catechist

At 74, Joseph Das spends much of his time traveling from village to village, visiting Catholic families, leading prayers, teaching the faith and sharing the Gospel. For the past 12 years, he has served as a catechist in Jessore Parish of Bangladesh’s Khulna Diocese, a ministry he describes as a blessing in the later years of his life.

Fred and Emen said they taught the catechumens catechesis for three months minus any fixed schedule because the converts were unavailable simultaneously.

Pura said, "Then a catechist asked me to teach catechism to students in an elementary school. I taught Grade 4 students. I told myself that this is my vocation. And until now, I carry on with this vocation."

Jajati Nayak died at the age of 72 after 55 years of service as a catechist in Odisha, the Eastern state of India, on December 17. Under his leadership, the faith life of the Christians of Kerubadi was strengthened and produced 9 Religious Sisters, including his daughter Sister Anjali Nayak, The Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa (CSST) and 6 Priests, including his younger brother priest Dusmant Nayak.

“Whenever I faced difficulties during those 25 years, I sacrificed them and prayed to God,” says U Soe Naing, a catechist in the Archdiocese of Mandalay, Myanmar.

The ongoing formation course for the catechists in the Kham Pat zone, Kalay Diocese in Myanmar, was held in Kham Nwae village from October 4 to 8.

Reflection Date: December 16, 2021
John the Baptist was a herald of Jesus.

An ethnic Hmong catechist from Phinh Ho Parish in Vietnam’s Yen Bai province has been kept in jail for spreading the Catholic faith among villagers, said a report by the Aid to the Church in Need.

Suwandi became a catechist because his parents wanted him leave home and escape poverty. The parents could not send the young man to school, so they sent him to church.

"I still remember one of my friends saying that if we would continue to be Catholic catechists, the time would come that we have to sell even our wives to survive," said John.

Radio Veritas Asia - Zo language service honored Sylvester Asu, a retired catechist who served the Church for 51 years, on April 7.