first listens.
He understands their human experience.
He proclaims the Good News through Scripture.
He walks with them.
They encounter Him personally.
They return to the community with renewed faith and mission.
Notice what Jesus doesn't do.
He doesn't begin with a lecture.
He begins with relationship.
Only after understanding their story does He begin to explain God's story.
That's accompaniment.
Why Witness Matters More Than Ever
One of the most significant emphases in the Church's new Directory for Catechesis is witness.
Before we teach, we witness.
Before we explain the faith, we live it.
Many Catholics become nervous when they're asked to "share their faith." They assume they need theological expertise.
But sharing faith isn't about having all the answers.
It's simply telling others what Jesus has done in your life.
Think about how naturally people recommend a product they love—a favorite restaurant, a new vacuum, or the latest gadget.
Nobody forces them to do it.
They simply share what has made a difference.
The same becomes true when someone has genuinely encountered Christ.
Witness becomes natural.
Accompaniment Isn't a Program
"Accompaniment" has become a popular word in the Church, but it can also become vague.
Julianne Stanz shared a simple image that brings it to life.
Teaching her son to ride a bicycle wasn't accomplished through a lesson.
She demonstrated.
She held the bike.
She ran beside him.
She picked him up after he fell.
She stayed present until he could ride on his own.
That's accompaniment.
It's messy.
It takes time.
It requires presence more than perfection.
As Julianne often says: “Discipleship happens through relationship, and the currency of relationship is time.”
Programs don't disciple people. People disciple people.
Form Catechists Before Asking Them to Form Others
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing parishes isn't changing curriculum.
It's forming the people who lead it.
Many catechists have faithfully taught for decades using methods that reflected the best practices of their time.
They don't need criticism.
They need encouragement.
Good leaders honor the past while casting vision for the future.
Rather than saying, "Everything you've done is wrong," we can say:
"You've faithfully served the Church. Now the Church is inviting us to build on that foundation in a way that better reaches today's families."
That conversation begins with gratitude.
Not correction.
Your Staff Is Your First Flock
One theme emerged repeatedly throughout the conversation:
You cannot give away what you haven't first experienced.
Pastors must disciple their staff.
Staff members must disciple their ministry leaders.
Catechetical leaders must disciple their catechists.
Only then can catechists effectively disciple families.
Healthy parish culture always flows downstream.
People tend to treat others the way they themselves have been treated.
If leaders feel heard, valued, encouraged, and accompanied, they'll naturally extend that same experience to others.
Families Need More Than Sacramental Preparation
Many parents today sincerely want something good for their children.
That's why they enroll them in Catholic schools or sacramental preparation.
Yet many of those same parents admit they don't know how to practice the faith themselves.
Calling them "the primary catechists" without first helping them grow can unintentionally create guilt instead of confidence.
The opportunity isn't to judge them.
It's to accompany them.
Parishes can begin long before First Communion classes by investing in newly married couples, young families, and parents navigating everyday life.
Faith formation begins in the home—and the Church has the privilege of walking with families every step of the way.
Hope for the Future
Despite the challenges facing the Church, the conversation ended on an unmistakably hopeful note.
Across dioceses, publishers, parishes, and ministries, leaders are rediscovering Jesus' original way of making disciples.
The Holy Spirit is renewing the Church.
This isn't about abandoning our traditions.
It's about recovering the heart of them.
The future of catechesis won't be built on better programs alone.
It will be built on deeper relationships.
On authentic witness.
On intentional accompaniment.
And on helping every person encounter Jesus Christ in a way that transforms not only what they know—but how they live.