Catechesis: An Oasis Amidst Diversity
Catequesis: Un oasis en medio de la diversidad
The 21st Century finds the Catholic Church in America to be an exquisite example of the universality of the Catholic Church. On a given Sunday, Mass is celebrated in over 100 different languages. Within this cultural diversity are challenges and opportunities; sometimes there are differences. Occasionally a lack of understanding can lead to conflict.
In the middle of all this diversity, there is one place where all can come together, as one; it is the oasis where faith is shared. It is the place where each person can echo the rich traditions that have passed their faith from generation to generation. It is a place of oneness with God. It is the place of catechesis where one’s confession of faith is “living, explicit and fruitful” (GDC, no. 82).
For Catholics, catechesis offers a haven where cultural differences serve to fill the oasis with the richness that diversity offers. This is not a place for dominance or attack; it is a place of welcome. There is no room here for hate crimes or stereotypes; this is a place of learning within the Christina community. Here is where the Christian life is nourished.
Here in the oasis of catechesis there is room for Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Lavang, to name a few. We have saints from numerous nations, different cultures, married and single. All can find respite here where the language of belief becomes the living waters.
Historically, the location of oases has been of critical importance for trade and transportation routes in desert areas. In American culture that has been described as hostile to religion, the Church as sanctuary has deep meaning. An oasis, however, is not an escape. It is a place for nourishment and renewal. Here one’s faith is replenished and enriched by the diversity of expression.
The NDC reminds us that “within the ecclesial community, the catechist is an important instrument of inculturation” (p.65). The theme for NCCL’s 74th annual conference and exposition confronts this challenge head on. While it appears there may be a desert of values in society, catechetical leaders know the rich doctrines and traditions of the Catholic Church, formed and transformed by different cultures, are an oasis that can quench the thirst of those seeking conversion.
