 | Another Voice
Different routes to the same destination
 Bob Sherwin | | Being the father of three children under the age of 9, I find myself watching a lot of kid movies. Since two of those three children are boys, the 2006 Disney/Pixar movie “Cars” is a favorite in my house. The movie’s soundtrack includes the classic song “Route 66.”
Over the past seven weeks, I have traveled the routes of the Diocese of Greensburg — 66, as well as 30 and 119 and Interstate 70 — to meet with pastors, catechetical leaders and principals to discuss evangelization and faith formation issues.
Along the way, I enjoyed parish fish frys, Pie Cucina, the Ligonier Tavern, Roseann’s and some very good tea and coffee.
While I enjoy traveling, what concerned me the most was what was on the minds of the pastors, catechetical leaders and principals.
The first thing I noticed is all of these leaders are very dedicated to the mission of evangelization and catechesis, to pass on the faith to the youngest through the oldest of our parishioners. All of them are concerned that we be knowledgeable about our faith, understand the sacraments, read and understand sacred Scripture, have a daily prayer life and continue to form and grow in our relationship with God through service to others.
The purpose of the meetings was to help form the vision and direction of the Office for Evangelization and Faith Formation. Some of the issues we discussed were the role of the diocesan office, parental involvement in children’s faith lives, evangelization, adult faith formation, family life, catechist training, the role of The Catholic Accent and diocesan Web site, youth and young adult ministry, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
There are many ways in which the church is reaching people in evangelization and faith formation, including Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, intergenerational catechesis, Disciples in Mission, comprehensive youth ministry and other programming in catechesis, youth ministry and RCIA.
The General Directory for Catechesis states: “In order that the catechetical ministry in the diocese be fruitful, it needs to involve … and sustain catechetical activity by performing indispensable tasks such as: the formation of catechists, the production of catechetical material, reflection, organization and planning. These … are at the service of a single diocesan catechetical ministry, even if all do not play the same roles or act on the same basis.”
I also discovered on the road that each parish is not the same. One size does not fit all. It is important for the Office for Evangelization and Faith Formation to set direction, give guidance, provide expectations and set policy because that is all part of the vision. But it is also important for the office to assist parishes in reaching those goals and outcomes in a way that responds to the needs of each parish.
The final song on the “Cars” soundtrack is Brad Paisley’s “Find Yourself.” That’s what the last seven weeks have been for me. It has been about finding ourselves, our vision, our direction, and the best way to accomplish them on the parish and regional level.
We are in the process of mapping our way along “Route 66.”
It is my hope and prayer that, as we draw our map of vision and direction, we find ourselves and renew our faith, parishes and church during the journey and arrive at our intended destination.
Sherwin is managing director of the Office for Evangelization and Faith Formation. He can be reached by e-mail. |
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